Mike Portnoy is Suing Dream Theater For Rights To The Name

[MPF]

Taken from German Metal Hammer, transcribed into English

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Mike said he likes to take a break, after 5 years or so the band will come back stronger than ever.
When everyone else refused to take the break, he said "ok then I need to quite. I don't feel connected to DT anymore !"
John P did try to convince Mike to stay. The band said that he is doing a huge mistake and the AX7 gig is like a affair and one day he will be overtaken by the reality
Around 8 weeks later, after AX7 and Mike separate ways, Mike has send an Email to DT asking for rejoining, which the band refuses (They had already selected MM and where wondering how in 8 weeks the passion for DT did came back)

The interviewer (Metal Hammer) is asking:
"So to take revenge Mike is now suing you for a lot of money, claiming share of ownership of the band's name"
James: It is correct that there are some legal issues which we need to sort out. Fact is that Mike took a lawyer and we have informed ours. We are are not allowed to share more"
John P: at the end theses are some private issues which we should not talk about in public. Fact is we the band own Dream Theater's name/brand

Interviewer: It must be a real torture as musician to have to deal with these kind of issues:
James: the times of friendship with Mike, when we where friends and would hug each other and wishing him success for the future are definitively over. He needs to clarify everything via the lawyer now, there no other way. It is unpleasant but he did decide to take this path and now the judges will have sort things out "
John: I don't see a massive issue/deal. These things are part of life, no matter if you are a cookie seller or musician

With regards to the new album:
The Interviewer: "The situation for James did not significantly changed. His demand to have more involved in the lyrics was not approved"
James: Well, for this album, I have submitted 3 lyrics but for some reasons only one was picked up. You never know, maybe the other two will be reconsidered next time

From Rock Hard:

When Huge Syme did create the art work for the album, the working title was "Bridges in the Sky" !!
Later it was changed to "A dramatic turn of events" and the original title which came from the song "The Shaman's Trance" was used to rename the actual song !

[llama lom]

Oi vey.
-facepalm-

[300%_Density]

I love Portnoy and I do what I can to defend him and then this happens. I really tried to blow off the A7X thing. Then the whole trying to get back in the band was one thing. This is now really crossing the line. *Shaking my head*

[mankvill]

He left the band. He ain't got a case. Same shit happened to Gorgoroth.

[MPF]

Originally Posted by 300%_Density

I love Portnoy and I do what I can to defend him and then this happens. I really tried to blow off the A7X thing. Then the whole trying to get back in the band was one thing. This is now really crossing the line. *Shaking my head*

No I am the same way. I defended him till today. Now it's just fucking petty.

He was my favorite drummer, and the reason I'm still playing to this day, now, it's just fucking ridiculous.

[treghet]

Fucking pathetic.

[fonzbear2000]

Just fucking pathetic!

[treghet]

Originally Posted by mankvill

He left the band. He ain't got a case. Same shit happened to Gorgoroth.

No, that was completely different. Gaahl and King fired only remaining founding member of the band, Infernus. Since Infernus was the last founding member, the court decided that King's copyright was invalid, thus Infernus was able to keep the rights to the name and continue the band himself.

And side from Mike quitting the band on his own accord there are still two founding members left in Dream Theater, so I don't think there's anything he can do about it.

[Maidenmagic]

Mike Portnoy is one of the best drummers out there today but he needs to move on.

[JRA]

You gotta be shitting me. This is the dumbest shit I've ever heard.

I hope Portnoy gets seriously injured by a mentally unstable and confused by an Avenged Sevenfold fan.