I've never heard a drummer that brings so much melody into songs... This guy is definately one of the best drummers of the last 30 Years, maybe even THE best!
dont blame portnoy just cause he has a huge fan base. Zonder and Portnoy are both incredible musicians. Simply the zonder's music is for a more mature target, his touch is just unbelieveble, noone on this planet can make that song sound like zonder. Anyway, who cares about all, let's thank for having drummers like Mark, Portnoy, Bobby jarzombek and Sean Reinert, that give us incredible music and an infinite inspiration to become better drummers.
Might be a matter of opinion but I think it´s obvious Portnoy does not belng in the same category as Zonder, Jarzombek and Reinert... Just watch videos of him sitting in for Zonder, he doesn´t even bother learning the parts at all, parts that are so essential to the songs... Perhaps he´s not able to? Peter Criss syndrome... Fits in Dream Theater, huge fan base or whatever but compared to the names above or Bozzio, Donati, Carey...does not even compare... Very good drummer though but then there are exceptional drummers...
I play drums and I play prog,. This is just such a great time to be a drummer. I grew up on Peart and Portnoy, but guys like Mark Zonder, Gavin Harrison, and Mike Mangini have contributed so much... At least I could play some Peart on my 5 piece kit, these new guys are ridiculous. You know who else? That guy who plays with Cynic. All those guys are just on a sick level.
I am a singer, and have been for over 25. Fates is one of my biggest influences. I had an original project, and had a friend who had the insight to recommend a drummer to play for the project. He played on a similar set, and also did twice as much on the set. I always compare him to Zonder, the weird thing is I don't know if he ever heard of Zonder!! He used the same grip also. Seeing a musician like Zonder is one thing, playing with one, even on a small local scene, it just blows your mind. Zonder is just awesome, enough said!!!
Mark's efficiency on the drums is what really makes him great. Young guys who spaz out on the kit should to watch, listen and learn. Not that there's anything wrong with spazzing out on the kit once in a while.
Like many others Mark's fans, I've been waiting for a clinic/instructional video from Mark for years. This is really a Christmas gift for every Mark's or Fate's fan! Mark rules!
I heard this by fates warning CD back in the early 90's Mark Zonder's drumming was sick back then. And it's still sick now. A great drummer. I always tried to sound like this guy.
Two of the best songs in late-Fates Warning repertoire and Mark is always the master. I remember seeing Fates Warning in Milan during the Pleasant Shade of Gray tour (I think) and "The Eleventh Hour" was one of the best songs of the night. And Mark came to clasp my hand at the end of the concert: great.
I read ( Could be wrong) that yes his family was an issue , the band saw this also and approached him before he even had a chance to decide what to do. He was working for a motorcycle repair shop with a very understanding boss that let him tour and come back when ever he wanted. If u know him fill in the blanks.
Everyone....again the singer is not Ray Adler it is Gregg Analla from Mark's band Slavior. I worked directly with Mark on this and got it straight from the source.
I've talked to Mike Portnoy about his times filling in for Mark Zonder. He was really intimidated by the experience. I don't blame him. I think what makes Mark my favorite drummer (and he most certainly is) isn't necessarily his playing proficiency, it's his amazing creativity. I've seen Fates live many times, and I've seen Mark screw up a few times (I've seen Mike blow it maybe once out of all the times seeing Dream Theater). It's not always about perfection.
A true magician on the drums. The stuff that he does is difficult enough as it is and he is doing it all using the traditional grip. Amazing! Btw. does anyone know who the singer is? A very pleasant voice.
@Hugo- The singer is Ray Alder who is the long-time vocalist (1987-present) for the progressive metal band Fates Warning and is one of the most underrated singers in that genre of music. Both songs featured in this video are from their pinnacle album Parallels released in 1991. Mark Zonder was the drummer for that group for the years 1988 to 2005 and then again for 2010. Mike Portnoy briefly toured with the band for a few live shows in the years 2005 and 2012. Bobby Jarzombek is the drummer for the band now. Fates Warning's music demands great drumming and they've had three of the best ever.
Fates Warning are one of those bands that you either get it or you dont. Unfortunatley most people dont get it. Hence the lack of popularity. They are just so different. You can also see and hear it in Marks drumming,such an original style.
