Mike Portnoy Feared Dream Theater Comparisons

(Prog) Mike Portnoy admits he fought to stop The Neal Morse Band making double-album, The Similitude Of A Dream, in fear of drawing comparisons with his old band, Dream Theater.

Inspired by John Bunyan's 17th century morality tale The Pilgrim's Progress, the record is released on November 12 - and has been described as "an instant masterpiece" by the drummer.

But Portnoy says he was initially afraid of accusations that he'd copied his old band's idea after they released concept double-album The Astonishing earlier this year.

Portnoy tells Metal Wani: "I have to admit I was really resistant to do a double album with Neal Morse, because I was afraid of the inevitable comparisons to Dream Theater's latest album.

"Once they put out a double concept album, I was really resistant and reluctant for us to do it. And I fought the guys hard in the studio while making this record, desperately trying to keep it to a single album, just because I could already picture the comparisons and I just didn't wanna go down that road.

"I didn't wanna be compared and I didn't want anybody to think that we were stealing the idea from them, which is obviously not the case. So I was really fighting those guys. But halfway through the record and the writing, we knew it had to be a double. I finally just gave up fighting and let the album be what it needed to be." Read more here.

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