Mike Portnoy

Full Name: Michael Stephen Portnoy

Born: 4/20/67

Official Website: Mike Portnoy.com

Equipment Used: Tama Starclassic drums, Sabian Cymbals, Remo heads, DW Pedals, Pro-Mark Drumsticks, Latin Percussion

Status in Dream Theater: Founding member, Drummer, band-leader, spokesperson.

DT Discography: Everything

Other Bands: Liquid Tension Experiment, Transatlantic, OSI

Mike Portnoy "fun facts"

• Married Marlene Apuzzo of the band Meanstreak, his fellow bandmates John Myung and John Petrucci also married members of this band.
• Has two children, Max and Melody
• The "420" on his drumsticks has nothing to do with marijuana (which he has given up), but signify his birthdate
• Plays with his left drumstick upside down
• His son Max has a set of "kids 420" sticks
• Has Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
• Born and raised in Long Island, NY
• Loves Boxing.
• His grandmother fronted him the cash to press up a thousand copies of the original 6-track Majesty Demo.
• Went to the Berklee school for music along with Petrucci and Myung.
• Is an avid fan of The Beatles.
• Biggest musical influence is Frank Zappa.
• Favorite saying is "Eat my ass and balls"
• Is an avid film and TV fan.
• Loves Taco Bell
• Has two pets, Bongo the dog and Cypress the cat (bongo can be heard barking on "The Spirit Carries On: John Petrucci Vocal Demo"
• Sings backup for Dream Theater, Transatlantic and OSI.
• Can also play bass guitar (in Nightmare Cinema) and Keyboards (the track "YYZ" on The Majesty Demos.
• Didn't write any lyrics at all until the song A Change of Seasons.
• Is a recovered alchoholic and wrote three songs about his recovery, The Glass Prison, This Dying Soul and The Root of All Evil.