Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy performed one of many “hardest reveals” of his life on Tuesday (October twenty ninth) in Zagreb, Croatia.
Only a half hour earlier than Dream Theater took the stage, Portnoy realized of the dying of his sister, Samantha Leone Cattaneo, who handed away earlier that day after a battle with most cancers.
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Portnoy powered via and nonetheless performed the live performance whereas in mourning, although it was clearly an intensely emotional set for the drummer. In the course of the encore, frontman James LaBrie addressed the gang to dedicate the tune “Act II: Scene Eight: The Spirit Carries On” to Samantha, and guitarist John Petrucci sat subsequent to Portnoy through the ending solo (watch beneath).
Following the live performance, Portnoy shared the next assertion on Fb:
“Tonight in Zagreb Croatia was one of many hardest reveals I’ve ever needed to play. About half-hour earlier than showtime, I obtained a name from my brother that my loving sister Samantha Leone Cattaneo had simply handed away. My sister had been battling Most cancers all yr and the previous couple of days she took a flip for the more serious…it’s been a devastating couple of days for me and my household realizing the inevitable was coming…
As arduous because it was, tonight’s present went on and James devoted ‘The Spirit Carries On’ to her…this image is from tonight…these lights within the air had been for Sam…I wept like a child your entire time (John even got here and sat beside me at my equipment for the ending solo which meant a lot to me…)
My sister was all the time one in every of DT’s greatest followers & supporters and us reuniting meant sooooooo a lot to her. She wished so badly to be in London [at the opening show of the tour] however her well being had declined so shortly that it was inconceivable for her to journey. However she instructed me she watched some movies of the present on-line within the hospital and I understand how glad it made her.
I will probably be considering of her each evening on stage all through this tour once we play ‘The Spirit Carries On’ realizing that she now will get to look at each present, each evening, in every single place.
I like you Sis.”
Dream Theater are presently within the midst of the European leg of their 2024 fortieth anniversary tour dates — the band’s first trek with Portnoy behind the equipment since he rejoined the band. Subsequent yr, Dream Theater will embark on the North American leg of the tour (get tickets right here).
We ship our condolences to Portnoy and his household right now. Under you may watch fan footage of LaBrie dedicating “The Spirit Carries On” to the drummer’s sister.