Dream Theater’s New Spirit – Mike Mangini

On September 8th, 2010, Mike Portnoy, revered drummer and founder of the progressive rock band Dream Theater, announced his departure from the band. It was surprising news that shook the band, its fans and progressive music in general. The remaining members immediately vowed to move forward and continue to produce the music they love, but the fans were inevitably plunged into a musical abyss.

What could’ve happened to cause this divorce?

Where do we, the fans, go from here?

These were difficult questions, but questions that were handled masterfully with the advent of the documentary, “The Spirit Carries On.” This documentary details all of the emotions of Portnoy’s departure, the audition process and subsequent declaration made on April 29, 2011, when Dream Theater officially announced that Mike Mangini was their new drummer.

It’s been a busy 13 months since Portnoy’s departure. The documentary has performed a remarkable service by giving the fan insight on what can only be called recovery. A new drummer has been found and now, a new record released. The aptly named, “A Dramatic Turn of Events,” is the fruit of a new beginning and hopefully the following words won’t surprise you-- it’s a really good album. But I’m not here to do a record a review. Buy it and listen. You won’t be disappointed.

A couple of days ago I had the pleasure to meet Mike Mangini, albeit by phone from Houston. I had the chance to seek his insight on this event and to find out more about Dream Theater’s newest spirit.

DB: Mike, hello, my name is Dave Schwartz and I’m with DaBelly.com. I would like to start this interview by saying something that I bet you hear a lot of, congratulations on becoming the drummer for Dream Theater! Who would’ve thought it a year ago?

MM: Certainly not me!

DB: Also congratulations on the new record, “A Dramatic Turn of Events,” aptly named of course. What can you tell me about the new record?

MM: Well, I can tell you about the drums.

DB: I realize that your contribution to this album was solely performance, you didn’t participate with the writing, I’m just looking for your perspective on what it was like recording with the band for the first time and so on.

MM: It was liberating. It was the type of experience that I had looked forward to for a long time. I have always had my drums set up in a way that was often criticized by the folks in drum magazines. They are just so weird in that way and I guess they just don’t understand why my drums are set up so differently. Anyway, I knew that I could be happy if I could express myself in an orchestral rock drumming sort of way. Orchestral because that is how I was trained and rock because that is what I like. So this experience was liberating because I’ve never worked with people before that fully understood what it was that I am doing. Recording with people who understood why the drum set is set up the way it is was liberating. It was a very natural feeling to work with the band.

DB: Perhaps I could add that there aren’t very many bands around with the credentials that the members of Dream Theater have: Berkelee School of Music, Julliard... It’s difficult to find five people in the same band with the same gift.

MM: It’s crazy and you’re right. We all have the same passion. It’s a great mix both on and off the stage. Everything is very comfortable, but I’m not suggesting that it’s easy. The focus that it takes to perform the way we do and even warm up the way we do is pretty incredible. It’s not easy, it’s relentless actually. This show really requires incredible attention to detail. Our crew has focus like that as well. Everyone really takes pride in what we do. The crew works hard to get this production right and they are tireless. I can tell that sometimes that crew hasn’t had a lot of sleep because they are working to get everything so perfect. They take so much pride in that and everyone in the band knows it. Each day we go out of our way to tell them thank you.

DB: Dream Theater made the announcement that you were the new drummer right at the end of April. When did you go into the studio, right after that?

MM: No, I was in the studio in March.

DB: OK, I understand the timeline. You played on the record before the actual announcement. I read that you knew prior to the announcement that you had the position, but that you couldn’t share the information with anyone.

MM: I knew way prior to the announcement, but no one else did. I knew after the audition, a short time after. I was still working at Berkeley, so in a sense nothing happened. It was like, OK you won, and I went back to teaching. I didn’t really begin living my Dream Theater life until March.

DB: How long did it take to record “A Dramatic Turn of Events”?

MM: I don’t know how long it took the whole band. My part took a couple weeks.

