Chuck Shute Podcast

Mike Portnoy (The Winery Dogs, ex Dream Theater)

January 11, 2023 Mike Portnoy Season 4 Episode 312
Chuck Shute Podcast
Mike Portnoy (The Winery Dogs, ex Dream Theater)
Show Notes Transcript

Mike Portnoy is a drummer who has played with several bands including Dream Theater, Twisted Sister, Avenged Sevenfold and Sons of Apollo. He is currently promoting his band The Winery Dogs upcoming album “3” and subsequent tour. We discuss The Winery Dogs, Mike’s work ethic, drumming styles and much more!

00:00 - Intro
00:42 - Twisted Sister Reunion
02:13 - New Winery Dogs & Mixer Jay Ruston
03:35 - Song Titles & Specific Songs
06:35 - Streaming Music & New Music
09:02 - Goal with New Record
10:30 - New Tour & New Dates
12:30 - Juggling Schedule & Multiple Bands
13:18 - Work Ethic & John Sykes
14:15 - Other Drummers & Drumming Style
17:15 - The Gig That Got Away & Other Gigs
19:13 - Retirement & Practice
20:11 - Dude Where's My Music
20:35 - Neil Peart's Charity
21:25 - Outro

The Winery Dogs website:
http://www.thewinerydogs.com/

Mike Portnoy website:
https://www.mikeportnoy.com/

Neil Peart Charity website:
https://glioblastomafoundation.org/news/tribute-to-rush-drummer-neil-peart/neil-peart

Chuck Shute website:
http://chuckshute.com/

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Thanks for Listening & Shute for the Moon!

Chuck Shute:

Coming up on the show, we have drummer Mike Portnoy. He's one of the most prolific drummers in history. He's played in many bands, Dream Theater Avenged Sevenfold, Twisted Sister and so many more. His current project right now is the winery dogs with Richie Kotzen and Billy Sheehan, two outstanding musicians in their own right. So we're going to talk about their new album three tour into the winery dogs, Mike's thoughts on streaming, other great drummers, his work ethic and so much more stay right there. Yeah, it's interesting. Just today, there was like this big news about you hear the news about Twisted Sister, they're gonna do a show a one off?

Mike Portnoy:

Did I hear the news?

Chuck Shute:

I'm the drummer, or you are so it's official. I didn't hear that part. I was gonna ask you.

Mike Portnoy:

I mean, we've known that we're playing for months now. It's just, I think it was only kind of made public today.

Chuck Shute:

Okay, because I thought it said it in the article. Like they didn't know who was gonna be. And I was like, but you were tagged in it. So I was like, that's kind of weird.

Mike Portnoy:

Well, Steve Vai and myself are inducting them into this metal Hall of Fame. And then we'll we'll be performing a few songs there at the ceremony. Oh, that's

Chuck Shute:

super cool. That's awesome. And you've been inducted into what is it the modern rock drummer Hall of Fame?

Mike Portnoy:

Well, I was inducted into this metal Hall of Fame as well. The one that they're going in, I was inducted in 2019. But I was inducted in the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame back in 2004. So that's almost 20 years ago at this point.

Chuck Shute:

Damn, that's crazy. So many you keep I mean, how do you keep track of all those awards? Like does those things mean anything to you? Or they're all there? Are they? Yeah, that's cool.

Mike Portnoy:

I'm looking at him backwards. There we go. But ya know, I mean, that stuff is always it's always an honor to get recognized and, you know, that kind of thing to happen. But yeah, it's gonna be fun. Fun playing with twisted again. We haven't played together since 2016. So it's been Wow, six or seven years at this point. Yeah.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, I had D on the show. He's such a hoot. He's like, he's really funny. Yeah, yeah. So new winery dogs. This is exciting. I'm a fan. I love the first two albums. I get to hear the third one, the whole thing. It's really great. So I was always curious though, because a lot of times it just says songs by the winery dogs but on this one, it does say, Richie wrote all the lyrics is that for the same as the first two as well? Um,

Mike Portnoy:

yeah, we the only difference was the first album I wrote one set of lyrics for the first album, but other than that, the formula has been the same. The three of us working on the music together and arranging the music together, writing the music and the parts and then Richie writing all the lyrics. So yeah, other than one song in the first album, he's always written all the lyrics.

