Mike Portnoy
Mike Portnoy is Dream Theater’s co-founder and drummer, making progressive metal and rock with the band, NMB and a wide circle of collaborators.
At 100 nudges, fangea sends Mike’s team an official invite.
🔒 Star boosts open once Mike claims this page.
Latest
Mike’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Overview
- Born
- April 20, 1967, in Long Beach, New York
- Work
- Drummer, composer and Dream Theater co-founder
- Started
- Formed Dream Theater at Berklee College of Music in 1985
- Breakout
- Images and Words (1992), featuring Pull Me Under
- Return
- Rejoined Dream Theater in October 2023
Mini bio
How it started.
Mike grew up in Long Beach, New York, teaching himself drums by listening to Ringo Starr, Keith Moon and John Bonham. Neil Peart and Frank Zappa helped draw him toward more demanding progressive music. In 1985, he attended Berklee on a scholarship and formed Dream Theater with John Petrucci and John Myung.
The breakthrough.
Dream Theater reached a wider audience with Images and Words in 1992 and its song Pull Me Under. Mike’s playing became a central part of albums including the 1999 concept record Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory and 2009’s Black Clouds & Silver Linings.
A life across bands.
After leaving Dream Theater in 2010, Mike kept recording and performing with projects including The Winery Dogs, Flying Colors, Transatlantic and Liquid Tension Experiment. His work also extends to drum clinics and instructional videos.
Back together.
Dream Theater announced his return on October 25, 2023. Their reunion led to the 40th anniversary tour and Parasomnia in 2025. Alongside that renewed partnership, he continued working with NMB, appearing on L.I.F.T. in 2026.
Creditschronological, newest first
- 2026L.I.F.T. · NMBDrums and vocals
- 2025Quarantième: Live à Paris · Dream TheaterDrums
- 2025Parasomnia · Dream TheaterDrums; lyrics for Midnight Messiah
- 1999Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory · Dream TheaterDrums
- 1992Images and Words · Dream TheaterDrums
Awards
- 2025 Drumeo AwardsProgressive Drummer of the Year; results published January 31, 2026.
- 2024 Drumeo AwardsProgressive Drummer of the Year; results announced January 30, 2025.
- Modern Drummer Hall of FameInducted in 2004 through the magazine’s readers’ poll.
- Modern Drummer MVP of the YearReaders’ poll winner in 2010 and 2013.
Quotes
I am overwhelmed with joy to be returning home and reuniting with my brothers!Mike Portnoy, Dream Theater reunion announcement
He said this when Dream Theater announced his return on October 25, 2023.
Trivia
- He attended Berklee College of Music on a scholarship in 1985.
- His tribute bands with Paul Gilbert include Yellow Matter Custard, Hammer of the Gods, Amazing Journey and Cygnus & the Sea Monsters.
- He lists The Who’s Tommy and Pink Floyd’s The Wall among his favorite albums he did not play on.
- He has signature SABIAN MAX cymbals, including splashes and a 22-inch ride.
Find Mike
Follow Mike for drum cams, music and life on tour.
Are you Mike Portnoy?
Fans built this page. Claim it to connect with them and unlock Star boosts, or request a takedown if you’d rather it not exist.