I saw Fates A few years ago in New York And the drummer for spocks beard was filling in for mark. He could not hold a candle to MZ he didnt even know the drum parts well. I was dissapointed big time but I still love them. Jim Metheos is a excellent song writer and lyricist. Dream theatre did a really cool version of Rushes the necromancer at the same show it's on u tube check it out.
All you guys saying that Mark sucks don't really know how to appreciate good drumming. Just because "you can play it" doesn't mean that it sucks. I would love to see you guys come up with such interesting patterns like these.
@85Aheadstix, Zonder is a master of extremely complex beats and is much more dynamic... Portnoy is a great power drummer, but has no dynamics and overuses double bass a lot and I've never heard him play anything in a complex time signature that does not revolve around counting double bass hits before using the snare (ie 4 kicks 1 snare).
I see I'm not the only one that immediately thoguht of Mark Zonder when Mike Portnoy announced he was quiting Dream Theater. I think Mark Zonder would be a perfect fit.
Zonder is for sure one of my favorite drummers. His drumming DVD is awesome and at 10 bucks! I would love to know though, why he switched to such a small set?? I thought he was at his best with FW and the double bass kit. Hope he does another video!
I was thinking the other day which drummer i'd like to sound like if I played the instrument and Mark came on top of the list. Other more well known guys overplay it with cliched fills IMO. Mark does it just right!
@ironcult666 Ahh, a better person than I? Okay, then in that case, I thank you for the 20+ years of honorable service you gave to your country and for the right to express my opinions. I thank you for the continuing service you are now giving to your community in the way of police work Fire/EMS which ever you prefer). I thank you for your work in church. I thank you for working with the special olympics and dedicating your time to other worthy causes. I humbly bow before you!
I know when I got FW IN ATHENS I was little dissapointed that MARK Z. wasn't there. All though RAY was hacking his brains out here and there, maybe he smokes too much or something.Hmmmm could it be the reason that MARK left was because of RAY?
Actually a pleasant shade of grey pat 11 would been cool to see and yes I like fates better tham dream theatre because the music is more important to the fw guys than showing off their abilities(any musician knows this) I like mz because he follows the vocals like keith moon did
We all know Portnoy is not the best as far as skill and chops, but he is a creative genius as far as his playing to their songs, and his lyrics he wrote have often been some of the better DT material.
Tragic that so many Mike Portnoy fanboys don't truely realize how Mark is many levels superior...yes, I know Mark taught Mike for a short while...Mike really just has an incredible guitarist to play 16th notes to...rediculous how many awards Mike has and Zonder doesnt get near the accolades....
@TylerSabian Simplicity is genius! It's all about feel, my friend. Sadly, there's not much of that to be heard in todays music... Marks playing is all about feel. Often, people tend to realize that as they mature as individuals and players. Technical skills is worth nothing if you don't have the feel. Just listen to say "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin... there it is!
i agree with u on the feeling factor..but if u imply that Fates Warning music has no "feeling"then u are tottaly ignorant..cause they are the only progressive-metal-rock call them however u want band..who combine all elements in their music...Now if u are lookin for a a technical band who releases highly skilled albums,but they all "empty" of feeling..their name is Dream Theater...!!!!!!
@liquifex It's kinda funny how I just wrote one comment about me being able to play what he's playing and asking for a full ride scholarship as a joke. Then you comment trying to be all smart saying witty insults to get attention. Who's the troll?
@raptormanx .I'm not even going to attempt to discuss this since you're clearly ignorant on this subject. Portnoy is an amazing drummer. Zonder is also amazing, but is far from 'many levels higher' than MP. He has a very tight in-the-pocket type of style, but it's nothing that many fusion drummers don't do. MP is in fact amazing for the style of music he plays and most drummers in music would be hard pressed to attempt to play what he does.
@ironcult666 Nice, and that would make you? The internet tough guy? The savior of the internet? According to your assumption of me, you just placed yourself in my boat! settle in sailor, it is going to be a long ride!
@raptormanx im a huge fan of Portnoy but i do realize that he is less technical skilled than Zonder. Mike jus worked on his image so perfectly well. No overrated though...
@enedene1 Serious question- Do you suck at playing drums? Because if you could play well, you could understand the simplicity of his playing. So by telling me that my statement was stupid, that obviously means that you think this guy is way better than you. So, that means you're not that good if you cant play this stuff.
