DREAM THEATER Keyboardist: New Drummer MIKE MANGINI 'Adapted To Our World So Wonderfully'

David Brinn of The Jerusalem Post recently conducted an interview with keyboardist Jordan Rudess of progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

On former DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy's change of mind and request to be reinstated after leaving the band last September:

"Mike wanted to come back after we had gone through all the emotional turmoil and pain of losing a friend, and the effort we went through to get back on our feet. We were well past our recovery phase and had made a commitment to [new DREAM THEATER drummer] Mike Mangini."

On Portnoy's decision to leave the band he co-founded and led for 25 years:

"His leaving was unbelievable, it was so emotional. He's a close friend of mine and we've been through so much together — it basically brought me to tears. But being a positive person and around guys who love what they're doing, we had to figure out how to move forward."

On Mike Mangini, a former Berklee College of Music teacher and holder of five World's Fastest Drummer records:

"Mike adapted to our world so wonderfully. He's not only a great drummer, but a great guy. He came into the audition and locked in with us and nailed it. We were amazed.

"We were looking for someone who could walk onstage with us and not throw us off in the least, and we found him in Mike. As painful and said as the situation was over not being able to work with Mike Portnoy, life goes on — this kind of thing, unfortunately, happens in bands and we're interested in keeping a positive direction and making really good music. And now, I'm no longer the new guy."