Chuck Shute:

That's super cool. And then tell me about working with Jay Ruston. He's the he's the producer and the producer he CO produced it. He Joe just straight up mixer.

Mike Portnoy:

Yeah, same with same as all three albums. It's the same. We self produced the three of us in the band and then J mixes.

Chuck Shute:

And so you just send that off to him. And he's not even in the room with you guys.

Mike Portnoy:

No. Yeah, he's I mean, I've worked with Jay with a lot of stuff. He's mixed all three wiener dogs albums, he mix both sons of Apollo albums. He makes the first Adrenaline Mob album that I did years ago. So yeah, I've worked with Jay a lot through the years and he's just he's just amazing.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, he's got quite a resume for sure. As as you do as well. So yeah, the first song Zandu I was curious, you know, actually, what's interesting is seven of the 10 songs it there's just one word titles, but it's like so simplistic, but the music isn't, is that is there some sort of like strategy behind that? Is that just how Richie does, which usually name the song titles?

Mike Portnoy:

Yeah, Richie as the lyricist also named that song so I guess that's his his thing. If even if you look at the prior albums, you know, elevate and desire and damaged and regret. I guess that's just his, his title style, you know,

Chuck Shute:

ya know, it's it's fun. I think my Xandra is the first single but I also really liked the song Rise, because I was kind of got like a little bit of a heavy metal riff, you've got a really cool drum fill really fast pace. Is that a fun one to play?

Mike Portnoy:

I don't know. We haven't played any of these songs yet. We played them in the studio and we recorded them and that's it. But we haven't played any of these things live. So I assume that it'll be a fun one to play live because it's got a lot of energy. It's one of the more energetic. I wouldn't call it metal but it's more funky and groovy, you know? It's got a lot of energy to it.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah. And the other one that I was curious about so does Richie does he tell you when he when he writes the lyrics, or do you ask him like, Hey, what is this about? Or do you just not even just let that kind of be a mystery?

Mike Portnoy:

I don't even know you'd have to ask him. You know that usually the lyrics come many, many months after In the process of the three of us being together, you know, the three of us will be together to write and jam and arrange. But then often, it's many, many months later before Richie presents, you know, final lyrics and vocals. And in some cases, I have no idea what the hell he's talking about. That's his. That's his prerogative. That's his world and his vision and his, you know, his direction.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, cuz I was gonna ask about that song gaslighting. I was like, oh, that's an interest. I just learned what that term was a few years ago. But you also do some really insane drumming on that song as well.

Mike Portnoy:

Well, that one, that one is the most fastest like, kind of, you know? You know that that's the most bombastic, upbeat double bass driving one on the album for sure.

Chuck Shute:

Ya know, for sure, that's cool. And then, you know, the red wine. That's, that's a fun one to says is that, I guess I'd have to ask for it. Yeah. And that too, because it's just like, it's party time, keep pouring the red wine on. Like, I'm assuming that's just like a simple thing. But sometimes it's about some sort of, like, metaphor, or whatever. I'm terrible.

Mike Portnoy:

I mean, it was natural with a band called The winery dogs, that there would inevitably be a song like that, you know, which is kind of an anthem. Yeah, it's just, it's just a party anthem. You know, you could hear that, you know, people, it just sounds like people in a bar or a club just or even just a party at home, just having a good time, and just hanging out and pouring that red wine. And that's kind of what Richie wrote about.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, no, that's cool. So does with the music, people can pre order this now? And then eventually, of course, they can stream it. Does the streaming Does that, does that piss you off? Or do you think that's okay, for fans to stream, because the more streams you get, it helps sell concert tickets, and merch and all the other things.

Mike Portnoy:

Um, you'd get a different answer from different people. Like, I know, Richie is very pro. Um, I don't want to put words in his mouth. But I know he's a lot more tolerant and accepting over the streaming world than I am personally, I think it's, you know, been a huge, you know, variable in killing record sales for artists for the last 20 years. So, you know, it's at the point now, where every everybody just expects to get music for free. And that's just become the norm. Obviously, it never used to be that way that artists would get paid for their music and their art. So, to me, I have a personal issue with it, but I'm not going to be like a chromogen Old, old man, just sitting on the front porch complaining about it, you know, I accept that. It's, it's, it's where we are in 2023. And as part of technology as part of evolution, and, you know, but it's to the point where it's not only hurting musicians, it hurts filmmakers, and movie theaters. And now you can see it hurting artists, you know, with AI, artwork and stuff like that. So, but I accept that it's, it's part of evolution and technology, it is what it is. But personally, you know, I don't know, I'm not the biggest fan of it, I don't stream music at all, I still will download music, maybe from iTunes, I'll buy the record or whatever, or I'll buy the CDs and loaded into my iTunes and I still have everything on my phone in my iTunes library. And you know, I don't use Spotify or anything like that, or Apple Music, but that's just me personally.

