Blistering.com: Going back to when you got Jordan into the band and Metropolis Part II, what sticks out? That was certainly one of the high points for the band with sold-out shows and everything.
Portnoy: That was the resurrection of Dream Theater. We were coming off one of the lowest periods of the band and that album and tour for that matter, was do or die. If that album hadn’t succeeded, we would have packed it in. That record...it had to succeed or that was the end and it did. I think the fans felt our fire and passion on many levels. The fact that we were self-producing for the first time, Jordan was with us for the first time, doing a concept album...we were firing on every level for that one and we needed to. It was similar to Images and Words, which was another album with a similar situation. When we made Images and Words, we were coming out of one of the other lowest periods of the band. We didn’t have a singer, didn’t have a label, so Images and Words was a do-or-die album. So I guess out of turmoil it made us rise to the occasion and we had to succeed.
It’s funny – I just watched the Rush movie [Beyond the Lighted Stage] and they talk about the situation from Caress of Steel to 2112, it was similar. I can totally relate. It was the same thing from when we went from When Day and Dream Unite to Images and Words and Falling Into Infinity to Scenes From A Memory. Luckily, we survived and we came out with an album like Scenes and kept growing and growing and growing. And here we are, 11 years later still doing it.
Blistering.com: We just talked about Falling Into Infinity, do you still have regrets over that one?
Portnoy: At the time, I disagreed with that album on every level. If you read the Dream Theater biography, I come out and say it. I had incredible problems with that record and that’s why I almost left the band. My regrets are with working with [songwriter] Desmond Child and letting Kevin [Shirley] chop up our songs as much as he did. I love Kevin Shirley and ended up working with him on albums after that. I loved him as a person and as a producer, but I think we gave him way too much control. That whole period, we were completely consumed and being controlled by the industry, by lawyers and managers and songwriters. Everything that is wrong with this industry, we were succumbing to at that point. We had to change the situation in order to survive.
Blistering.com: So it’s safe to say that too many cooks in the kitchen spoil it for Dream Theater?
Portnoy: Absolutely. During Falling Into Infinity, not only did you have the five chefs in the band, you had producers, labels, songwriters, lawyers...it almost killed us. It got to a point to where the only chefs allowed in the kitchen are the five of us and even then, the five must know our roles. Certain people are more hands-on with the ingredients in the kitchen than others and that’s the way that it works.
Blistering.com: I know that’s how you prefer to work with James. Are you at all concerned that part of the band’s legacy may be that the fans never fully accepted him?
Portnoy: That’s a tough question. When he joined the band in ’91, he was the exact singer we were looking for. He was had that look and personality and was somebody that wasn’t going to trample on the chemistry that already existed in terms of composition and all of that. So really, James is right in all of those ways for the band. Now almost 20 years later and tastes have changed and I listen to different things and that type of vocals is not necessarily my favorite style of vocals, to be completely honest with you, but I listen to many different things. But he is the right voice for this band and if we were to ever make a change, I think it’s something that would be detrimental to the band, very hard for people to accept.
Blistering.com: You’ve done an album almost every other year of late. Any thoughts as to the next album? I know you’ve got a lot on your plate coming up...
Portnoy: Yeah, I’ve got a really busy year ahead of me. I’m seeing this year out, before I even think about next year.
Blistering.com: Obviously, the Avenged Sevenfold gig. How do you plan on approaching this one?
Portnoy: They’re a great bunch of guys, I’m excited to tour with them, proud to be on their album. I’m just looking forward to playing with them some more. They’re awesome guys and are going through a very traumatic, emotional experience right now. I’m glad I can be there for them on a musical and personal level.
Blistering.com: It must be nice for you to play stuff that’s not so involved, right?
Portnoy: It’s definitely going to be a relief to just play drums and not have control over anything else. I don’t know if I’d ever want to relinquish control over my band full-time, but to do it with Avenged Sevenfold will be a nice change-of-pace and I’m looking forward to just playing drums.
Blistering.com: Another project: Steven Wilson, Mikael Akerfeldt, you. What’s the status?
Portnoy: Those guys got together and wrote some stuff just to feel each other out. And the three of us have been talking for years. I think the Internet has blown it up to the point where it has a life of its own that we never really...thought we’d have for this. We’ll see. Right now my year is filled with Avenged Sevenfold once this tour ends. Steven has some commitments with Porcupine Tree and some other stuff. That being said, I’d love, love, love to do it and work with those guys, so if I can, I surely will.
Blistering.com: Finally, the plan for the next year-and-a-half: Avenged Sevenfold, Dream Theater, possibly that project? What does the crystal ball see for you?
Portnoy: [laughs] I’ve learned that the crystal ball is not always as clear as you think it might be, because this year, 2010 was supposed to be a quiet year for me. Originally we were going to wind down the Dream Theater tour and then I was going to take some time off, but it ended up probably being the busiest year of my career. I’ve been going literally, non-stop since January and there’s no end in sight until December. There’s a joke in AA that says something like, “How do you make God laugh? Tell him your plans.” There you go. As much as I love to control things, there are certain things that are out of my hands.
