Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
Joe Satriani wears dark shades and performs with his Ibanez "Chrome Boy" signature guitar.
Artists Joe Satriani on what he told David Lee Roth and Alex Van Halen when they called about EVH tribute tour
Texan guitar phenom Eric Johnson plays a Fender Stratocaster in a Tropical Turquoise finish during a 2016 performance with the Experience Hendrix Tour.
Artists “It would be way better if drummers weren’t reduced to nothing”: Eric Johnson on the one thing he doesn’t like about modern pop music
Diamond Head
Artists “We were labelled ‘the new Led Zeppelin’. But it was a blessing and a curse”: A great rock band that had it all – and then blew it
A press shot of Paul Gilbert [left] wearing a tricorn hat and playing a pink Ibanez; Todd Rundgren wears dark shades and performs live in 2021.
Artists “To me, it was like being asked to tour with the Beatles”: Paul Gilbert on why he turned down the gig of a lifetime
Judas Priest in 1980
Artists “Black Sabbath and Judas Priest invented true heavy metal music”: How Priest singer Rob Halford remembers their breakthrough moment
Text banner saying He's the fastest drummer in the world
Drummers “I can play up to 20 hits per second”: Meet Jason Barnes – the AI-assisted one armed drummer
Phil Collins
Artists “That was a big mistake. I underestimated just how difficult it would be”: When Phil Collins played drums with a Genesis tribute act
Joe Satriani and Steve Vai perform onstage during the Satch/Vai Tour.
Artists “I’m watching this genius develop right in front of me”: Joe Satriani on what it was like to teach a teenage Steve Vai
Phil Campbell
Artists “I thought Motörhead was just a load of noise – but good noise”: A classic interview with former Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell
Joey Tempest
Artists “I took inspiration from Iron Maiden. And for the lyric, David Bowie’s Space Oddity”: A rock band’s global No.1 hit
Mark Tremonti throws the horns and points to something during a live performance with Creed. His signature PRS singlecut is strapped on his shoulder.
Artists “I had no idea that he was that good”: Mark Tremonti on Alter Bridge’s “secret weapon” and his soloing strategies
Night Ranger in 1984
Artists “In the ’80s, everybody came out with a power ballad. And we had a great one”: How a soft rock classic was created
 John Fogerty (C) performs at The O2 Arena on May 29, 2023 in London, England.
Recording “I’m just an adventurer coming back to the homeland”: John Fogerty on the long struggle to own his songs again
Prince at a press conference where he officially changed his name from the Artist back to Prince.  5/16/00  Photo by Scott Gries/ImageDirect
Artists Back in 1999, Prince offered his opinion on the new generation of DAW-based musicians and producers
White Lion in 1987
Artists “After Smells Like Teen Spirit, there was no place for bands like us”: The life and death of a hair metal band
More
  • Sly and Survivor
  • In My Life
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • One chord Diamond
  1. Artists
  2. Drummers

The Rev v Mike Portnoy: the result!

News
By Chris Burke published 13 December 2012

The Quarter Final match between The Rev and Portnoy - who won?

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

MIke Portnoy

MIke Portnoy

Since his shock decision to leave Dream Theater, the band he co-founded and had led for 25 years, the prog metal superstar has kept himself busy with plenty of new projects, from Avenged Sevenfold and TransAtlantic to Adrenalin Mob and Flying Colors.

Next: his opponent!

Page 1 of 3
Page 1 of 3
Jimmy 'The Rev' Sullivan

Jimmy 'The Rev' Sullivan

The late Jimmy Sullivan, aka The Reverend Tholomew Plague, was one of the most exciting drummers in modern metal until he passed away in 2009.

The Rev's playing on A7X albums such as City Of Evil and Avenged Sevenfold prove his worth as a hugely respected, and much-missed, metal sticksman.

And the winner is...

Page 2 of 3
Page 2 of 3
Mike Portnoy

Mike Portnoy

Mike Portnoy is through to the semi-finals then, having won with 60% of the votes.

It was a close-run contest but in the end you voted, in your thousands, in favour of the Dream Theater prog genius.

