Mike Portnoy confirms he will continue touring with Avenged Sevenfold
Fri, 08 Oct 2010
Mike Portnoy has confirmed that he will stay with Avenged Sevenfold throughout their touring cycle for their current album Nightmare.
In a recent interview with Sabian cymbals he tells how he explains how even though he's not a full time member of A7X he does feel "totally at home" with them."The relationship started as a tribute for Jimmy and as a result of the musical and personal chemistry making the record it’s blossomed into being on the road with them.
Originally that was only going to be for a couple of months until I went back to Dream Theater. Now because of the way the Dream Theater story unfolded I will rema
in out with Avenged Sevenfolf into 2011, and stay on the road with them through the whole album cycle.
Although I’m not a band member I’m definitely part of the onstage presentation and chemistry. During the first couple of shows I played I was trying to lean back and be respectful. I was thinking, ‘This is Jimmy’s drum throne, this is his space.’ But they were like, ‘No – be yourself, do your thing.' I came out of my shell and now I’m totally at home with these guys. We have a great chemistry, musically and personally."As a tribute to Avenged Sevenfold's drummer Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan who sadly passed away in December 2009, Mike Portnoy has added one of The Rev's Cymballs to his touring kit which had Sabian had been refurbishing but hadn't been able to return to him.
In other news the rift between Mike Portnoy and Dream Theater appears to have grown as comments from singer James LaBrie in a recent interview say the band are not sad at Mike Portnoy's departure from DT. The onslaught the drummer has received from fans since his announcement last month has resulted him avoiding posting on his forum, twitter and facebook for a while after a 'fan' posted an open letter on his website blaming him for the rift, he responded to set his side of the story straight;
"I'm not exactly sure what I did wrong. I've always been open and honest. I was hurt by the 'not sad at all' headline. I've tried to be respectful, delivate and sensitive – if anything I've been the one taking a beating.
I promised I was not going to read this stuff any more and let it upset me. I decided to reply to this open letter, bite the bullet one last time then properly sign off." he said before continuing that "...but after reading that headline I emailed all four guys in the band and none of them responded. And on that note, it is time to retire from posting for a while."
Portnoy and Avenged Sevenfold have just finished touring with the Rockstar Energy Uproar Festival in the US & Canada and will head to the UK later this month with Stone Sour for a co-headlining tour.
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