Dream Theater have published the first in a series of webisodes in they search for a new drummer to replace departed sticksman Mike Portnoy. About a month after original drummer Mike Portnoy left Dream Theater, the band held three days of auditions in New York City. Drummerszone.com sources reveiled two weeks ago the new drummer of Dream Theater is Mike Mangini.Comments Peter Wildoer on his audition:
"My audition started with two jams where we set the levels for in ears and just felt each other out — musically, that is. ;-) After that, we went through the three songs they sent me. (...) At last, they wanted to try some new ideas. This was HAAAAAAAAARD! The ideas were in weird odd times and not one bar with the same meter. Very cool ideas, and I got my head around it so and so after a while. If those ideas end up on the new Dream Theater album, it will be PROG! :-)"
Derek Roddy states:
"[It] was cool, but the environment (in-ears, video, etc...) didn't lend itself to a lot of creative moments... Plus the fact that these guys were trying to 'jam' in odd times, etc. Then they threw some riffs at me to see how quickly I could spit out complex stuff. Now this was fun, but at the same time I could tell that they were looking for a dude that will come in and record an entire record in the studio on the spot. I've never wanted to work that way as I believe that if the business (need to put out a record quickly) overtrumps the musical vision (taking time and creating the best you can), then that ultimately directs where the band ends up in the future. (...) And I am certain that they knew who they wanted before these auditions were even thought about. One thing that was said directly to me was, 'Whoever it will be, it's got to be the fans' choice, someone the fans are completely happy with.'"
Fans' choice or not, the band has already decided: Mike Mangini will be their new drummer.
Watch the first webisode on YouTube.