Chuck Shute:

How do you find new music? Then? Do you listen to the radio? Or do you try YouTube? Or?

Mike Portnoy:

No, I just on social media, you know, if you follow all your favorite artists and bands, and musicians, you know, inevitably, whatever they're doing will turn up in your feed. And when somebody has a new album, or new song or new video, I'll click on it and check it out. And, you know, or buy the album, either on vinyl or on iTunes or whatever. But yeah, you know, social media is now the way that everybody kind of promotes their what they're doing, whether it be an album or a tour. Mm hmm.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah. So I had Edgar Winter on it was interesting. I was talking to him about his new album. And I was asking him, like, are you trying to sell a lot of records, whatever he's like, No, I just want to make a good album that I'm happy with and that is respected by my peers. Do you feel the same way with the new winery dogs is that kind of your goal, or you have something else in mind?

Mike Portnoy:

That's my goal with every record I've ever made since the very first one I made in 1988. You know, I've never been in this business to make money or to sell million records. You know, to me, I became a musician because I wanted to make music and create stuff that, you know, was fulfilling and hopefully enjoyable for somebody else as well. So that's always been the goal from day one till today for me. It just so happens that these days you can't really even sell a lot of records. It's just it doesn't happen anymore. So you kind of have to accept that fact and move on. You make the best record you can for yourself artistically. Hopefully, your fanbase will enjoy it as well and Hopefully you can get on the road and play concerts to enjoy playing it live.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, no, that's awesome. And then I did want to mention too, that if people if the fans preorder they can enter to win a custom fender from Richie Kotzen. The Telecaster guitar, right.

Mike Portnoy:

I guess I don't know. I want to know what kind of guitar promotions are happening. But yeah, that was like that. So that was a part

Chuck Shute:

of the publicity thing that I just wanted to I'm trying to help you sell this stuff. So and then we have the the tour is coming up 22 dates, as little tick that there's not even anything close on the West Coast. Well, that will you be adding us dates?

Mike Portnoy:

There's, first of all, there's more than 22 dates. I think we've already announced the first 50 or 60 days.

Chuck Shute:

I don't know why I was reading the 22 date run that you did in 2019.

Mike Portnoy:

Yeah, that's yeah, that was Who let the dogs out. I love that one. But that was 2019. That was four years ago. So the current the current tour is we've got about 50 or 60 dates already out there. The first us run is almost two months long, almost 40 dates, just covering the east and East Coast and Midwest. So yeah, from there, we go down to Brazil for a few shows, then we're going to be back up doing the rest of America in May, we'll head west on that run. Then we go to Europe for you know, short little run in June. And then we're gonna have another European full leg later in the year and another full South American leg later in the year, and we're gonna have Japan later in the year. So it's a pretty thorough tour only which, you know, tip of the iceberg has been announced so far. So yeah, there's a lot more dates to come, of course.

Chuck Shute:

Oh, sweet. Okay, that's good. Yeah, cuz I've never seen you guys live. I assume that's a huge part of the band. I mean, the recording is one thing, but seeing it live, because you're gonna do you're gonna add in some solos and things like that. And some fun surprises, I assume.

Mike Portnoy:

Yeah. I mean, this is definitely a live band, all three of us love playing live. And it's definitely like a three ring circus. Like, you know, no matter what you're watching or listening to, you're gonna be entertained. You know, the power trio format just opens itself up so much to live environment. There's just so much space to fill. So yeah, we love playing live.

Chuck Shute:

Awesome. Very cool. I look forward to that. Would you have any, like special guests? Are you going to do any covers or anything else? Any other.

