Portnoy Sweeps Drummer Awards

Mike Portnoy, former Dream Theater drummer, has been named best drummer in one competition several times over.

The Drummies awarded him the top spot in both "Drummer Of The Year" and "Metal Drummer" categories, and was a close runner up in "Progressive Drummer" and "DVD Of The Year".

It continues his successful run of winning "Drummer Of The Year" from both the Revolver Golden Gods awards and and Drum! Magazine. Modern Drummer magazine also awarded him "MVP Of The Year".

"This is truly an honour", Mike said in a statement (via Blabbermouth). "The fans have spoken: [Mike Portnoy] ain't goin nowhere!!! You guys are the best... I will continue to make you proud!"

Reflecting on his year, Mike says it's been hard to be dragged through the press and in 2011 he's seen highs and lows:

"The thing that breaks my heart is that some of the fans rely more on what's reported about me than what I'm actually saying at the moment", he told Noisecreep. "I see all these sensational headlines on certain web sites that misrepresent what I'm doing, and there are fans that react to that without knowing the real truth."

He continued: "This past year for me featured the highest highs and some of the lowest lows. I mean, after spending 25 years in Dream Theater, something I'll never be more proud of, and then the experience with Avenged Sevenfold, it's been some pretty extreme emotional stuff."

Here's the winners of the Drummies in full.

Drummer Of The Year

Mike Portnoy (winner)

Benny Greb

Jason Bittner

Gavin Harrison

Joey Jordison

Progressive Drummer

Gavin Harrison (winner)

Mike Portnoy

Danny Carey

Mike Mangini

Blake Richardson

Metal Drummer

Mike Portnoy (winner)

Joey Jordison

Chris Adler

Tomas Haake

Derek Roddy

Live Performer

Neil Peart (winner)

Jason Bittner

Travis Barker

Morgan Rose

Joey Jordison

Comments

[korbhag]

Glad to see Blake Richardson finally get some kind of recognition! Even though he should have been in the metal category and win that title.

[RiffYourFaceOff]

korbhag wrote:

Glad to see Blake Richardson finally get some kind of recognition! Even though he should have been in the metal category and win that title.

+1 he always seemed to be left out of these things.

[FREAKAZOID_69]

You can't beat Neil Peart.

[neversleeps84]

"I see all these sensational headlines on certain web sites that misrepresent what I'm doing"

Portnoy definitely checks out UG.

[gl.tch]

Progressive Drummer
Gavin Harrison (winner)

Well, good.

[dale-banez]

Wooo, Go Blake!

[RyanIbanezMan]

I always wish Jason Rullo would make these lists.

[Lost Dog]

neversleeps84 wrote:

"I see all these sensational headlines on certain web sites that misrepresent what I'm doing"

Portnoy definitely checks out UG.

haha +1

[bustapr]

Id like to see Yoshiki in these lists one day. Such an awesome drummer, yet so overlooked.

[Raven_Flight]

Blake Richardson was a nominee? Wow.
Congrats to him, he is finally getting some recognition

[Octavarium85]

It's good to see Blake and Danny as nominees. Seriously amazing drummers.

[Mprinsje]

Mike Portnoy (winner)
Joey Jordison
Chris Adler
Tomas Haake
Derek Roddy

tomas haake behind jordison? well come on...

[livinoffaprayer]

there is seriously an award show just for drummers? wow.

[HavokStrife]

The guy from Porcupine Tree got voted a better drummer than Portnoy? Okay.. Good to see Danny Carey in the lists, though. Probably the most underrated drummer in history.

And the live acts, save for Peart, is a fricken popularity contest, all those guys suck, particularly Bittner. What's so wonderful about him, his drumming, his band, or his shows? The drummer from Godsmack puts on a better show then all of them!

[Tigershark2112]

NEEIIIILLLLL!!!!

[Svennz]

The guy from Porcupine Tree owns most of the drummers you will ever meet in your lifetime. If he doesn't show off that much in the band it's because the songs don't require it, but he is technical and can do much, much more stuff than what he does in Porcupine Tree.

Cheers.

P.S. You can always look for videos in Youtube

[djtraceman]

RyanIbanezMan wrote:

I always wish Jason Rullo would make these lists.

[Geiger89]

Nice to see Haake getting nominated

[TomWhaley]

I wish Chris Pennie would be nominated... Guy's an incredible drummer

[HipsterZach]

djtraceman wrote:

RyanIbanezMan wrote:

I always wish Jason Rullo would make these lists.

When I met the drummer to Powerglove on the Sym X tour, he could not stop talking about how great Jason is and how he was helping him with his technique. When Jason came back with us, Bassil was like: "And here is the God!". Great guy, too.

I think Bassil should get an award though. He is great!

