Dream Theater‘s recently returned drummer, Mike Portnoy, has voiced his concern over a recent trend of high-profile drummers being let go from major rock bands, calling it “scary times for drummers.” His comments come as Dream Theater announces an extensive North American tour for the fall of 2025.
During a recent appearance on the Office Hours Live With Tim Heidecker podcast, Portnoy, who rejoined the progressive metal pioneers in October 2023 after a 13-year absence, weighed in on the recent departures of drummers like Zak Starkey from The Who and Jason Bonham from Sammy Hagar‘s band.
“I think it’s the Spinal Tap conspiracy. I think nobody is safe,” Portnoy stated (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “Ringo‘s [Starr] son was fired from The Who. John Bonham‘s son was fired from Sammy Hagar‘s band. I mean, if the spawn of Ringo and Bonzo are not safe, nobody is safe… Jason Bonham got let go by Sammy months ago, last year, I think, when he was out on the summer tour. It’s just crazy. It’s craziness.”
Portnoy also expressed his surprise over the rumored dismissal of Josh Freese from the Foo Fighters, a position he had held for two years following the death of Taylor Hawkins. “Frankly, it’s shocking. I thought Josh was perfect… So, yeah, it’s scary. It’s scary times for drummers,” he commented.
Addressing speculation that Taylor Hawkins‘s son, Shane, might take over the drum throne in the Foo Fighters, Portnoy remained skeptical, remarking, “But even famous drummers’ sons are not safe, like I just pointed out. It doesn’t matter.”
He also shed some light on the situation surrounding Zak Starkey‘s departure from The Who, suggesting the drummer was unfairly blamed for a technical issue during a performance at the Royal Albert Hall. “Roger [Daltrey, The Who singer] came into the second verse early and stopped the band, turned around and blamed it on his mix,” Portnoy explained. “Now, mind you, Zak Starkey is on an electronic kit… which is fully controllable in terms of volume through the sound guy. So, if anything, he should have fired the monitor guy, not Zak.”
With a touch of humor, Portnoy reflected on his own career, given his involvement in numerous projects. “I’m scared for my life and career at this point,” he joked. “And I’m in, like, 15 bands, so I have 15 times the chance of getting fired right now. The odds are very much stacked against me right now.”
Meanwhile, Dream Theater is looking ahead to a busy year. The band has announced a 30-city U.S. tour for the fall of 2025, dubbed “An Evening With Dream Theater – Parasomnia 2025.” This run will support their upcoming sixteenth studio album, Parasomnia, the first to feature Portnoy back on drums since 2009’s Black Clouds & Silver Linings.
The tour is set to begin on September 5 in Reading, Pennsylvania, and will conclude on October 25 in Long Island, New York. The band promises to perform the new album in its entirety each night, along with a selection of classic tracks. This follows a European tour scheduled for June and July of this year.
Dream Theater – Upcoming 2025 Tour Dates:
Europe (June/July):
- June 3 – Turku, Finland – Logomo-sali
- June 5 – Sölvesborg, Sweden – Sweden Rock Festival
- June 7 – Nancy, France – Heavy Weekend
- June 10 – Fuengirola, Spain – Marenostrum Fuengirola
- June 12 – Zamora, Spain – Z! Live
- June 14 – Nickelsdorf, Austria – Nova Rock Festival
- June 19 – Dessel, Belgium – Graspop Metal Meeting
- June 20 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Copenhell
- June 21 – Clisson, France – Hellfest Open Air Festival
- June 23 – Sopot, Poland – Forest Opera
- June 25 – Oslo, Norway – Tons of Rock
- June 27 – Tallinn, Estonia – Tallinn Rock Festival
- June 28 – Grenchen, Switzerland – Summerside Festival
- June 30 – Marostica, Italy – Marostica Summer Festival Volksbank
- July 1 – Lucca, Italy – Lucca Summer Festival
- July 2 – Pompei, Italy – Anfiteatro Degli Scavi
- July 4 – Taormina, Italy – Teatro Antico
- July 6 – St. Julian’s, Malta – Eden Arena
- July 10 – Bonn, Germany – Kunst!Rasen
- July 11 – Hannover, Germany – Gilde Parkbühne
- July 12 – Nuremberg, Germany – Stadionpark
- July 14 – Hamburg, Germany – Stadtpark
- July 15 – Leipzig, Germany – Parkbühne
- July 17 – Turin, Italy – Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi
- July 18 – Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, France – Guitare en Scene
- July 20 – Plovdiv, Bulgaria – Ancient Theatre
- July 21 – Plovdiv, Bulgaria – Ancient Theatre
- July 23 – Athens, Greece – Release Athens
- July 25 – Sibiu, Romania – Artmania Festival
- July 27 – Istanbul, Turkey – Küçükçiftlik Park
- July 29 – Orange, France – Positiv Festival
North America – “An Evening With Dream Theater – Parasomnia 2025” (September/October):
- Sep. 05 – Reading, PA – Santander PAC
- Sep. 06 – Baltimore, MD – The Lyric
- Sep. 09 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston PAC
- Sep. 10 – Clearwater, FL – The BayCare Sound Amphitheater
- Sep. 12 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live
- Sep. 13 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
- Sep. 14 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy (40th-anniversary tour rescheduled date)
- Sep. 16 – Charlotte, NC – Owens Auditorium
- Sep. 18 – Pittsburgh, PA – Benedum Center
- Sep. 19 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life (Festival)
- Sep. 21 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre
- Sep. 22 – Peoria, IL – Prairie Home Alliance Theater
- Sep. 24 – Milwaukee, WI – Miller High Life Theatre
- Sep. 25 – Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theatre
- Sep. 27 – Des Moines, IA – Vibrant Music Hall
- Sep. 29 – Colorado Springs, CO – Pikes Peak Center
- Oct. 03 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock (Festival)
- Oct. 04 – Oceanside, CA – Frontwave Arena
- Oct. 05 – Long Beach, CA – Long Beach Terrace Theater
- Oct. 07 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Arts Center – Ikeda Theater
- Oct. 08 – El Paso, TX – Abraham Chavez Theatre
- Oct. 11 – Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Theater
- Oct. 13 – Kansas City, MO – Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
- Oct. 14 – St. Louis, MO – The Factory
- Oct. 17 – Hammond, IN – The Venue at Horseshoe Hammond
- Oct. 18 – Columbus, OH – Palace Theatre
- Oct. 20 – Syracuse, NY – Landmark Theatre
- Oct. 22 – Providence, RI – Veterans Memorial Auditorium
- Oct. 23 – Schenectady, NY – Proctor’s Theatre
- Oct. 25 – Long Island, NY – Nassau Coliseum
