Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Born
April 20, 1967 (age 58)
Place of Birth
Long Beach, New York, USA
Also Known As
Dream Theater
Liquid Tension Experiment
Liquid Trio Experiment
Liquid Trio Experiment 2
Mike Portnoy
Biography
Michael Stephen "Mike" Portnoy is an American drummer primarily known as the former drummer, backing vocalist, and a co-founder of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. Known for his drumming prowess and technical skill, Portnoy has won 23 awards from the Modern Drummer magazine. He has co-produced the last six Dream Theater albums with guitarist John Petrucci, starting from Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory. From A Change of Seasons onwards, Portnoy had been writing a substantial amount of Dream Theater's lyrics. He is the second youngest person (after Neil Peart) to be inducted into the Modern Drummer's Hall of Fame (at 37 years of age).
On September 8, 2010, it was announced that Portnoy had left Dream Theater. Portnoy cited conflicting interests as the reason behind his departure.
On February 3, 2011, Portnoy announced that he has started a new project with Symphony X singer Russell Allen and guitarist Mike Orlando. Also he is involved in various projects with Neal Morse.
Known For
TV
That Metal Show
2008
Film
Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage
Self
2010
Film
Morsefest 2019
Self
2021
Film
Yellow Matter Custard: One More Night in New York City
Self - Drums
2011
Film
Amazing Journey: One Night in New York City
Himself - Drums
2006
Film
Yellow Matter Custard: One Night in New York City
Self - Drums
2003
Film
Dream Theater: Metropolis 2000 - Scenes From New York
Himself - Drums
2001
Film
Transatlantic: KaLIVEoscope
Self - Drums
2014
Film
Phil Collins: Drummer First
Self
2024
Film
Portnoy Sheehan MacAlpine Sherinian: Live in Tokyo
Self - Drums
2013
Film
Transatlantic: The Final Flight: Live At L'Olympia
Self
2023
Film
Dream Theater: The Spirit Carries On
Himself
2011
Film
Dream Theater: A Walk Beside the Band
Himself - Drums
2005
Film
Quarantième: Live à Paris
Drums
2025
Film
Dream Theater: Live at Budokan
Himself - Drums
2004
Film
Transatlantic - Building the Bridge / Live in America
Self
2006
Film
Flying Colors : Third Stage - Live in London
Self
2020
Film
Dream Theater: Dark Side of the Moon
Drums and Vcoals
2005
Film
Transatlantic: Whirld Tour 2010: Live from Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London
Self
2010
Film
Dream Theater: Score - 20th Anniversary World Tour
Himself - Drums
2006
Filmography
2025FilmQuarantième: Live à Parisas Drums2025FilmDream Theater - Quarantième: Live à Parisas Drums and Vocals2025FilmDream Theater - Parasomnia2024FilmPhil Collins: Drummer Firstas Self2024FilmMorsefest 2023: Testimony feat. NMBas Self2024FilmNeal Morse - Cruise to the Edge: Awakening - The Movieas Self2024FilmTransatlantic: Morsefest 2022 - The Absolute Whirlwindas Self2023FilmTransatlantic: The Final Flight: Live At L'Olympiaas Self2023FilmMorsefest 2020: Cover2Coveras Self2023FilmMorsefest 2020: Sola Gratiaas Self2022FilmThe Neal Morse Band: Morsefest 2021as Self2022FilmThe Neal Morse Band: A U.S. Tour Of Innocence And Dangeras Self2021FilmThe Neal Morse Band: The Making of Innocence & Dangeras Self2021FilmMorsefest 2019as Self2021FilmNeal Morse: The Making of Lifelineas Self2021FilmMike Portnoy - LTE3as Himself - Drums2021FilmLiquid Tension Experiment 32021FilmThe Making of the Absolute Universe by Transatlanticas Self2021FilmTransatlantic - The Absolute Universeas Self2021FilmMike Portnoy: The Absolute Universe2020FilmTransatlantic: Live At Sweden Rock 2014as Self2020FilmFlying Colors : Third Stage - Live in Londonas Self2020FilmNeal Morse: The Making of Sola Gratiaas Self2020FilmThe Neal Morse Band : The Great Adventour - Live in BRNO 2019as Self2020FilmMike Portnoy : MPMMXX Drum Cam2019FilmSons of Apollo - Live with the Plovdiv Psychotic Symphony - Documentaryas Self2019FilmSons Of Apollo: Live With The Plovdiv Psychotic Symphonyas Self2019FilmThe Neal Morse Band: The Great Adventure Commentaryas Self2019FilmThe Neal Morse Band: The Adventure Begins (The Making Of The Great Adventure)as Self2019FilmThe Neal Morse Band – Live In Limbourgas Self2019FilmMike Portnoy: The Great Adventure2019FilmMike Portnoy: Third Degree2018FilmMorsefest 2017 - Testimony of a Dreamas Self2018FilmHaken - Live at ProgPower USA 2016as Gong (Guest Appearance)2018FilmHaken - L-1VE2018FilmThe Neal Morse Band : The Similitude of A Dream - Live in Tilburg 2017as Self2018FilmMike Portnoy: The Similitude of a Dream Live2017FilmThe Winery Dogs : Dog Years - Live in Santiago and Beyond 2013-2016as Himself - Drums2017FilmMorsefest 2015: Question Markas Self2017FilmMorsefest 2015: Sola Scripturaas Self2017FilmNeal Morse: Question Mark and Sola Scriptura Liveas Self - Drums, Vocals2016FilmThe Neal Morse Band: The Making of a Dreamas Self2016FilmThe Neal Morse Band: Alive Againas Self2016FilmMetal Meltdown - Featuring Twisted Sister Live at the Hard Rock Casino Las Vegasas Himself - Drums2016FilmThe Neal Morse Band: Cruise to the Edgeas Self2015FilmFlying Colors : Second Flight - Live at The Z7as Self2015FilmBuilding the Beast: The Making of Metal Allegianceas Self2015FilmNeal Morse: The Sola Scriptura Sessionsas Self2015FilmMorsefest 2014: Testimonyas Self2015FilmMorsefest 2014: Oneas Self2015FilmThe Neal Morse Band: Live in Athensas Self2015FilmThe Neal Morse Band: The Making of The Grand Experimentas Self2015FilmMike Portnoy: Hot Drums2015FilmMike Portnoy: Metal Drumming2015FilmNeal Morse: The Making of ?as Self2014FilmTransatlantic: KaLIVEoscopeas Self - Drums2014FilmFlying Colors: Second Nature Video Anthologyas Self2014FilmNeal Morse: Morsefest - Testimony & One feat. Mike Portnoy Liveas Self2014FilmThe Winery Dogs: [2014] Sonisphere Festivalas Himself - Drums2014FilmThe Neal Morse Band - Live In Indiaas Self2014FilmTransatlantic: The Making of Kaleidoscopeas Self2014FilmThe Winery Dogs - Unleashed in Japanas Himself - Drums2014FilmMike Portnoy: Drumming Nature2014FilmMike Portnoy: Kaleidodrums2013FilmFlying Colors: Live in Europeas Self - Drums2013FilmPortnoy Sheehan MacAlpine Sherinian: Live in Tokyoas Self - Drums2013FilmThe Neal Morse Band/The Flower Kings: 19 Days in Europeas Self2013FilmNeal Morse: Live Momentumas Self2013FilmMike Portnoy: The Drumming Dog2013FilmMike Portnoy: Live Momentum2012FilmNeal Morse: The Making of Momentumas Self2012FilmMike Portnoy - Drumertaas Himself2012FilmMike Portnoy - Drumming Colorsas Himself2012FilmMorse Portnoy George: The Making of Cover 2 Coveras Self2012FilmThe Making of Flying Colorsas Self2012FilmNeal Morse: One Under Constructionas Self2012FilmMike Portnoy: Testimony 2: Live in Los Angelesas Himself2012FilmPSMS