[Plan009]

Mprinsje wrote:


Mike Portnoy (winner)
Joey Jordison
Chris Adler
Tomas Haake
Derek Roddy

tomas haake behind jordison? well come on...

Looks pretty accurate to me. Jordison is one of few, much like Portnoy. Just saying.

[ToolCreedence]

TomWhaley wrote:

I wish Chris Pennie would be nominated... Guy's an incredible drummer

Pennie was an incredible drummer in Dillinger but he's quite lackluster in Coheed and Cambria, in my opinion. No Brann Dailor in the Metal Drummers list? I definitely think of him when it comes to metal drumming. And still not much love for Danny Carey. The guy plays crazy poly-rhythms using weird geometric concepts. Difficult stuff, thinking and playing drums at the same time...

[Bhfield]

BLAKE AND HAAKE!!! The Best man. Meshuggah and BTBAM. The Best!!!

[AtomicBirdy]

Sean Reinert would take spot #1 if whoever made this article didn't google the phrase "most popular drummer list".

[KsE60]

Plan009 wrote:

Mprinsje wrote:


Mike Portnoy (winner)
Joey Jordison
Chris Adler
Tomas Haake
Derek Roddy

tomas haake behind jordison? well come on...

Looks pretty accurate to me. Jordison is one of few, much like Portnoy. Just saying.

Joey Jordison is highly overrated IMO. Where's Brann Dailor??? He's one of my favorite drummers ever!

[Fingerboy18]

Gavin Harrison is completely ridiculous. He doesn't overplay, but what he does play is breathtaking. All the guys mentioned here are exceptional and it's great to see some recognition!

[xevious1]

what the heck is travis barker doing on that list for live performer, most overrated drummer of all time.

[Nameless742]

KsE60 wrote:

Plan009 wrote:

Mprinsje wrote:


Mike Portnoy (winner)
Joey Jordison
Chris Adler
Tomas Haake
Derek Roddy

tomas haake behind jordison? well come on...

Looks pretty accurate to me. Jordison is one of few, much like Portnoy. Just saying.


Joey Jordison is highly overrated IMO. Where's Brann Dailor??? He's one of my favorite drummers ever!

Agreed but this is the most popular list really.
That's not to say Portnoy etc are good drummers, and I love Chris Adler but There are better drummers. Just like the guitarist lists.

[Pippers]

Odd, where is Nicko McBrain on this list? Was he even considered?

[itsallonesong]

HavokStrife wrote:

The guy from Porcupine Tree got voted a better drummer than Portnoy? Okay.. Good to see Danny Carey in the lists, though. Probably the most underrated drummer in history.

And the live acts, save for Peart, is a fricken popularity contest, all those guys suck, particularly Bittner. What's so wonderful about him, his drumming, his band, or his shows? The drummer from Godsmack puts on a better show then all of them!

Just being in King Crimson qualifies harrison to beat carey.

[a drummer]

good to see blake richardson up there. the solo he's been doing on BTBAM's latest tour is amazing, one of the best Ive seen.
Matt Halpern needs some recognition(periphery)

And for the people who slam on Barker, yes he definitely not the best. but the shit he pulls off with his hands is incredible sometimes, not to mention he plays in a 3 chord punk band...

[Galvatron]

Lame list. Portnoy does not play metal.

His quote is about a month old.

The website he is talking about is blabbermouth.

[andyscoot]

Overrated drummer is overrated.

[bustapr]

when will Yoshiki of X Japan ever get the world recognition he deserves...

[ProgJazzMath]

BLAKE RICHARDSON! Hell yes! I was hoping Matt Greiner and Matt Halpern would have made the cut. Those guys know what's going on.

[Jacksonplayr100]

What about George Kollias and Inferno?

[xrobbiexcakesx]

Already been said, but yes, I'm so proud that Blake got recognition for this. FINALLY. Hopefully this sheds more light on the band as a whole. And I'm with ProgJazzMath; Matt Greiner is so beast haha

[Samhuinn]

Seen this comment twice already, but Yoshiki really would deserve international recognition! Seen them last saturday during their European tour, and he blew me away with technical abilities and personality.
Also, honorable mention for DIR EN GREY's Shinya !

[darkwolf291]

Galvatron wrote:
Lame list. Portnoy does not play metal.

Last I checked, Dream Theater was a Progressive Metal band...

[SilverSpurs616]

Good to see Jason Bittner get a mention up there, I want a new Shadows Fall album already!

[napalm890]

Travis Barker was nominated ???? Alright these are a joke

[COBHC_Erick429]

i fail to see hwo he "swept" the awards, only winning 2/4. sweeping it would mean 4/4. on a side note, imo, lets see how he does with awards now that hes 100% out of dream theater and he has a replacement. will the DT fanboys have mangini (sp?) win a shit ton of awards now, yet he had a fully established talented background before DT? most likely.

