Taken From: http://www.dreamtheater.net Full name Michael Stephen Portnoy Birthday April 20, 1967 Height 5' 10'' Hair color Black Eye color Green Website http://www.mikeportnoy.com/ Equipment Tama Starclassic drums, Sabian Cymbals, Remo heads, DW Pedals, Pro-Mark Drumsticks, Latin Percussion Directors Woody Allen, David Lynch, Stanley Kubrick Actors Robert DeNiro, Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino Sports Boxing TV shows Twin Peaks, The Simpsons, The Twilight Zone Food Fast food, especially Taco Bell Drink Jagermeister, beer Mike Portnoy was born on April 20, 1967 and raised in Long Beach, New York, where his interest in music started at an early age. "My father was a rock n' roll disc jockey, so I was always surrounded by music constantly. I had this huge record collection when I was real young and loved the Beatles and then later on Kiss. It was inevitable that I'd become a musician." Although Mike taught himself how to play the drums, he did take music theory classes in high school. During that time he began playing in local bands Intruder, Rising Power and Inner Sanctum, the latter of which released their own album. Mike left the band after being awarded a scholarship to attend Berklee Music College in Boston. An avid collector of many things, Mike has a vast array of Dream Theater memorabilia including bootlegs, posters, clippings and everything else under the sun with the band's name on it. He is also responsible for capturing everything the band does on video tape and DAT. His huge video collection includes favorite films as 2001, A Clockwork Orange, Jacob's Ladder and The Wall along with episodes of The Simpsons and memorable boxing matches. Mike says his biggest influences are Rush drummer Neil Peart and the late Frank Zappa. Other favorites include drummers Terry Bozzio, Vinnie Colaiuta, Simon Philips, John Bonham and Keith Moon and bands such as The Beatles, Queen, Yes, Metallica, Jellyfish, Iron Maiden, U2 and Jane's Addiction. He is also a fan of rap music. Mike and his wife Marlene live in Rockland, NY with their daughter Melody Ruthandrea, son Max John, dog Bongo and cats E.T. and Cypress. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mike Portnoy's Discography 1989 Dream Theater When Dream And Day Unite MCA/Mechanix 1992 Dream Theater Images And Words Atlantic/ATCO 1993 Dream Theater Live At The Marquee WEA International 1994 Dream Theater Awake Elektra 1995 Dream Theater A Change Of Seasons Elektra 1996 Working Man Rush Tribute Magna Carta 1997 Dream Theater Falling Into Infinity Elektra 1998 Liquid Tension Experiment Magna Carta 1998 Dream Theater Once In A LIVEtime Elektra 1999 Encores, Legends & Paradox (ELP tribute) Magna Carta 1999 Liquid Tension Experiment 2 Magna Carta 1999 Dream Theater Scenes From A Memory WEA/Elektra 2000 TransAtlantic SMPTe InsideOut/Metal Blade -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mike Portnoy's Videography 1990 Dream Theater Images and Words (Tokyo) Sony 1996 Mike Portnoy Progressive Drum Concepts Rittor Music 1998 Dream Theater 5 Years In A LIVEtime Elektra 1999 Mike Portnoy Liquid Drum Theater Hudson Music