Portnoy, Sheehan, MacAlpine & Sherinian: InstruMENTAL Inspirations2011FilmTransatlantic: More Never Is Enoughas Self2011FilmStone Sour: Rock In Rio 2011as Himself - Drums2011FilmNeal Morse: Testimony Two - Live in Los Angelesas Self2011FilmNeal Morse: Testimony 2...For You.2011FilmNeal Morse: The Making of Testimony Twoas Self2011FilmDream Theater: Panem et Circensisas Drums and backing vocals2011FilmDream Theater: The Spirit Carries Onas Himself2011FilmTransatlantic: The Official Bootleg DVDas Self2011FilmYellow Matter Custard: One More Night in New York Cityas Self - Drums2010FilmTransatlantic: Whirld Tour 2010: Live from Shepherd’s Bush Empire, Londonas Self2010FilmMike Portnoy on the “Art Of Drumming” with Terry Bozzio2010FilmRush: Beyond the Lighted Stageas Self2010FilmMike Portnoy - Whirlwind Drummingas Himself2009FilmTransatlantic: The Making of the Whirlwindas Self2009FilmDream Theater - Santiago, Chile 12/6/05as Himself2009FilmMike Portnoy - Black Clouds and Silver Drummingas Himself2009FilmLiquid Tension Experiment: Live In LAas Himself - Drums2009FilmLiquid Tension Experiment: Live In NYC2008FilmMike Portnoy - Score2008TVThat Metal Show2008FilmDream Theater: Chaos in Motionas Himself - Drums2008FilmNeal Morse: Live at 3RPas Self2008FilmLiquid Tension Experiment - LTE Live 20082007FilmNeal Morse: The Making of Testimonyas Self2007FilmDream Theater: Chaos in Progress: The Making of Systematic Chaosas Drums / Vocals2007FilmMike Portnoy - sysDRUMatic Chaosas Himself2007FilmMike Portnoy - In Constant Motionas Himself - Drums2007FilmDream Theater: Bucharest, Romaniaas Himself2006FilmDream Theater: Score - 20th Anniversary World Touras Himself - Drums2006FilmDream Theater: The Score So Far...as Himself2006FilmAmazing Journey: One Night in New York Cityas Himself - Drums2006FilmTransatlantic - Building the Bridge / Live in Americaas Self2006FilmDream Theater: Romavariumas Self - Drums2006FilmHammer of the Gods: Two Nights in North Americaas Himself - Drums2005FilmG3 - Live in Tokyoas Drums2005FilmCygnus and the Sea Monsters: One Night in Chicagoas Himself - Drums2005FilmMike Portnoy - Live at Budokanas Himself2005FilmMike Portnoy - Drumavarium2005FilmDream Theater: A Walk Beside the Bandas Himself - Drums2005FilmDream Theater: Dark Side of the Moonas Drums and Vcoals2004FilmDream Theater: Live at Budokanas Himself - Drums2004FilmDream Theater: Riding the Train of Thoughtas Self2004FilmMike Portnoy: Progressive Drum Concepts2004FilmDream Theater: When Dream and Day Reuniteas Drums2004FilmNeal Morse: Testimony Liveas Self2004FilmMike Portnoy - Drums of Thoughtas Himself2003FilmYellow Matter Custard: One Night in New York Cityas Self - Drums2003FilmModern Drummer Festival Weekend 2003as Self2003FilmTransatlantic - Live in Europeas Self - Drums, Backing Vocals2002FilmDream Theater: [2002] Rotterdamned2002FilmMike Portnoy - Ten Degrees of Turbulent Drummingas Himself2002FilmMike Portnoy - Drums Across Foreveras Himself2001FilmMike Portnoy - Liquid Drum Theateras Himself - Drums2001FilmDream Theater: Metropolis 2000 - Scenes From New Yorkas Himself - Drums2000FilmTransatlantic: The Making of SMPTeas Self1998FilmDream Theater: 5 Years in a Livetimeas Himself1994FilmDream Theater: The Rudess Experimentas Himself - Drums1993FilmDream Theater: Images And Words - Live In Tokyoas Himself - Drums—FilmDream Theater – Live At Tokyo Sun Plaza