Mike Portnoy:

I mean, we're now on our third album, we have enough material of our own. You know, when we did our first tour, or for the first album, we had to pad it out with some Mr. Big songs or songs or some covers. But no, with with three albums in we have enough of our own now at this point.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah. Now it's crazy. So I heard you say that. You don't have a problem remembering the music, but the schedule, that's got to be the hard part, right? Because with all the bands that you're in, and, and trying to juggle all that.

Mike Portnoy:

Yeah, I mean, I've never had a problem remembering the music, I'll play with three different bands over the course of you know, five days. And it's happened so many times in my career, where you jump from gig to gig to gig and you have to have it all in there. And I have no problem with that. To me. It's just it's a natural thing. Yeah, the scheduling is hard, you know, when you have, I mean, at the moment, I have, I think, seven or eight different bands that I currently play with, you know, some more active than others. But yeah, the scheduling is, that's the hard part.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah. Now, you talk about your work ethic, because I mean, you're one of the best drummers out there. And I feel like that's got to be a big, I mean, obviously, you're talented, but the work ethic piece has got to be a part of it, too. Right. I mean, because it's not originally you guys, were going to work with John Sykes and the winery dogs and he didn't have the same work ethic as you and Billy.

Mike Portnoy:

Well, no, that's a misconception John Sykes had nothing to do with the winery dogs he found sorry, hated, he predated the winery door. Billy and I were working within him on his own music. And we were going to try to play with him with with his music. And John just kind of never did anything with it. You know, even here we are 12 years later, however, many years later it is and he still hasn't done anything with that music. So Billy, and I got impatient waiting for him and decided to form something else. And that's when we connected with Richie. And that's where the wiener dogs was born with that.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, did you have I know, you say you just want to make music to you know, entertain yourself, it's up. But do you have any sort of competitive bone in your body? Like, are you competitive with other drummers? Like, do you want to be the best because you're considered one of the best?

Mike Portnoy:

No, no, I hate the I hate being compared or being you know, having any kind of expectation or pre preconceived conception of what I do. I mean, I don't know, I get very intimidated by other drummers, and, you know, I personally, I don't know I, if anything, I'm very inspired to be better, but when I see all these amazing drummers out there, but uh, I don't have a I don't feel music as a competition. I think everybody does do what they do. And you know, certain people are good at certain things and you know, you kind of got to look at Look at everybody and listen to them for what they they bring to the table. And I have so many drummers that I admire that have no technical abilities whatsoever, but they bring a good groove or a good vibe to something or there's other drummers that are these technical monsters that you know, are incredible and inspiring. But it's, you know, music isn't the competition. It's something that's supposed to be enjoyed for whatever it is.

Chuck Shute:

Can you I don't want to get you in trouble here. We're talking about guns and roses, but I was just wondering if you could explain to me the first album was Steven Adler like it because people say that he's technically not a good drummer. But like, it's something about the swing or something. Is that kind of what you're referring to and you say some people aren't technic because I love his drumming on that first album, but I didn't I'm not a drummer. So I don't know how to explain what it is about it. It's just something about the groove. Is that kind of what you're talking about? Yeah, well,

Mike Portnoy:

some of my favorite drummers of all time are, you know, Ringo Starr or Peter Criss. And technically, they, you know, they're not the type of drummers that could play 7898 and 11, eight grooves, and 30 minute songs like I've done my whole career. You know, I've made a career out of these long progressive songs and epic arrangements and odd time signature pieces and Dubois drumming, obviously ring somebody like Ringo or Peter, Chris, that's not their thing. But yet, those are two of my biggest drum heroes of all time. You know, what Ringo brought to the Beatles is immeasurable. It doesn't have to be fast or heavy or technical. It has to do with his application of his art and what he does, and I have an appreciation for that. Whether it be Ringo or Peter Criss or Larry Mullen Jr. with you, too, or Steven as own guns, roses as you cited, so yeah, I mean, different strokes for different folks. And personally, I have an appreciation for everything all across the board.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah. What about Dave Lombardo? That guy just so aggressive?

Mike Portnoy:

Yeah, I mean, yeah, he's one of my favorite double bass thrash metal drumming heroes. You know, I grew up, you know, listening to those early Slayer albums when the Thrash movement was coming around. And Dave and Charlie Benante and Lars and you know, all those guys, Vinnie Paul, Mickey D, you know, for that style of music. Those guys are favorites.

