John Petrucci and Mike Portnoy Team Up for New Project

It has been reported that John Petrucci, guitarist for progressive rock band Dream Theater, will release his first solo album in 15 years, Terminal Velocity, later this summer. It turns out that former bandmate, Mike Portnoy, performed all of the drums.

Terminal Velocity will be available on all digital and streaming platforms and as a limited double-vinyl set.

“Having Mike play drums on this record was really special for me, and he did an absolutely incredible job navigating the various styles and technical challenges my music presented in the way that only he can do,” says Petrucci. “It was very cathartic for the both of us, I think, to be playing music together again after all these years, and it really felt great. Mike’s spirited, intuitive and energetic playing truly helped to elevate these new songs to a level that I couldn’t be happier with.”

Terminal Velocity follows Petrucci’s debut solo effort, 2005’s Suspended Animation. It marks the first time he and Portnoy recorded together in over a decade, as well as the first since Portnoy departed Dream Theater.

Petrucci, Portnoy and Dream Theater bassist John Myung cofounded the band in 1985 while studying at Boston’s Berklee College of Music. After building a worldwide following over two decades that has made the group one of the most popular acts in the genre and resulting in such accolades as two Grammy Award nominations, fans were shocked when Portnoy announced in 2010 that he was leaving Dream Theater. ”


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