MIKE PORTNOY And JORDAN RUDESS Reunite At HAKEN's New York City Concert

Former DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy and the band’s keyboardist, Jordan Rudess, joined the British progressive metal band HAKEN on stage last night (Wednesday, April 30) at the The Studio at Webster Hall in New York City.

A photo taken after the concert can be seen below.

NEXT TO NONE, the band featuring Mike‘s son Max Portnoy, was the support act for HAKEN at the New York City show.

Portnoy and Rudess were previously photographed having what appeared to be friendly banter at this year’s NAMM show in January in Anaheim, California.

Portnoy, who co-founded DREAM THEATER 30 years ago, abruptly quit the band in September 2010 while on tour with AVENGED SEVENFOLD. He has since been replaced by Mike Mangini (ANNIHILATOR, EXTREME, JAMES LABRIE, STEVE VAI). Portnoy later revealed that he tried to rejoin DREAM THEATER, only to be rebuffed.

In a 2010 interview with Classic Rock magazine, Rudess was asked about Portnoy‘s desire to temporarily step away from DREAM THEATER and Mike‘s proposed solution — for DREAM THEATER to go on an indefinite hiatus, believing that a break would help to rekindle his enthusiasm for both the DREAM THEATER machine as well as his relationship with the other members.

“Yeah, he was saying a few years, three years, five years, or whatever,” Rudess recalled. “I really believe that’s what might’ve been best for him and I’m sure he doesn’t want to let go of DREAM THEATER. Why should he necessarily have to? Of course, there’s the reality that there are four other guys who also happen to have DREAM THEATER as their lives.”

He continued: “I think a lot of the problem was with us personally, but, to me, the vibe within DREAM THEATER was fine. I mean, so you’ve got John Myung who wasn’t really socializing with us at all anymore, but as I said to Mike, ‘Tell me how it’s any different to when I first joined this band.’ I don’t see it. And I’ve really got no problem with him doing what [he was] doing with AVENGED SEVENFOLD. I think it’s pretty cool going out and playing with a really successful rock group. I just have a little bit of a problem with him thinking that he could control DREAM THEATER. It’s like a captain who is trying to command his ship when he’s not even standing on the ship. And all the other guys are just sitting there, cruising along with a guy saying, ‘The captain has left the ship. Okay, boys, here’s what we’re going to do: You’re going to take a break.’ And they’re, like, ‘But wait a minute, we’re standing on the ship.'”

Rudess added: “Mike remains our very good friend and I think there’s a lot of love there between everyone, really, when it comes down to it. He may have been a little tired of us, but the bigger picture is that we’re all brothers.”

@Haken_Official joined onstage by @MikePortnoy & @Jcrudess, a truly historic moment for any prog fan pic.twitter.com/AwYQ7TzlbY

— Nate Ottë (@BGFN8) May 1, 2015

MP, Jordan Rudess & Haken in NYC…Jordan and I both joined Haken on stage tonight…good times, great music!

Posted by Mike Portnoy on Thursday, April 30, 2015

With @mikeportnoy Max and @erenbasbug at the Haken and Next to None show in NYC tonight! pic.twitter.com/FftvcJnWEI

— Jordan Rudess (@Jcrudess) May 1, 2015

Fonte: Blabbermouth.net