Chuck Shute:

Amazing. Yeah. I don't know if you knew this, or what I had Richie on there talking about how he tried out for Aziz. He was actually going to be on these guitars but then it fell through. Did you ever have anything like that where you were about to be in a different band, and then it just didn't work out?

Mike Portnoy:

Yeah, well, one recently actually, I got called for a really pretty big gig recently. And I'm not going to name drop it, but it was a huge band. And we were all set to go and I had the the kit ordered for the gig and everything. It was for a one off show at a big festival and then the festival got canceled. So it wasn't like I got not used but the festival itself got cancelled. So the gig never I never happened. So yeah, that's one example of a gig that ended up not happening that almost did but anything else I've done, like helping out other bands like events unfolded, Twisted Sister or stone, sour overkill in all those cases, I just got called upon to, you know, to help out and went out and helped these bands out. But I've never like, auditioned for a band or anything like that. I've never gone through that process. So I've never had that experience.

Chuck Shute:

Right, because they would just call you. I mean, it's like that would be weird if you had to audition.

Mike Portnoy:

Yeah, I mean, I've never. I've never been in that situation. So I don't know.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah. What about the Foo Fighters? They have? I think they are they're trying to go back on the road that I don't think they have a drummer picked out yet. Right?

Mike Portnoy:

Well, I'm sure they do. They've announced three dates yesterday. I'm sure they're not booking dates without knowing who their drummer is. So I'm sure they have somebody I don't know who it is. But yeah, I mean that that's that's a huge gig.

Chuck Shute:

Or would you take the drum drums over and Mr. Big because I think they just announced that they may be doing some shows as well.

Mike Portnoy:

Yeah, no, it's not me. I know who the drummer is. Well, you do. It's not for me to say but it's not me. No.

Chuck Shute:

Okay. Cool. Well, do you have any other future plans? Like would you ever retire? I mean, I can't picture that.

Mike Portnoy:

Now I can either especially after a two year pandemics sitting home for two years in 2020 20 and 2021. That's enough for my lifetime to be sitting at home that's just not my nature. You know, I'll die being an active drummer.

Chuck Shute:

Okay, fair enough. Very, so do you still you still practice the drums a lot like for these gigs are you pretty much you've got it down pat.

Mike Portnoy:

I you know, I spend so much time going from band to band and toward the tour now on the album that when I come home the last thing I want to do is play drums and I want to sit home with my family and spend time with them and it would be pretty selfish of me to come home after being on the road you know for a week straight and then go into the basement start Practicing. It'd be pretty selfish. So, you know, I spend enough time behind the kid as it is that when I'm home No, I don't.

Chuck Shute:

Okay, cool. Last thing I was gonna ask you about, I think you're in this new movie, dude. Where's my music? It's like a documentary. Can you tell us about that? Sounds interesting Scott like slash, isn't it? Radiohead and Geddy Lee?

Mike Portnoy:

I have no idea. I have. I don't know what that is. Oh, they

Chuck Shute:

must just be using like, archived footage of you or something.

Mike Portnoy:

Yeah, I guess I don't even know get a royalty check. Yeah,

Chuck Shute:

it sounded intriguing. Alright, last thing I always end with a charity is our charity you want to promote here on the show that one that you've worked with in the past? Well, I

Mike Portnoy:

don't have one personally, but I just did a gig a few nights ago. And all the proceeds went to Neil parents charity. So you know if anything, that will be the one that was, you know, if you look at my social media, we just did a Bubba bash thing. tribute for Neil. And so yeah, if anything, I would recommend that one and it's towards brain cancer and, you know, recovery for that. You know, unfortunately, we lost Neil to that. So yeah.

Chuck Shute:

Okay, very cool. I'll put that in the notes along with the winery dogs website. And people can get the preorder the new album now and, of course, get a ticket to see you guys on tour. I can't wait. Awesome. Thanks so much, Mike. Cool, man. Thank you. Aren't you later bye bye. Thank you. Okay, my thanks again to Mike and his publicist, Amanda for helping set this up. Please support rock music by purchasing the new album, some buying some merch or buying a ticket to see the show. If you can't afford any of that, at least share their stuff on social media. And if you want to support my show, that's really the only way is with social media and YouTube comments, likes and shares. I appreciate your support for my guests and myself. Have a great day and shoot for the moon.