Dream Theater – Mike Mangini

Dream Theater is just one band you cannot help but love: a band that has been around for ages and consistently put out albums that boast sheer musical ingenuity each time. Their most recent success has been, of course, their self-titled, twelfth studio album last year. That being said, it was one of the happiest and most inspirational moments in my life when I had the opportunity to chat with the legendary Mike Mangini on behalf of Metal Obsession. I quite literally had to calm myself as I picked up the phone, but the minute I heard that warm, kind “Hi!” I was like a little girl on Christmas morning. Mike was on a really tight schedule as he was with family, and had a few other interviews lined up, but the little time that I did get to speak to him was truly worth every single second.

After greeting him about a million times because of the time lag on the phone, Mike expressed straight away his excitement of coming back to Australia. “Hello! It’s lovely to be talking to you. I’m very well and actually very much looking forward to being in Australia with Dream Theater. I’ve been to Australia a few times before, once was with Steve Vai, and twice as a drum clinician. But this time it’s going to be even more special because I’m coming back with Dream Theater after four years in the band and I can’t tell you how happy I’m that we’re finally making it there with the new album!”

I kid you not, when I heard him start speaking, my brain, quite frankly, shut down for a minute or two (a moment where the time lag actually did come in handy!). I warned him advance saying that I am a massive fan of him and the band, and that if I ‘fangirled’ every now and again, to kindly forgive and excuse me. [laughs] You know how wonderful that is? That you’re a fan of the music? (In my head, I’m going, “are you kidding me? I love you!”) Being a fan and knowing the music is very important, and because you are one, it’s going to be an interesting, insightful, and pleasant conversation. It’ll help us communicate and understand each other!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Cf1CF6Avvc

Following that little Kodak moment that I had with the legendary Mike Mangini, I asked him how it initially felt to be a member of Dream Theater and what was running through his head on the day of the audition. This pretty much took up most of my time on the phone with him, but every word that he spoke was absolutely inspirational, and to be frank, mind-blowing. “I was very focused with a few different emotions and let me tell you why. It was because I had been wanting to make a change from being a full time college professor to being in a band full time, or being in a band that would work alongside teaching. So one year before I got the Dream Theater audition was when I started to do things: pray every single about this and meditate on this and look for opportunities; make phone calls and try to make things happen, and once it did happen, what I had in mind was the vision of me being happy by being in a band that would be my job. Simultaneously I could also do drum clinics or go back to the college and teach some courses. So all I was thinking about was that I had to have this. I was focused, I was really pumped up—almost violent—not in a bad way, but that high-energy kind of violent way; the way I was practicing and hitting the drums. I knew that in order for me to make that life change, I have to get in a band that was already well established. I can’t afford to quit my job at the college, play drums, and drive around in a van! So either someone’s going to have to quit a band, get fired, or die. And I thought the chances of that happening were so slim it’d never actually happen. But it did. Mike [Portnoy] left, and once he quit, those guys shut the door and locked it as soon as he walked out. I’m sure there must have been an initial period where they asked him whether he was sure about what he was doing but then they locked that door and moved forward. I had it in mind when I heard that he quit that this is it, this is my chance!

Once I got the songs, I kept preparing myself for any possible thing; any possible situation. However, I was in South America for nine days and then I had only seven days left. But it didn’t matter because when I went to New York I walked into that room and I was ready to play any drum set in any way, anything they gave me. I was mentally prepared to recognize any drum pattern and any rhythm. And as far as being technical, the music is less advanced that what I’m capable of so I knew there wasn’t anything that could possibly fool me. I knew James because I had worked with him before – I only knew him professionally, but that isn’t the reason I got the job. Seven other drummers played on the same drumset, with the same song, the same environment, with the same people, the same test, in the same jam situation, and with the same amount of time to learn it. How do you have an audition that’s fairer? So all of this was genuinely on my mind because I was confident, I was prepared. Destiny had nothing to do with it because I had to work very, very hard. It was just something that was given to me at an opportune moment!”

