Drummer Mike Portnoy recently rejoined Dream Theater after a 13-year absence from the band. Suffice it to say that he hasn't lost any of his skills during that time, delivering an impressive drum performance of Dream Theater's “Pull Me Under” in a new tutorial video.
The clip is part of a video package for drum instructional platform Drumeo, which filmed the series with Portnoy just weeks after he announced his return to Dream Theater. A playback of the band's well-known first number, “Pull Me Under,” which Portnoy had not performed since he left the band, was the first of the content to be released.
“I had a great time at Drumeo!” Portnoy was enthusiastic Facebook. “We filmed a ton of content that will slowly be revealed over the next few months… here's the first of MANY songs/videos to come! He hadn't played this song in over 13 years! The song that started it all for us…”
The 14-minute video is a comprehensive examination of “Pull Me Under” from Portnoy's perspective behind the kit, and aspiring prog drummers will enjoy his insight as he breaks down the song's many compositional twists and turns.
Having played and performed the song countless times throughout his career, it doesn't seem like Portnoy had to practice before playing the song for Drumeo. In addition to highlighting specific sections of the song and some of the more difficult techniques he employs, the drummer also gives a complete, unabridged performance during the segment.
“It was announced that I was rejoining Dream Theater just a few weeks ago at the time of filming this, so for me to play this now is like riding a bike,” he said. “Muscle memory is there for life; “It will be there forever.”
For Dream Theater fans, the video is an encouraging sign that Portnoy should smoothly return to the band's lineup, at least when it comes to performing songs from his time in the band. During a separate Q&A session at Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp's “Metalmania III” (via Talkative), Portnoy said he was unsure how music written with previous drummer Mike Mangini would be incorporated into future setlists.
“It's too early to say,” Portnoy said. “When I left the band 13 years ago, I was the one who wrote the setlist and stuff like that. So, we haven't even discussed what the new dynamic will be. I'm open to it, of course, so I would surely do it, if that's what they want to do. But it will definitely be a different dynamic.”
Below you can see Portnoy performing “Pull Me Under” for Drumeo.
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