宣可音樂管道

Mike Portnoy和John Petrucci，畢竟是多年的朋友不是敵人，時值2020年，John Petrucci久違的個人專輯，找了以前的老友來打鼓。（2020.8.15.影音更新）

對許多Dream Theater的樂迷來說，這毋寧說是令人心碎的一刻！

跟著Dream Theater一起成長的樂迷們，習慣有Mike Portnoy 的鼓已經25年，這比太多離散的夫妻情侶的關係還長久，但這個堅定的組合也終究面臨有人離團的一刻。

在9月8日的Mike Portnoy 在網路上公布自己將離開DM，去「追求其他的冒險和挑戰」，Mike Portnoy的聲明原文及宣可的譯文如下

我以下要寫的是我從未想像我會的內容：在25年後，我決定要離開 Dream Theater……這個我親自創立、帶領、鍾愛四分之一個世紀的樂團。對很多人來說這是個大衝擊，而極可能被一部份人所誤解，但請相信我，這不是一個匆促的決定…這在我在過去一年來掙扎已久的事情…在和Hail,  Transatlantic, Avenged Sevenfold等團體在去年有了極佳的合作經驗後，最後我很哀傷地發現，近來與這些團體的合作計畫，已經比好一陣子的待在Dream Theater當中有更多的樂趣與更佳的個人關係…

I am about to write something I never imagined I’d ever write: After 25 years, I have decided to leave Dream Theater….the band I founded, led and truly loved for a quarter of a century. To many people this will come as a complete shock, and will also likely be misunderstood by some, but please believe me that it is not a hasty decision…it is something I have struggled with for the last year or so…. After having had such amazing experiences playing with Hail, Transatlantic and Avenged Sevenfold this past year, I have sadly come to the conclusion that I have recently had more fun and better personal relations with these other projects than I have for a while now in Dream Theater…

請不要曲解我。我很愛DT的成員們，和他們有長久歷史的友誼，及非常非常深遠的結合關係…只是我非常認真地認為我們需要稍微道別一下…Dream Theater永遠是我的孩子…而我清醒的每一天養育著他，打從1985年起，一天24小時，全年無休…從來沒有在無止盡的樂團責任中有任何告假過（即使樂團在漫長的循環中暫時"休息"的時候，我也沒停過）…超時的工作及超負荷的責任到一個正常人所能為樂團做的極限

Please don’t misinterpret me, I love the DT guys dearly and have a long history, friendship and bond that runs incredibly deep with them…it’s just that I think we are in serious need of a little break… Dream Theater was always my baby…and I nurtured that baby every single day and waking moment of my life since 1985…24/7, 365…never taking time off from DT’s never-ending responsibilites (even when the band was “off" between cycles)…working overtime and way beyond the call of duty that most sane people ever would do for a band…

但我終於發現這個運轉不止的DT機器將我耗竭殆盡…而我真地需要告別一下這個團，為了保住我和其他成員的關係，也為了維持我的DT靈魂仍然充滿飢渴尋求啟發的動力。我們無止盡地 創作/錄音/巡迴演出 循環了將近20年（我毫無休息地監控了這每個層面），然而漫長年歲中間歇地有幾個月互相離開一下去做些事，是非常有需要及有助益的，我誠摯地希望樂團同意我有個「小空隙」留白一下，讓我重新充電，救我一下來保全我們大家…

But I’ve come to the conclusion that the DT machine was starting to burn me out…and I really needed a break from the band in order to save my relationship with the other members and keep my DT spirit hungry and inspired. We have been on an endless write/record/tour cycle for almost 20 years now (of which I have overseen EVERY aspect without a break) and while a few months apart from each other here & there over the years has been much needed and helpful, I honestly hoped the band could simply agree with me to taking a bit of a “hiatus" to recharge our batteries and “save me from ourselves"…

很悲哀的是，在和伙伴們討論是，他們決定無法認同我的感受，決定不暫時休息，而是沒有我繼續走下去…我甚至做出違背我原始意願的提議，我可以在2011年來參與一部分工作，但終究不成…對我來說即使想到一個沒有Mike Portnoy的Dream Theater都很難過（嘿，我爸爸為這個團命名的！！），但我同時不希望阻礙了伙伴們的發展…所以我決定犧牲我自己，就乾脆地離開樂團而不是違背他們的意願拖住他們…

Sadly, in discussing this with the guys, they determined they do not share my feelings and have decided to continue without me rather than take a breather…I even offered to do some occasional work throughout 2011 against my initial wishes, but it was not to be… While it truly hurts for me to even think of a Dream Theater without Mike Portnoy (hell, my father named the band!!), I do not want to stand in their way…so I have decided to sacrifice myself and simply leave the band so as to not hold them back against their wishes….