[strat09]

no surpsrise here

[shredder3386]

darkwolf291 wrote:

Galvatron wrote:
Lame list. Portnoy does not play metal.


Last I checked, Dream Theater was a Progressive Metal band...

Last i checked Portnoy isnt in DT...booyah

[peachesenregali]

AtomicBirdy wrote:

Sean Reinert would take spot #1 if whoever made this article didn't google the phrase "most popular drummer list".

+1

[awseomeguy]

AtomicBirdy wrote:

Sean Reinert would take spot #1 if whoever made this article didn't google the phrase "most popular drummer list".

I'm no drummer, but Reinert makes me jizz myself regardless.

[h3nriqu3]

Blake Richardson and BTBAM are great

[sheriff_nein]

this list is kinda lame.... but i think Haake shoulda won, even though im not really a Meshuggah fan. but i agree with the sentiment that this was a popularity contest. proof: joey jordison's presense.

[nashmanz]

Gavin Harrison is crazy awesome!!!

[StewieSwan]

Needs more Blake

[HectorBznRg]

i wish more people knew about Angra's drummer :/

[slaveskinJACKET]

I'm not sure that UG knows what the term 'sweep' means.

First, in order to have swept the drum awards, he would need to at least be nominated for all of the awards. He was only nominated for 3 of the 4.

Secondly, he would need to have won all of the categories to complete the sweep. He only won 2 of the 3 he was nominated for.

By that logic, I could say that the Mavericks swept the Heat this year.

HavokStrife wrote:

...Good to see Danny Carey in the lists, though. Probably the most underrated drummer in history...

I don't think he's under-rated. I think he gets at least most of the recognition he deserves.

But he is the only thing I like about Tool.

[Korgull]

Well. It's nice to see music awards doing what they always do.

Nominating the most popular drummers, most of which are no where near the best or deserving of any awards for nominations.

Especially "Metal Drummers", considering anyone well-versed in Metal could probably listen off 10-15 drummers that are more deserving, and better, than any of the guys listed there.

[Steve08]

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, Portnoy better than Roddy and Haake? Or Greb and Harrison? That's a bloody joke!

[zAg1619]

These "awards" are nothing more than popularity contests in all honesty, and mean next to nothing in regards to any of the drummers listed or their skill on the kit. I mean, look at half of these comments.. "Where's *insert drummer*?? He is my favorite!!!!" I view it this way... There is NO best drummer, or any of that shit. No matter how good you get in your life, there is ALWAYS going to be someone who is doing it better, whether they are famous, or in their garage at home, and just has not, and probably will not, ever be discovered.

[Silky Smooth]

Gavins amazing

glad to see he made it

[good_blink_plan]

Youguys are stupid. Saying it's nothing but a popularity contest. It's voted for by fans. Therefore, it's obviously going to be a biased result. Shut up and stop whinging. Are you gnna remember this in ten years time? No. So don't get so butthurt.

[espChris93]

I like portnoy as much as the next guy and im usually the one defending him but there are other (much better) drummers to give awards to. Like the guys who came close here, Thomas, Benny, Blake, oh well at least Gavin won Progressive drummer I was actually pulling my hair out earlier trying to play Bonnie The Cat

[espChris93]

slaveskinJACKET wrote:

I'm not sure that UG knows what the term 'sweep' means.

First, in order to have swept the drum awards, he would need to at least be nominated for all of the awards. He was only nominated for 3 of the 4.

Secondly, he would need to have won all of the categories to complete the sweep. He only won 2 of the 3 he was nominated for.

By that logic, I could say that the Mavericks swept the Heat this year.

HavokStrife wrote:

...Good to see Danny Carey in the lists, though. Probably the most underrated drummer in history...

I don't think he's under-rated. I think he gets at least most of the recognition he deserves.

But he is the only thing I like about Tool.

No the use of the word sweep is fine, they're not indicating that portnoy swept only this specific contest they listed numerous other publications and groups that have given him "Best drummer" and mvp honors this year. That's where the sweep comes from. Despite the obvious fact that there are much better drummers, im confused as to why Mike is piling up awards when he didn't release any albums.. Wasnt Black clouds and whatever '09? Even if the avenged sevenfold trash was recent enough did THAT win him these awards? I thought I had a few gripes with the mediocrity of some of his DT playing compared to other prog drummers, but that nightmare song was atrocious

[schirripar]

That is ridiculous. Dave Gorhl should have won

[LordEarthworm]

espChris93 wrote:

slaveskinJACKET wrote:

I'm not sure that UG knows what the term 'sweep' means.

First, in order to have swept the drum awards, he would need to at least be nominated for all of the awards. He was only nominated for 3 of the 4.