Mike joined the band permanently in 2010 when ex-Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy decided to leave. Not only did he win the hearts of Dream Theater fans world over, but he stepped up to the task, delivered, and is now part of one of the biggest bands in the world. His response to this was humble and inspiring, yet again. “We hope to be. Dream Theater only means one thing: to have the same amount of fans and to ensure that we keep those fans happy all the time, and for that, personally, I think Dream Theater only needs to be heard on the radio. We only need to be heard on the radio to reach all those people who know about us and who don’t know about us. That really is the way that you know that you’ve made it big. It’s not even the internet. If you watch our YouTube videos you’ll notice how we work, what we do, what goes on behind the scenes. You’ll notice all the technicalities behind a Dream Theater show. To me, it’s important that people know that because it’s what makes us the way we are as a band. But it’s the radio, man. That’s what’s made us so big. Because people spend their time listening to us on the radio and go, “Oh, hey, that’s a cool song! I like these guys!” The support I’ve got since joining the band and the fans of Dream Theater are just fantastic, but it’s all about moving forward and not looking back. I don’t think about such things. For me, my whole focus is on the band; on the music we play; the shows we perform. It’s really great!”

‘Dream Theater’ out now via Roadrunner Records

The new album is Mangini’s first, at least in terms of being completely involved in the writing process and composition. We talked about his involvement with Dream Theater’s self-titled album and his Mangini’s own philosophy when it comes to composing music. “If I explain to you my philosophy it’ll make things very simple to understand because basically it’s about my ability to recognize the most complex and technical patterns. I step out of the way when I have to and this is how important this is. I know when to keep quiet and when I have to contribute in whatever way I can. I knew when I – and this will sound funny to you – but I knew when to step up and perform to the best of my abilities. [Knowing], for example, when on the drum kit to make good use of polyrhythm’s, etc. I was always on the alert, though, paying attention to what the others were doing. Like when Jordan [Rudess] was doing his thing with the piano, I would just sit back and watch. I feel that the more I did that the more I’ve learnt to analyse things better, and that way contribute in an appropriate way. I quite literally learnt everything I could about the guys so that working with them became that much easier. But trust me, it’s taken me many, many years to develop that skill, and I’m still not perfect, but I know how well it works, especially with regard to my drumming! But when it came to the actual drumming part, I was so into it. I knew exactly what I was doing, what would work, and what wouldn’t, and when the others pitched in with their views and opinions, it made things even better for me. We work well together and that’s really important!”

Something that’s always appealed to me about Dream Theater’s music is that it is beautifully intricate and complex, especially the 22-minute, sub-divided track, “Illumination Theory”. There’s an elite technicality behind every note the band plays and I asked Mike whether the band follows a specific routine when composing such long pieces of music. “Absolutely. There is always an idea to work on, a foundation. We may not know which direction it’s going in but there is a basic vision that each of us shared which helps when it comes to the actual composition process. So when there is that basic idea to work on I know what beats and patterns go well with it – which is where my contribution comes in. It’s the same with the others. But they know exactly which way they’re going with the music. I’m still new with the whole thing—especially when it comes to writing music—but ask me to play something on a drum kit and I will without a second thought. But, yeah, once we’re finished with one part or the intro we get a feel of what to do next—what each person’s part is with their instrument—and we just keep going from there.”

The conversation came to an abrupt ending and I was ecstatic and a little sad at the same time because there was just so much that I had to ask this man. But nevertheless I got to talk to him, and much to my absolute surprise, he didn’t put the phone down immediately. “It was such a lovely chat that I had with you, thank you so much and I hope to see you at a show sometime soon!” Did I die yet again you may ask? You bet I did!

‘An Evening with Dream Theater’ Australia 2014

Ending on such a happy note, though, I asked Mike what message he’d like to pass on to all the Aussie Dream Theater fans before their upcoming tour! “Dream Theater’s extremely happy and excited to be coming back to Australia and to put up a good show for all of our fans there! We’re hoping to see everyone who listens to us there. And even people who don’t listen to us should definitely come check us out! We’re going to be playing a lot of the older stuff, and, of course, from the latest album so it’s going to be great! But what I’d really like to tell everyone is to bring their girlfriends, their partners, and even their children. We’ve seen more women and children attend our concerts and it’s wonderful to see them enjoying the music. So come along, have fun, sing with us, and just enjoy yourselves!”

Mike Mangini is such a kind soul. There is so much love and passion for what he does and he really taught me in 15 minutes all about the importance of keeping your focus. It was a pleasure to talk to him on behalf of Metal Obsession. Dream Theater are hitting our shores in October, so make sure you’re not working on that day because trust me, this is one evening of pure, musical magic that you don’t want to miss!

Dream Theater are performing a special, two night tour this October! Don’t miss out. Purchase your tickets here. And don’t forgot to pick up your copy of Dream Theater’s self-titled, twelfth studio album here, out now via Roadrunner Records.

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