很奇怪的是我剛讀完一篇最近接受的採訪，我被問到有關DT的未來，我談到「永遠追隨著你的心，對自己真實無欺」…我必須很悲哀地說在這個特殊的時刻，我的心沒有跟著Dream Theater走…而如果我只是為了盡義務而不去為我需要的去喘口氣的話，我就只是跟著我的動作，完全沒有誠實面對自己。我希望伙伴們能很好，我們一起創作的音樂持續為樂迷們所欣賞…

Strangely enough, I just read an interview that I recently did that asked me about the future of DT and I talked about “always following your heart and being true to yourself"…sadly I must say that at this particular moment, my heart is not with Dream Theater…and I would simply be “going through the motions", and would honestly NOT be true to myself if I stayed for the sake of obligation without taking the break I felt I needed. I wish the guys the best and hope the music and legacy we created together is enjoyed by fans for decades to come…

我為我們所做的每張專輯，我們寫的每首歌、每場做的表演感到驕傲…我對世界上所有失望的DT樂迷們感到抱歉…我真地嘗試去拯救這個狀況而希望能解決…我誠實地就是想要休息（而不是分道揚鑣）…但快樂是不能被強迫出來的，而需要發自內心感受到的…你們這些DT粉絲是最了不起的粉絲，而你們都知道我也為你們卯足了勁，希望未來的音樂道路上，不管我被引領到哪裡，希望你們還在我身邊…（你們都知道我的工作倫理，肯定不會缺乏Mike Portnoy的創作計畫！）

I am proud of every album we made, every song we wrote and every show we played…. I’m sorry to all the disappointed DT fans around the world…I really tried to salvage the situation and make it work…I honestly just wanted a break (not a split)…but happiness cannot be forced, it needs to come from within…. You DT fans are the greatest fans in the world and as you all know, I have always busted my ass for you guys and I hope that you will stay with me on my future musical journey, wherever it may lead me….(and as you all know my work ethic, there will surely be no shortage of future MP projects!)

哀傷地

你們無畏的前DT團長及鼓手

MP

Sadly…
Your fearless ex-leader and drummer,
MP

“Move on be brave, don’t weep at my grave, because I am no longer here… But please never let your memory of me disappear…." — The Spirit Carries On

 

可能怕樂迷遷怒吧？Portnoy又做了一些澄清，希望大家不要把他的決定認為是因為近來合作的A7×（樂團Avenged Sevenfold的鼓手英年早逝，最新專輯的鼓手由Mike Portnoy跨刀合作）。

MP後來特別在Facebook另外說明Avenged Sevenfold的成員也跟DT樂迷一樣同感震驚。

 

 

宣可看到連Mike Portnoy都會離開Dream Theater，難免震驚和感傷。

但宣可歷經歲月看這些樂團分合乃至於人世間感情妣離，有些人在離別時刻，爭執不休，道人長短，做到很難看。有的人當時離得毅然決然、轟轟烈烈，後來又反悔牽拖，歹戲拖棚…

樂團成員妣離型態變化有很多種，對樂迷的我們來說，感傷是一回事，但當事人用什麼心態和姿態走下去，可能才是最重要的。

不管Portnoy說有多困難，畢竟他勇敢地跨出了這一步。宣可祝福他，也祝福Dream Theater。不出惡言的分手，或許有一天我們期待的Dream Theater重新組合也未可知。

至少這25年來的作品，早足以傳世了。

 

以下是Mike Portnoy在離開DT前的最後一次受訪，已經談到很多和其他團合作的經驗

Mike Portnoy interview before leaving Dream Theater from Jon Mikel Caballero on Vimeo.

Last Mike Portnoy interview before leaving Dream Theater from Jon Mikel Caballero on Vimeo.