Secondly, he would need to have won all of the categories to complete the sweep. He only won 2 of the 3 he was nominated for.

By that logic, I could say that the Mavericks swept the Heat this year.

HavokStrife wrote:

...Good to see Danny Carey in the lists, though. Probably the most underrated drummer in history...

I don't think he's under-rated. I think he gets at least most of the recognition he deserves.

But he is the only thing I like about Tool.

No the use of the word sweep is fine, they're not indicating that portnoy swept only this specific contest they listed numerous other publications and groups that have given him "Best drummer" and mvp honors this year. That's where the sweep comes from. Despite the obvious fact that there are much better drummers, im confused as to why Mike is piling up awards when he didn't release any albums.. Wasnt Black clouds and whatever '09? Even if the avenged sevenfold trash was recent enough did THAT win him these awards? I thought I had a few gripes with the mediocrity of some of his DT playing compared to other prog drummers, but that nightmare song was atrocious

did mike portnoy ever say nightmare was the best song out there? no, so shut your mouth. there's no point in badmouthing artists who do as much as they can for their selves and their fans. he never said he's the greatest and everything he does will be liked by all the angsty little teens of the internet. please, just stop acting like he made that promise to you.

[slaveskinJACKET]

espChris93 wrote:

slaveskinJACKET wrote:

I'm not sure that UG knows what the term 'sweep' means.

First, in order to have swept the drum awards, he would need to at least be nominated for all of the awards. He was only nominated for 3 of the 4.

Secondly, he would need to have won all of the categories to complete the sweep. He only won 2 of the 3 he was nominated for.

By that logic, I could say that the Mavericks swept the Heat this year.

HavokStrife wrote:

...Good to see Danny Carey in the lists, though. Probably the most underrated drummer in history...

I don't think he's under-rated. I think he gets at least most of the recognition he deserves.

But he is the only thing I like about Tool.

No the use of the word sweep is fine, they're not indicating that portnoy swept only this specific contest they listed numerous other publications and groups that have given him "Best drummer" and mvp honors this year. That's where the sweep comes from. Despite the obvious fact that there are much better drummers, im confused as to why Mike is piling up awards when he didn't release any albums.. Wasnt Black clouds and whatever '09? Even if the avenged sevenfold trash was recent enough did THAT win him these awards? I thought I had a few gripes with the mediocrity of some of his DT playing compared to other prog drummers, but that nightmare song was atrocious

No. The term 'sweep', when used in this context, means winning them all. He did not sweep these awards. He did not sweep the other awards. He did not sweep them all together as a whole. Therefore, their use of the term is wrong.

Again, by that logic, I could say that the Dallas Mavericks swept every team they faced in the playoffs this year. They had to win 4 of 7 games in every series to advance to the next tier, eventually winning the championship. If I were to say that they swept every team they played in the playoffs to someone familiar with the term, they would assume that they didn't lose a single game in the playoffs, which is untrue.

When sweep is used in this way, it means undefeated perfection. You can't just use words however you want to and expect people to understand what you mean.

That would be akin to telling you, "A blanket of cotton will freeze on the sun if the desert sand remains in pocket," and expecting you to interpret it as, "You don't Fuck with de Jesus."

[NHECOS]

Where is Danny Carey?

[timi_hendrix]

HavokStrife wrote:

The guy from Porcupine Tree got voted a better drummer than Portnoy? Okay.. Good to see Danny Carey in the lists, though. Probably the most underrated drummer in history.

And the live acts, save for Peart, is a fricken popularity contest, all those guys suck, particularly Bittner. What's so wonderful about him, his drumming, his band, or his shows? The drummer from Godsmack puts on a better show then all of them!

Gavin Harrison drums circles round Portnoy. Which isn't easy, given how big their drum kits are.

[johnyguitar]

I'd take Atonio Sanchez over any of them on the list....

[Timehbgood]

omgz y is harry judd no here?

[SG_dave]

ToolCreedence wrote:

TomWhaley wrote:

I wish Chris Pennie would be nominated... Guy's an incredible drummer

Pennie was an incredible drummer in Dillinger but he's quite lackluster in Coheed and Cambria, in my opinion. No Brann Dailor in the Metal Drummers list? I definitely think of him when it comes to metal drumming. And still not much love for Danny Carey. The guy plays crazy poly-rhythms using weird geometric concepts. Difficult stuff, thinking and playing drums at the same time...

Pennie hasn't stood out in Coheed because he hasn't had time to make his mark. He only got to write drum parts on Black Rainbow, and even then a lot of it had already been written by Eppard.

[neversleeps84]

When I first read the title, I imagined everyone filing out after the awards ceremony, and there you see Portnoy near the stage with a broom, sweeping up because he's not in DT anymore.

Of course, he probably swept one aisle in 5/8 and another in 7/4.