Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess sat down with 89FM A Rádio Rock for a new interview.
During their chat, the rocker shared his thoughts about their original drummer Mike Portnoy, who rejoined the band after 13 years.
Rudess also discussed the band’s upcoming album. It will be their first since Portnoy rejoined. When asked if the recording process had changed with Portnoy back in the band he said:
“Well, it’s definitely changed because he’s a very strong musical personality and a strong personality in general. And so he has a lot of thoughts about things.”
Rudess also revealed that they were doing fine before the drummer’s return, but things have changed in a good way since he came back:
“He’s a very conceptual thinker, and I think that as fine as we were just doing our own thing when he was gone, having him back, it’s just like, wow, this is so great to have your mind and your spirit involved in it. It really does change things. So I think when people hear the new album that we’re working on, they’ll kind of see that and they’ll feel that. I definitely think it’s reconnecting with some of the spirit of the magic that we produced in the years that he was in the band.”
How Portnoy’s Departure Affected DT
Back in April in a Rolling Stone interview, the members talked about reuniting with Portnoy.
The drummer himself was asked if he saw the reunion as ‘healing a fractured band.’ He replied with the following:
“I don’t want to be over-philosophical about it, but as we’re all getting older. Here we are in our 50s and 60s. You start to think of the reality of, ‘How much time do we have left?’ I would hate it if this were to become a Roger Waters-Pink Floyd or Peter Gabriel-with-Genesis situation where the fans want it, but it never happens.”
The guitarist John Petrucci said of Portnoy’s departure:
“When Mike left the band, it was traumatic for all of us. We had to figure out how we were going to move our career forward. And those years that went by, they were also healing years because you don’t just have something like that happen, and all of a sudden, you’re all best buddies a week later. There’s some trauma there that had to heal. Thirteen years was enough time for that to happen and be, like, ‘Hey, you know what, man? We love each other like we’re brothers.’”
The Album Is Coming Together
The band is currently recording their 16th studio album. Last month, Portnoy shared with The Prog Report details about the writing and recording sessions for the album. He said:
“It’s going great. The writing is done. My drum tracks are done. Guitars are done. So, this week we’re in bass land. I’m home at the moment. So I’m kind of jumping back and forth between the studio as needed. I’m not there 100 percent of the time. But I’m gonna go back for keyboards in a few weeks and then we’re gonna start the vocals, I think, next month.”
You can watch the interview below.