Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy: Top 10 Favorite Albums

According to Blabbermouth.net Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy recently revealed his ten favorite albums to Amazon.com. They are as follows (in chronological order):

The Beatles - "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (1967)

The Who - "Tommy" (1969)

David Bowie - "Ziggy Stardust" (1972)

Elton John - "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973)

Pink Floyd - "The Wall" (1979)

The Beastie Boys - "Paul's Boutique" (1989)

Mr. Bungle - "Mr. Bungle" (1991)

Jellyfish - "Spilt Milk" (1993)

Radiohead - "OK Computer" (1997)

Muse - "Absolution" (2003)

To read Portnoy's comments on each of his selections, click here.

Dream Theater's new album, "Systematic Chaos", will be released on Tuesday, June 5 (date may vary in different countries) through Roadrunner and will be available in two formats: regular-edition CD (cover) and a special-edition CD and DVD (cover).

Dream Theater will be Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson's guests on Saturday, May 26 during Bruce's weekly BBC 6 Music radio show, aptly named "Rock Show". Listen to the program live via the Internet between 9:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. (midnight) U.K. time (between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. EST) at BBC.co.uk.

Comments

[Muse-Citizen]

I wouldnt have seen Absolution in there

[Aftertime]

wow would not have guessed~makes me want to check them out...

[Firewind Raging]

It's not what I expected from the drummer of a band like Dream Theater. Well, maybe Muse and Pink Floyd.

[jimmythehand]

the man has taste i'll give him that. seein theater live in newcastle the saturday after their album comes out

[GoodCharloteSux]

thats a pretty unexpected list considering he is in a prog metal band.

[marvelboy_04]

why is this in the news section?

[marvelboy_04]

oh, ok. new album news. nice.

[Satch_Boogie]

DSOTM > The Wall

Yep, Im derailing.

[Belsius]

radiohead and pink flyod are obvious, absolution?
well good for him

[recliner33]

That's a pretty good list and that's cool that he's into Mr. Bungle, I didn't know so many people have heard of that band.

[Pure_Morning]

i give him a high five for have bowie on the list!

(though personally i would a put low or "heroes" if i was asked)

[kalamari]

He's got a much more extensive list of favourites on his site, very diverse

[Noverion]

wow, prettu unexpected, but he has damn good taste i have to say, surprised about beastie boys though.

[FreedomFighter]

Yeaah. Those are some of my favorite albums too.

Gotta remember! You listen for the songwriting and skills of a band, rather than JUST the drumming.

[Second Rate]

Where's the Rush?

[GnikNus]

i wouldn't of guessed. not a bad list

[psychodelia]

Checked

[olif8]

:O He likes Jellyfish too? And I thought I was the only one...

[din_lokale]

Where´s Greenday?

[Kaadsj]

AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL cd-covers, both of them.

[Doodleface]

I was expecting more metal and progressive stuff in this.
I think he could have easily listed Cowboys From Hell, Master of Puppets, Close to the Edge, 2112, and more, but he wanted to show people that he has a very diverse taste in music.

[n0selfesteem]

recliner33 wrote:

That's a pretty good list and that's cool that he's into Mr. Bungle, I didn't know so many people have heard of that band.

I would've put Disco Volante up, personally, but Mr. Bungle ****ing owns, for sure.

[sambargun]

Intersting. No mention of prog gods like Rush, ELP or Yes. I always thought that DT took a lot of their basic style from Rush and Yes and expanded on it. Still a good list.

[Second Rate]

Doodleface wrote:

I was expecting more metal and progressive stuff in this.
I think he could have easily listed Cowboys From Hell, Master of Puppets, Close to the Edge, 2112, and more, but he wanted to show people that he has a very diverse taste in music.

I've said it before on blabbermouth, and i'll say it again here. I'm all for people having eclectic taste in music, but this list is really not all that 'diverse.' With the exception of a couple on the list it's mainly commercial rock. I'll never slag the guy's playing.... but for a guy who was obsessed enough with Rush and Led Zeppelin to have exact replicas of john bonham and neil peart's drum kits constructed for him.. you would think at least one of those bands would make his top ten list.

[dantheman123]

din_lokale wrote:

Where´s Greenday?

thats a joke right?

[Yertle]

Mr. Bungle?

Ha.

[yawn]

Glad to see he's not as close-minded as many of his fans are.


(This is just in reference to the apparent "surprise" that he listens to more than just prog rock.)

[Ibzman]

Second Rate wrote:

Where's the Rush?

Exactly what I thought.