DB: Given that your contribution on this album was performance only, are you looking forward to the next album where you will have an opportunity to take part in the writing process?

MM: Yes I am.

DB: I know that you’re friends with Mike Portnoy, did he share any words of wisdom as to what to expect regarding the touring and workload and performance?

MM: No. He’s a busy guy and out doing all sorts of great stuff. He’s not concerned with what I’m doing. And really, he knows that I’m going to come in here and do what I do. Actually that never crossed my mind.

DB: You’ve traded the text book for a stage-- what were those first couple of nights on stage like?

MM: Harrowing in a way, but yet amazing. Harrowing because our show is extremely complex. We have syncs, video and stuff like that. It’s very detailed and meticulous. What we are doing now is not what the band did in the past. This is a totally different live situation and the band is different live. So all this requires an incredible attention to detail with ear mixes and settings and all kinds of electronics. So to be thrust on stage after only one full rehearsal with all of that production issues, monitor issues and unexpectedly hair issues was nuts! My hair was poking me in the eye, in my mouth. I couldn’t talk to my drum tech to have him adjust my mix or fix anything on the drums. I couldn’t tell him anything because he couldn’t see my mouth. It was really not much fun. And then, in the inner portion of my mind, I didn’t know how anybody was going to react to me. It was just harrowing, it was crazy. But what made it a thrilling was the fans, they started chanting my name. James was in front of me and turned around and I couldn’t tell what was happening. Suddenly everyone is chanting my name. It was unbelievable. I couldn’t have possibly expected that. I’m not like that anyway, but it was a total shock. Those things just don’t happen.

DB: Given all those unexpected twists and turns that often occur during live performance. How many shows did it take for you to lock with the band-- to be completely in sync and feel comfortable together?

MM: That happened during the audition.

DB: What?!?!?

MM: I’m absolutely serious. That’s just the way it was. You should ask the rest of the band that question. However, your question might mean just a little more than the obvious. It does take me several shows just to get the nuances perfect. I’m talking about the older material. They were someone else’s drum parts, you know? It takes a bit to live with them and own them. It’s a give and take thing that takes time.

DB: I’ve seen Dream Theater live several times, I’ve been very fortunate in that aspect, I know enough about the band to know that they enjoy evolving the set list during a tour. They will add new songs from the album, they will revisit older material. Where do you find the time to learn the songs?

MM: Usually at home during any breaks. I went through our entire catalog prior to recording this record. It’s something that I’ve inherited, so I took the time to play it all. Understand that I played it. It doesn’t mean that I learnt it. I went through it and picked up some stuff. When we add a song to the set list, I learn the songs during any breaks. I’ve already started doing that for the next tour because we’re going to have a whole different list of songs.

DB: I think Dream Theater did their fans a tremendous service when they produced the “Spirit Carries On” documentary that detailed the band's search for a new drummer. It gave everyone an introduction to you, as well as the other drummers that auditioned. It showed that this process was not a slam-dunk for the band or the drummers. And finally, I think it showed respect to the fan, it allowed them to understand and, in a way, participate the process.

I also think it did you a tremendous service. As I said, it was an introduction to you, your passion and the reverence you express to the position. And it gave the fan confidence that the position was filled by an incredibly gifted musician. I know this is more of a statement than a question but do you have any comment?

MM: You’re right, it is a statement, but I will back it up and say that it was a service to me and the fans. Because of that documentary the fans are welcoming me. I am being accepted. It’s bringing people to the show that may have doubted and once they see the show they understand. It brings me joy to be in any band, but especially one that had such a great drummer. I know that I will never sound like any other drummer on the planet no matter how hard I try, but I can learn the parts and make it sound close. I should also say that I’m grateful to the band. Making that documentary was not cheap and they’re giving it way. It’s unbelievable.

I want to thank Mike Mangini for taking time from his busy schedule. Dream Theater is currently touring America in support of “A Dramatic Turn of Events” and will be returning to Europe in the new year. See this tour and buy this album!