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Artist News: Mike Portnoy, John Sykes Join Forces In New Project

Posted on Thursday, July 28 @ 22:10:00 UTC by nightowl

Never let it be said that Mike Portnoy sits around and does nothing. As this latest news item implies, Portnoy is working on yet something else new. As the Blabbermouth.net post blabs: Drummer Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, Avenged Sevenfold, Adrenaline Mob) has joined forces with guitarist/vocalist John Sykes (Whitesnake, Blue Murder, Thin Lizzy) and an as-yet-undisclosed bassist in a brand new power trio. The project is currently recording material at a Los Angeles studio, with Portnoy describing one song as "copping the [Led] Zeppelin / [Black] Sabbath vibe" and another as "[Pink] Floyd meets [Deep] Purple!!! Some serious old-school classic rock."

As previously reported, Portnoy is also playing in a new band called Adrenaline Mob alongside Symphony X frontman Russell Allen, guitar virtuoso Mike Orlando (Sonic Stomp), bassist Paul DiLeo and Stuck Mojo/Fozzy axeman Rich Ward. The group made its live debut on June 24 at the Hiro Ballroom in New York City and is presently seeking a suitable record label to release its already completed debut album.

Sykes announced his departure from Thin Lizzy in July 2009, explaining that "I feel it's time to get back to playing my own music."

In a separate post, also gleaned from the blabbermouths at Blabbermouth.net, we learn: The project has demoed 12 songs so far at a Los Angeles studio [...]. And, in a posting on his official web site, Portnoy describes the new group as "a completely ridiculous modern-day power trio" and calls it "a new 'real BAND' for me" just as Adrenaline Mob is "also a new 'real BAND' for me." He adds, "I will divide my time as best as I can between the two (hey, if Corey Taylor and Jim Root, Mike Patton, Joe Satriani and Chad Smith, Zakk Wylde all can do it, so can I!) and I am equally excited by both... as they are both amazing new bands, but VERY different worlds musically... so there's really no clash creatively. Timing-wise, Adrenaline Mob is happening NOW, and my band with Sykes won't be released later next year, so they'll be able to co-exist just fine!"

Portnoy and Sykes appeared yesterday (Monday, July 25) at a taping of season eight of VH1 Classic's "That Metal Show." The program's co-host Eddie Trunk tweeted about their new collaboration, "I heard demos. Sounds like killer Blue Murder meets '1987' Whitesnake. Amazing!" He also said that the new group will perform some Blue Murder material when it hits the road.

Portnoy is also involved in a separate new project with guitarist Steve Morse (Deep Purple, Dixie Dregs), multi-instrumentalist Neal Morse (Transatlantic, Spock's Beard), bassist Dave LaRue (Dixie Dregs) and vocalist Casey McPherson (Alpha Rev, Endochine). That group's debut album is tentatively due later in the year.

And, in an even later post, this coming yesterday: Adrenaline Mob will play two headlining club shows next month: Aug. 14 - Allentown, PA - Crocodile Rock; Aug. 18 - Clifton Park, NY - Northern Lights.

[Of course, with all the projects that Portnoy is involved in or rumoured to be, he has given up eating, peeing and sleeping ... and has dismissed the suggestion he combine them into one action to save time and his health -ed. {oh, don't take that seriously, we are, of course, joking - legal ed.}]

[Source: Blabbermouth.net (sandwiched between some sarkiness from us)

Posted in Band News (tours, comings/goings, etc)