Page 3 of 3
Page 3 of 3
CATEGORIES
Drums
Chris Burke
Read more
The Who
Artists “I have to be careful what I say": Pete Townshend on Zak Starkey’s protracted dismissal from The Who
 
 
Rush's Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee perform in 2015; on the right, Anika Nilles, the drummer who will be playing drums for the band's reunion tour.
Artists Geddy Lee on how he and Alex Lifeson chose Anika Nilles to fill the late, great Neil Peart’s role in Rush reunion tour
 
 
Dave Mustaine and Marty Friedman trade solos as Megadeth play live in 1990
Artists Dave Mustaine admits he nearly passed on Marty Friedman for Megadeth because he didn’t like his hair
 
 
Carl Palmer rehearsing at the Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Canada, February 1977
Drummers “We took it very personally, and we shouldn’t have done”: Carl Palmer on how punk affected ELP
 
 
Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush perform live in 2015.
Artists Geddy Lee on honouring Neil Peart and why he and Alex Lifeson are getting back together as Rush
 
 
Dave Mustaine, founder, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter of US band Megadeth, performs at the Iconica Sevilla Fest, in Seville on July 3, 2025. (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP) (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP via Getty Images)
Bands “It’s not ‘puppet show Megadeth’”: Dave Mustaine says he doesn't want guesting ex-members on Megadeth’s final tour
 
 
Latest in Drummers
Text banner saying He's the fastest drummer in the world
Drummers “I can play up to 20 hits per second”: Meet Jason Barnes – the AI-assisted one armed drummer
 
 
American historic producer of British singer David Bowie, Tony Visconti, poses during a photo session in Paris on November 19, 2019
Singers & Songwriters “Afterwards he sent David an invoice for $10,000”: Tony Visconti on Dave Grohl’s “ludicrious” Bowie session fee
 
 
Chad Smith stood behind a surprised drum student
Drummers “Ignore the Hall Of Fame drummer sitting next to you”: Chad Smith is replacement drum teacher for the day
 
 
Phil Collins
Artists “That was a big mistake. I underestimated just how difficult it would be”: When Phil Collins played drums with a Genesis tribute act
 
 
Close-up of a gorilla mask
Drummers “Definitely one of the biggest highlights of my career”: The Cadburys ad gorilla remembers his “dream job”
 
 
Dave Grohl and Josh Freese in 2023
Bands “We are going to move on and find another drummer”: Dave Grohl says that Josh Freese’s exit from the Foo Fighters wasn't complex
 
 
Latest in News
(L-R) Kerry Katona, Natasha Hamilton and Liz McClarnon of English girl group Atomic Kitten, 2000. (Photo by Roberta Parkin/Redferns/Getty Images)
Artists OMD’s Andy McCluskey says it was a Kraftwerk legend who advised him to form girlband Atomic Kitten
 
 
Melissa Auf der Maur and Courtney Love in 1998
Bass Guitars “It took me one second to understand that she's a survivor”: Melissa Auf der Maur on why she’s “proud” of Courtney Love
 
 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 01: Bruno Mars performs onstage during the 68th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.  (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Artists Why Bruno Mars' new single Risk It All could have ended up sounding very different
 
 
James Blake performs during the inaugural 2024 Gazebo Festival at Waterfront Park on May 25, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Producers & Engineers "I’d say 95 percent of the work I’ve done was unpaid”: James Blake on the hit and miss nature of production work
 
 
Diane Warren and KPop Demon Hunters
Artists Songwriter Diane Warren’s Oscars losing streak goes on as KPop Demon Hunters’ Golden wins
 
 
AUSTIN, TX - DECEMBER 09:  Displayed in public for the first time is John Lennon's piano, used to write numerous Beatles songs and part of Indianapolis Colts CEO and Owner Jim Irsay's "Jim Irsay Collection" during a reception at the Four Seasons Hotel on December 9, 2021 in Austin, Texas.  (Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images)
Keyboards & Pianos "Lot after lot, we felt like we were making history”: John Lennon’s Broadway piano goes for £2.5 million
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...