The Mike Mangini Thread (Thanks & Farewell)

[TAC]

I think in the future the Mangini era will be appreciated more than it currently is. Just thinking about those 5 albums; no Rush songs, Metallica songs, Opeth songs, Muse songs, or Pink Floyd songs. Just DT doing what they do best in their own style.

There's a lot of us that think quite highly of it now.


And I think people are forgetting how much complaining was done for SC and BC&SL.

[Setlist Scotty]

Just thinking about those 5 albums; no Rush songs, Metallica songs, Opeth songs, Muse songs, or Pink Floyd songs. Just DT doing what they do best in their own style.

Ummmmmm..... off the top of my head, I know I heard a RED song (BMUBMD), several Rush songs (TLG, AFtR, BW, TT), a Yes track (ALLB), a Satriani-style solo piece (outro solo to ANB), a Megadeth/Metallica track (FItL), and a Deep Purple track (VK) on those albums. Maybe there's some others I'm missing, too.

[Dream Team]

Ummmmmm..... off the top of my head, I know I heard a RED song (BMUBMD), several Rush songs (TLG, AFtR, BW, TT), a Yes track (ALLB), a Satriani-style solo piece (outro solo to ANB), a Megadeth/Metallica track (FItL), and a Deep Purple track (VK) on those albums. Maybe there's some others I'm missing, too.

Well, I guess what I meant was entire songs being ripoffs of those bands. FITL has a Megadethy opening riff but they don't go back to it and the rest of the song is just DT. Maybe it just hasn't been as blatant to my ears. VK, I see what you mean but it's actually only a bonus track.

[Stadler]

I think in the future the Mangini era will be appreciated more than it currently is. Just thinking about those 5 albums; no Rush songs, Metallica songs, Opeth songs, Muse songs, or Pink Floyd songs. Just DT doing what they do best in their own style.

I disagree with that to some degree.  "The Looking Glass"....  I think the one thing you can say is "no Muse". 

EDIT:  Ninja'd by Scotty...

[Dream Team]

There's a lot of us that think quite highly of it now.


And I think people are forgetting how much complaining was done for SC and BC&SL.

Oh that's me definitely. My favorite 5-album run from the band*. But we're in the minority.

*albums like FII and SC ruin any other 5-album run I could make.

[Ben_Jamin]

And Fall Into The Light doesn't sound like Metallica 

[Mosh]

There's a lot of us that think quite highly of it now.


And I think people are forgetting how much complaining was done for SC and BC&SL.

Very much so. People were bummed when MP left for sure, but I also think there was an implicit (sometimes explicit) feeling that MP's departure would lead to less qualities that people were frequently complaining about at the time. Aggressive vocals, overly heavy songs, etc. I remember the overwhelming sentiment on here was that they were "righting the ship" with ADTOE.

Now there seems to be this attitude on here that people being excited about Portnoy coming back is to Mangini's detriment, but I don't think that's the case at all. If anything I see a large amount of concern from fans on here about Mangini songs being forgotten in setlists. For the most part, I would say the last decade was pretty successful for Dream Theater and I don't think people are going to forget about a whole quarter of their career all of a sudden.

Ummmmmm..... off the top of my head, I know I heard a RED song (BMUBMD), several Rush songs (TLG, AFtR, BW, TT), a Yes track (ALLB), a Satriani-style solo piece (outro solo to ANB), a Megadeth/Metallica track (FItL), and a Deep Purple track (VK) on those albums. Maybe there's some others I'm missing, too.

This. Maybe they broadcasted it less with Portnoy out of the band, but their knack for taking various influences from different bands did not change at all compared to when Portnoy was there imo.

[Setlist Scotty]

And Fall Into The Light doesn't sound like Metallica 

You need to clean the wax out of your ears. That middle section smacks of the mellow part of Master of Puppets. 

[nobloodyname]

Yeah. Hard to know what else to say to that. Swathes of the song are a love letter to Metallica.

[Max Kuehnau]

Both to them and Ennio Morricone as well.

[hefdaddy42]

You guys are right, but I still like it a lot.

[Setlist Scotty]

You guys are right, but I still like it a lot.

As do I. And I like several of the other songs I cited, too. But to claim that everything in the MM-era was pure DT without showing any influences is untrue, which is what I was trying to point out.

[emtee]

Great song. I love it.

