Mike Portnoy is little question certainly one of steel’s biggest drummers of all time, as he’s confirmed over the previous 4 a long time with prog titans Dream Theater and a number of different initiatives. Nonetheless, even probably the most completed drummers have a tough time making an attempt Danny Carey’s drum elements in Instrument’s music.
In a brand new video from Drumeo, Portnoy — who just lately rejoined Dream Theater after a 13-year absence — was challenged to play Instrument’s “Pneuma” from the 2019 album Worry Inoculum.
As Drumeo’s YouTube description declares, “Watch as drumming legend Mike Portnoy makes an attempt the not possible activity of studying Instrument’s 12-minute masterpiece – ‘Pneuma.’ … How will Mike go about studying this insane drum half? How does he crack the ‘code’ of the track? Tune in to seek out out and watch Mike study one of the vital difficult drum elements ever created over the course of a Drumeo session lasting practically six hours.”
In a remark, Drumeo additional said, “That is probably the most troublesome problem we’ve ever given anybody in Drumeo historical past!”
The half-hour clip, which as famous was filmed over the course of six hours, reveals the Dream Theater drummer racking his mind as he tries to study Carey’s complicated drum elements. The clip contains Portnoy listening to the monitor, watching a video of Carey taking part in the track, trying on the sheet music, and eventually delivering his personal try on the drum elements.
At one level within the video, Portnoy exclaims, “This makes Dream Theater sound like fuckin’ Weezer,” eliciting laughter from the Drumeo employees, earlier than including, “With all due respect to Weezer. I like Weezer. However that is loopy!”
Whereas he could not excellent Carey’s taking part in, Portnoy does a fairly advantageous job maintaining with the 12-minute track, even when he was slightly humble about it in his personal touch upon the YouTube video:
“Glad to see you all having fun with this train in human torture! Additionally, relieved to see I’m not getting bashed (not less than too badly) for not ‘nailing it’ … sure, this was a large problem!! As I discussed within the video, I feel watching Danny’s efficiency video and looking on the transcriptions had been certainly useful … these are two further instruments I might’ve utilized at residence if I had been auditioning for a band or making ready to study songs for a tour … (I additionally am NOT an expert transcriber nor sight reader … which might’ve certainly sped up the method for lots of drummers who’re good at that.) Absolutely this playthrough is tough in spots, however I did the perfect I might with the stress of cameras rolling and a clock ticking … what a problem!!! Wow…”
Instrument kick off a UK/European tour Saturday evening (Could twenty fifth) in Hannover, Germany, with tickets obtainable right here. Dream Theater, in the meantime, will launch their first tour with Portnoy again within the band with a UK/European leg that begins October twentieth in London (decide up tickets right here).
Watch Mike Portnoy try to play Instrument’s “Pneuma” within the video beneath.