10 Times Mike Portnoy Was the Best Drummer on Earth 

Honestly him stepping in to help out Avenged Sevenfold after their drummer passed was super cool of him. Just helping finish that record and helping that band get back on their feet for a tour.... I really respect that

Saw DT in a small club in northern California in '92... Tickets were $5.00, the most stunning performance I'd seen in my life!! There were about 60 people in the club... They played like there were 10,000!!

What makes this all the more impressive is he’s using a different kit on every shot. Most drummers are METICULOUS in setting up their kit EXACTLY the same. Every. Single. Time. Because of the importance of muscle memory, especially when you’re playing so many notes that it’d still be challenging for an octopus. But this cat always mixes it up, likely based on what sounds he wants for that particular show. Meaning he’s gotta retrain his muscles (muscle memorization?) where each drum/cymbal is. Definitely an elite level of virtuosity here.

Mike Portnoy is my all time favorite I dont care some people say theres drummers faster than him out there but his creativity is beyond speed.

I love watching Mike drum. Every time I see a live vid of him it reminds me of why he was The Rev's favorite drummer.

"why didn't you put a snare there ?" "I had to fix my glasses"

Video should be titled “The Seven Hairstyles of Mike Portnoy”

I absolutely adore the guy. He's easily my favourite drummer of all time!! I have a signed drum head from him and it has a proud place in my room! He's such a wholesome guy as well!! Amazing musician, and a great person as well :) what a legend

"The great debate" IMO is musically Mike's best creation as a drummer. He puts everything he knows in that song. There are other tunes that may sound more technical but that one is like portnoy's resume.

One of the times he’s the greatest drummer is every time… chops, tone consistency, flair, showmanship, the ability to do literally whatever he thinks of, his catalog of recorded music, compositions, arrangements, snd being able to recreate and deliver live, there’s no one any better. Just an opinion.

10 times Mike Portnoy was the best drummer on Earth: Every single time

I think Mike's best attribute with DT, was the way he crafted his parts to fit with the songs. His drumming was a song in itself, but it generally fit really well with the rest of the band. He totally carried the band in the earlier years. I'm a guitarist and I got more excited listening to Mike than John.

I love how many times during The Glass Prison that he just casually pushes his glasses back up on the bridge of his nose while in the middle of performing a drum part that normal humans (i.e. everyone who isn't Mike Portnoy) have a hard enough time keeping up with *listening to*, much less *playing*. 😰

This guy's great. He should have auditioned in Dream Theater.

Year 1999, just started drumming with my metal/rock band, trying to find drumming instruction videos, back in the day we had CD’s not even DVD’s are out. Found Mike Portnoy’s multi CD instruction videos on how to play some dream theater songs. We covered lot of those songs on concerts and man it was a blast. I even got myself a pair of Iron Cobra twin bass pedals. Mike is a legend. He is the best of the best.

His drum solo in Metropolis Part 1: The Miracle & the Sleeper and Pull Me Under and Winery Dogs' Elevate still make me think that Portnoy is part machine, the dude is that badass a drummer

Still is....He is a beast of a drummer!!!....

Mike's a special kind of psycho - part man, part machine, and pure un-aldulterated talent. Can't imagine trying to drum like him, let alone remembering all of those complex song arrangements!

Neil Peart was his mentor. RIP Neil

Not only a beast of a player, but his ability to soooooo flawlessly navigate time signatures is unparalleled

this man is truly my greatest inspiration of all. For him is how I play today . Thank You Mike Portnoy for been One of a kind and inspire me TO PLAY DRUMS ...

I didn't have to watch the clip full. I just gave like for the title. My idol. Mike portnoy❤

I remember being introduced to each of these videos separately and being amazed every time. The man is a legend.

You absolutely need to do one of these with my man Nick Menza

That kid's got POTENTIAL! If he keeps practicing, he might make it into one of them rock n roll bands one day.

Mike does no wrong, but next time HE GETS THE PURPLE HELLO KITTY KIT! 🤙🏼💖 THIS IS WHAT WE WANT!

Don't forget it "Finally free" Metropolis 2000: Scenes from New York AWESOME!

Portnoy os my favorite drummer ever

10 Times Lars Ulrich was actually kinda ok

Yes, he is the best drummer on earth in my opinion🔥🔥🔥🥁♠🖤🖤🖤

Should have added the drums during the guitar solo to Constant Motion.

0:37 Other drummers: sweatin' out of their asses to get that groove right Portnoy: casually adjusts his glasses

My favorite drummers, Buddy Rich, Mark Zonder, Mike Portnoy. Ian Paice, John Bonham , Neil Piert.

The drum solo to wind it down at the end from Live Metropolis Scenes From New York is some of the greatest playing and I have ever seen and heard. Incredible! Top bloke as well. To step in to The Rev’s shoes and help A7X finish the Nightmare album after Jimmy passed away was amazing. Ego left outside, just helping out mates! They must have been so in awe of him! Bit like Rich Williams from Kansas speaking about when Steve Morse agreed to join the band in the mid-eighties and helped produce two stellar Kansas albums! Things is, it was actually Morse who considered it a privilege to play with the band and perform their songs as he has always been a huge Kansas fan!

HIS "HELLO KITTY' SET BETTER BE ON THIS LIST ...

Loudwire, when are you going to form a band with Corey Taylor, Mike Portnoy, and Zakk Wylde?

No: As I Am ????? One best drum solos of all time !!!!!

He does it so flawlessly, such an amazing drummer!

the fact that he pushed his glasses up mid drum solo ......is just amazing

0:39 - Ultra instinct allows you to adjust your glasses even when you are doing a beast riff

Lots of drummers can bash. Lots of drummers have technical ability. It's rare to find drummers who are compositionally-minded. As phenomenal as he is technically, his composition is off the charts. He plays beautifully complex parts that serve the song. Unquestionably my favorite drummer of all time.