[Max Kuehnau]

As do I. And I like several of the other songs I cited, too. But to claim that everything in the MM-era was pure DT without showing any influences is untrue, which is what I was trying to point out.

You did a great job of it. I could mention some other things as well btw. I guess the difference is that MP era nicking from other artists and bands was conducive to what MP found hip at the time.

[nobloodyname]

Great song. I love it.

Yeah, me too. I think it's a real standout on the album. Love the breakdown.

[hefdaddy42]

As do I. And I like several of the other songs I cited, too. But to claim that everything in the MM-era was pure DT without showing any influences is untrue, which is what I was trying to point out.

Oh, of course.  You're exactly right.

[Ben_Jamin]

When we talk about different drummers.

All drummers should be considered.

https://youtu.be/1DdWXaYg1-Y?si=i5xaHXrXLQhJUHYW

They mention all I mean about drummers.

[Dream Team]

Also, just to defend my point, it should be noted that JLB hasn't been SINGING like Hetfield, Mustaine, or that Muse guy during the Mangini era. That's part of it too.

[Trav]

Also, just to defend my point, it should be noted that JLB hasn't been SINGING like Hetfield, Mustaine, or that Muse guy during the Mangini era. That's part of it too.

I haven't thought about that. Hasn't he been recording his vocals separately in Toronto for the majority of the recent albums?

[Max Kuehnau]

Yeah most of them. He did for Dramatic Turn, The Astonishing, D/T and View

[TheCountOfNYC]

Yeah most of them. He did for Dramatic Turn, The Astonishing, D/T and View

I thought James was in the studio with the band for Distance Over Time. Or maybe he was just there for the writing and then went home to record.

[gzarruk]

I thought James was in the studio with the band for Distance Over Time. Or maybe he was just there for the writing and then went home to record.

IIRC, that's what he did.

[Max Kuehnau]

Yes he did.

[Ben_Jamin]

Watching Distance Memories again


Mangini kicks ass at A Nightmare to Remember and In The  Presence of Enemies.


I'd say he is better than Portnoy. Those songs call for that style of drumming.

[gzarruk]

That blast beat part was

[Jamesman42]

Went to watch those two (wasn't around for it) and why does MM have a jersey with the square root of 5 on it? Is that a DT thing or something else, maybe unknown?

Also, that intro to ITPOE was insanely good.

[gzarruk]

Mike Mangini & Ray Luzier at Sweetwater: https://youtu.be/nTRMLr_Xih0?si=4spZF16wSGwoXYkq

[TAC]

Mike Mangini & Ray Luzier at Sweetwater: https://youtu.be/nTRMLr_Xih0?si=4spZF16wSGwoXYkq

Watching this now. Ray Luzier seems pretty cool. I don't know who he is. He mentions Korn...is he their drummer?
If so, has he always been? I saw Korn back in '95 and '96. Was he with them then?
Worst band I've ever seen BTW..lol

[Max Kuehnau]

That blast beat part was

Yeah very much so, I was relieved when I heard him play it.

[Max Kuehnau]

Watching Distance Memories again


Mangini kicks ass at A Nightmare to Remember and In The  Presence of Enemies.


I'd say he is better than Portnoy. Those songs call for that style of drumming.

Of course he is, in any conceivable aspect. I actually only recently watched it for the first time (simply because I was reluctant about getting it for some reasons). It's good, but not the best MM era live album IMHO for some reasons (Luna Park and Boston are) Still enjoyable to me. (Nightmare is one of the pieces that makes the album what it is)

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Mike Mangini & Ray Luzier at Sweetwater: https://youtu.be/nTRMLr_Xih0?si=4spZF16wSGwoXYkq

cool video! 

[Max Kuehnau]

Watching this now. Ray Luzier seems pretty cool. I don't know who he is. He mentions Korn...is he their drummer?
If so, has he always been? I saw Korn back in '95 and '96. Was he with them then?
Worst band I've ever seen BTW..lol

Ray now is Korn's drummer and has been ever since 2007. Great player.

[TAC]

Ray now is Korn's drummer and has been ever since 2007. Great player.

OK, thank you. Then he wasn't with them when I saw them.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

like how they discussed keeping time and rushing, and click tracks...both very topical around here.

[TAC]

like how they discussed keeping time and rushing, and click tracks...both very topical around here.

Was hoping for some DT related experiences there, but he didn't seem to want to go there. It certainly would've been relevant.