Mike Portnoy was born on April 20, 1967 and raised in Long Beach, New York, where his interest in music started at an early age. "My father was a rock n' roll disc jockey, so I was always surrounded by music constantly. I had this huge record collection when I was real young and loved the Beatles and then later on Kiss. It was inevitable that I'd become a musician."

Although Mike taught himself how to play the drums, he did take music theory classes in high school. During that time he began playing in local bands Intruder, Rising Power and Inner Sanctum, the latter of which released their own album. Mike left the band after being awarded a scholarship to attend Berklee Music College in Boston.

An avid collector of many things, Mike has a vast array of Dream Theater memorabilia including bootlegs, posters, clippings and everything else under the sun with the band's name on it. He is also responsible for capturing everything the band does on video tape and DAT. His huge video collection includes favorite films as 2001, A Clockwork Orange, Jacob's Ladder and The Wall along with episodes of The Simpsons and memorable boxing matches.

Mike says his biggest influences are Rush drummer Neil Peart and the late Frank Zappa. Other favorites include drummers Terry Bozzio, Vinnie Colaiuta, Simon Philips, John Bonham and Keith Moon and bands such as The Beatles, Queen, Yes, Metallica, Jellyfish, Iron Maiden, U2 and Jane's Addiction. He is also a fan of rap music.


PERSONAL INFO
Full name - Michael Stephen Portnoy

Birthday - April 20, 1967

Height - 5' 10''

Hair color - Black

Eye color - Green

Website - /

Equipment - Tama Starclassic drums, Melody Master Snares, Sabian and Sabian Max Cymbals, Remo heads, Iron Cobra Pedals, Pro-Mark 420 Drumsticks and Latin Percussion


FAVORITES
Directors - Woody Allen, David Lynch, Stanley Kubrick

Actors - Robert DeNiro, Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino

Sports - Boxing

TV shows - Twin Peaks, The Simpsons, The Twilight Zone, The Sopranos

Food - Fast food, especially Taco Bell

Drink - Used to be Jagermeister, beer. Does not drink any more.

he Albino Monster


Drumset: Tama StarClassic Maples
Cymbals: Sabian
A 14" AAX Stage Hats
B 14" HHX Studio Crash
C 18" HHX Chinese
D Signature Max Stax (high)
E 18" HHX Studio Crash
F 7" Signature Max Splash
G 9" Signature Max Splash
H 18" AA Medium Thin Crash
I Signature Max Stax (mid w/Ice Bell upside-down on top)
J 20" HHX Chinese
K 22" Hand-Hammered Rock Ride
L 13" HHX Groove Hats
M Signature Max Stax (low)
N 22" Hand Hammered Rock Ride
O 11" Signature Max Splash
P 18" AAX Stage Crash
Q 19" Vault Crash
R 20" Hand-Hammered Chinese
S 28" Zodiac Gong

Hardware: Tama 1st Chair thrones, Tama Iron Cobra Rolling Glide Pedals and Hi-Hats. Slick Nut Fastener locks on all cymbals.

Sticks: Pro-Mark 420 model with nylon tip (Mike's signature stick).

Heads: Remo Clear Emperors on tops, Diplomats on bottoms. Coated Ambassadors with Black Dot on Snares. Power Stroke3 on Kicks. Pinstripe on 10" Tymp Tom.