Mike Portnoy

Mike Portnoy is a legendary American drummer and songwriter, best known as a founding member and the primary creative force behind the progressive metal giants Dream Theater. Renowned for his technical virtuosity, prolific output, and high-energy stage presence, Portnoy has earned an unprecedented 30 Modern Drummer magazine awards. His career is a testament to musical diversity, spanning iconic projects such as Liquid Tension Experiment, The Neal Morse Band, Transatlantic, and Flying Colors, as well as notable tenures with The Winery Dogs and Avenged Sevenfold.

A pioneer of the "progressive" genre, Portnoy is famous for his massive "Monster Kits" and his mastery of complex time signatures, odd-meter phrasing, and melodic orchestration. His return to Dream Theater in 2023 has reaffirmed his status as one of the most influential drummers in music history.

Portnoy’s heavy driving sound relies on a long-standing partnership with Tama, specifically using the Tama Starclassic Bubinga series and Tama Iron Cobra 900 pedals. He uses a massive array of Sabian cymbals, including his signature Max Stax and Max Splash models. He completes his primary setup with his signature Promark sticks and Remo drumheads, while using Latin Percussion (LP) gear for his auxiliary percussion needs.