Mike Portnoy Calls 40th Anniversary Dream Theater Show His Favorite

Dream Theater is going through their final leg of their 40th anniversary tour this week. For drummer Mike Portnoy, who rejoined the band last year, the last show of the run stood out in a big way. After the performance, Portnoy posted a message online calling it “one of my most favorite shows I’ve ever played.”

The tour has been a major event for the band, not just because of the anniversary, but because it marked the full return of Portnoy after more than a decade apart. He had left the group in 2010 and rejoined officially in 2023, stepping back into the lineup that includes John Petrucci, James LaBrie, Jordan Rudess, and John Myung.

Portnoy thanked fans, crew, and bandmates for what he called an unforgettable run, mentioning he was feeling emotional and expressed how much it meant to be part of the band’s milestone year.

The Austin show closed out a series of North American performances that were part of Dream Theater’s larger 40th anniversary celebration. While no specific details about future international legs have been shared yet, the success of this first stretch suggests more announcements are likely coming.

Mike Portnoy had been a founding member of Dream Theater and played on many of their most acclaimed records. His drumming helped shape the band’s sound, especially during their rise in the ‘90s and early 2000s. Since his departure, he had stayed active in various projects and even collaborated again with Petrucci on solo work, which sparked early rumors about a possible return.

His comeback became official in late 2023, and fans responded immediately, with many praising the decision to bring back the classic lineup. The tour has been a chance for long-time listeners to see that version of the band on stage again.

The band hasn’t made any announcements yet about recording plans, but Portnoy’s return and the response to the tour have generated speculation about new music.

For now, the final leg of the tour seems to have offered a kind of full-circle moment, both for the band and its audience. And for Portnoy, who has played thousands of shows over his career, this one clearly stood out.

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