[Absent Mind]

I didnt like seeing Muse in there lol, and thought that Beastie Boys was a cool thing from him,

but I did expect something like ...and Justice for all to be there

[dirtymexican863]

Muse is awesome! I glad to see someone so into Prog appreciates good hard rock too....

[aegrisomnia679]

n0selfesteem wrote:

recliner33 wrote:

That's a pretty good list and that's cool that he's into Mr. Bungle, I didn't know so many people have heard of that band.
I would've put Disco Volante up, personally, but Mr. Bungle ****ing owns, for sure.

Same here, its a masterpiece in my opinion
Surprised that so many people are into Mr.Bungle though, its pretty cool!

[dtjj09]

Preety good taste.

[not_dead_enough]

Doodleface wrote:

I was expecting more metal and progressive stuff in this.
I think he could have easily listed Cowboys From Hell, Master of Puppets, Close to the Edge, 2112, and more, but he wanted to show people that he has a very diverse taste in music.

Yeah where's Rust in Peace???

Anyway good for him, he can listen to what he wants.

[KissingShadows]

Yea Mr. Bungle!

[IsThereLoveInSp]

No suprise to the Muse. Their most recent two albums have song that sound like they directly lifted Muse songs and ideas and Dream Theater-ized them. Not that thats a bad thing, Im a big fan of both. I am, however suprised to see Elton John and The Beastie Boys on there.

[the_hoople]

Satch_Boogie wrote:

DSOTM > The Wall

Yep, Im derailing.

Wish You Were Here>DSOTM>The Wall>Post-Waters stuff
haha

[LynchMobster]

Ibzman wrote:

Second Rate wrote:

Where's the Rush?
Exactly what I thought.

me too. id expect master of puppets and the number of the beast, since the band actually went through the trouble of learning the whole albums and playuing them in concert. but being a prog rock/metal band, id expect some Yes and Tool. Mybe not Tool, but definatly Yes and Rush

[Anty 7]

I know for a fact that Portnoy is one of the greatest Megadeth fans on this planet, and of course a Rush fan.

So yeah I was expesting those two bands...

Portnoy was actually the one who introduced both Johns to thrash metal.

[RandyismyIdol]

I don't get why everyone is so surprised by his choices. I mean the guy was a kid once. It's not like he was into Prog Metal all of his life. Cripes, my uncle saw them opening for a Yes concert a couple years ago. Why? Well, I'm pretty sure Yes was one of their influences. Not very Prog Metal I would say. They're very musically diverse individuals. Check out all the covers they do on the A Change of Seasons album. I would be suprised if all the albums Portnoy named WERE all of metal genre.

[Anty 7]

Oh and this list just may be total shit. I mean the source is Amazon, and everybody knows his taste in music.

And I'm incapable of making a top ten list without leaving some of my favourite artists out.

[DTFatesWarningX]

mr. bungle= the shit...I read somewhere DT did a cover of "The Secret Song", I absolutely need a bootleg of that

[Darkspear]

the new album is great, Iv heard it. Great old school dream theater, not like last album who was more commercial.

[FeiRei]

the_hoople wrote:

Satch_Boogie wrote:

DSOTM > The Wall

Yep, Im derailing.

Wish You Were Here>DSOTM>The Wall>Post-Waters stuff
haha

Mother Atom> Anything else

[Guitar_Poet]

hahaha, not very unexpected... Portnoy has a very diverse taste in music. though I, like others, am pretty surprised not to see Rush on there... then again, the list isnt of favorite bands, its of favorite albums. big difference!

DT rock on! the special edition cover is alright, but the other one is nothing special... i dont really care though, the music is going to be awesome! (not so sure about the lyrics, hahahaha... they will be interesting though, for sure).

[garthunkle]

can't wait till they come to australia

[SikkiNixx]

Why are people surprised hes into Mr.Bungle, and keep saying "omg other people like them!!" Its not surprising.. *Thinks of Mike Pattons t-shirt in epic*

[Ibanez_K_7]

Elton John!! nice to have him on that list

[purple_rain]

jesus are any of u guys actually fans of Dream Theater? caise if u really were u wouldnt b suprised by any of this, nor would u b suprised that theres no metal in there!
Have any of u heard A Change of Seasons? the most of that album is covers of bands that have influenced them, and seeing as theres Elton John, Pink Floyd and even JOURNEY covers on there! this isnt a suprise at all!

[AndrewSchaeffer]

wow i didnt expect muse to be there

[McFoss]

Mr. Bungle PWNS