Although Mike tends to repeat himself on solo material he is super strong on putting together ideas and coming up with very creative drum part contributions. The 5 sticks 2 kicks pulled off fast can sometimes sound like a cheap "filler" that sounds bigger than it is. But Portnoy can pull them off with such passion and...unbridled enthusiasm.

Mike is just a ton of fun to watch and listen to. He brings so much enthusiasm to it, and every hit is played with power and conviction. His snare sound and double kicks are both legendary. He's tight as hell. Precise and quick but not to the point of self-indulgent wankery. A "musical" drummer. Definitely one of the best drummers of the last few decades.

He’s the most creative drummer of all times.

Glass prison was fkn awesome I rock that like every day!!!

yeah man! saw them in '92 as well in a small theater in Kansas City for the Images and Words tour and Portnoy absolutely blew the doors off the place! Best drum solo I'd ever witnessed. Raw, furious and unforgettable. He solidified himself as a top-tier musician from then on! Icing on the cake was they all stayed after to meet with the fans and my girlfriend and I got to meet and talk with them except for Myung. He bolted. Rest of the guys were unbelievably cool and kind to hang out after a show like that. I still have the CD with the inner cover signed by all. (Except Myung :) - Portnoy was one of the nicest guys you'd ever meet. Very cool dude.

"WAS" He still is! I have been playing the drums since I was 8 years old and he is one of the best syncopated drummers I have ever heard. He is on the level with John Bonham in off beat playing, and his drumming is energetically as intricate as Neal Peart.

Never clicked so fast! Wait no stream of consciousness and 6:00? That songs are among Mike's finest performances

he creates a mood that people like to listen

Unbelievably hugely talented drummer. Insanely awesome to listen too. 100 years all day every day i couldn’t drum like that Amazing, one of the best ever hands fucking down. Not talking shit but there not anyone even close to touching him

Going a hundred miles an hour around the set with hand and feet on different signals....and still finds a spot to push his glasses up...classy man!

Amazing drummer! Absolutely love his newest tracks with Sons of Apollo!

You missed #1 which was his "Name that tune" on the Hello Kitty kit...

Let me just casually fix my glasses multiple times through this wrist shattering drum riff.

Dude I grew up playing along to portnoy. He is, and always will be my #1 influence

What the hell, he IS the best drummer on earth!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

How to play like Mike Portnoy. Step 1. You cant

I hear a lot of people talking about their favorite drummer and why It's not being published instead of this guy. 1) I'm not a fan of this guy but the dude is awesome at drums. More technical than any drummer you name. 2) Your favorite drummers who you think are best has a great band they are in and with the back of vocals, Guitarist, bassets etc.That's why they have hits.

The man is a machine 👍 mike portnoy is the best 💕💕💕🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

He is always the best drummer

And that's how Thorin Oakenshield left the middle earth and pursued a musical career

I finally got to see him in person this past Saturday night (Neal Morse Band).

Welcome back, Mike!

10 times Portnoy plays RLRLKK over and over.

Ah... that old Portnoy fill-ins SSBBSSSSBBSSBBTTBBTTTTBBFFBBFFFFBB

Best drummer then and still today, IMO. 👍

Gotta love how he adjusts his glasses while playing The Glass Prison

Impressionante a influência de Neil Peart no estilo de Portnoy. É nos detalhes que vemos como ele foi influenciado.

Mike Portnoy's RLRLKK is like Danny Carey's polyrhythms. No drummer can do them as good as these two

Dude can scratch an itch on his nose and STILL not miss a beat! He is definitely one of the G.O.A.T.s!

Mike will be always a legend because of his musicality and commitment to drumming!

It's hard to imagine one person being able to make all those sounds with is hands & feet.

He was playing the groove to "I" by meshuggah in the first 20 seconds

12-Finally Free version in the album "Live Scenes From New York".That grand finale blow my mind!

You didn't make enough research, there's many of Portnoy amazing performance than what you choose, If I would say 100 times it could be more ♥️

Do Neil Peart next!

This man is absolutely amazing and I will always share his music when possible

Top ten times? He is always the best drummer on earth

DT: Mike portnoy is Back!! 🤘🏾🤘🏾

Drum solo on Finally Free - Live Scenes from NY! Epic concert as well!

You should do a Francesco Paoli one, he's the guy from Fleshgod apocalypse

When Neil retired, everyone moved up a notch

The best of the world, my inspiration, and the others more...

Mikes the type of dude who makes playing a 20+ piece kit look like hes just doing a lil of this over here and a lil of that over there. Whata phenomenon of a human being.

Não haverá outro igual!

Still waiting for Gene Hoglan and Pete Sandoval

Welcome back the beast in my Dream!

Whole I'm not the biggest fan of dream theater, Mike portnoy was my inspiration to start playing drums.

0:51 he even found time to adjust his glasses

Nothing from his work with Neal Morse? Author of Confusion, Leviathan, or Lifeline, perhaps?

Was??? Mike Portnoy IS the GREATEST drummer EVER!!!!! My personal drumming idol.

Drummers Law: For any band to achieve superstardom , one needs an epic drummer

of course, Mike IS the Best Drummer on Earth 🎼 🎼

Always liked Mike as true musician!

The eye glass readjust on the second set was pretty awesome

O maior de todos os tempos!!!

He was and he is still the best drummer on earth!

Number one mike portnoy

Honestly I don't care about his drum solos. He was one of the main songwriters in Dream Theater and his drumming parts have always been super musical and melodic, while still being SUPER technical and POWERFUL. He and Danny Carey have been my favorite drummers for almost right at 30yrs for exactly that reason.

Best drummer of DT ever!