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Most don't like Mike on this forum. I dig his playing a lot.

Kurtis wrote:
Most don't like Mike on this forum. I dig his playing a lot.

I really, really dug his playing when he was with Extreme and Vai.
With DT, I have a very hard time finding his playing enjoyable.

Though it's been a while since I was into the style of music Mike generally plays he's in company with many other greats who's feel, groove and attitude I can appreciate a bit more.

That samba thing he did at MD festival is just silly, but I sort of feel a bit like that about him in general. There's nothing wrong with doing music that way really, I just presonally don't care for it.

Morgenthaler wrote:

Kurtis wrote:
Most don't like Mike on this forum. I dig his playing a lot.

I really, really dug his playing when he was with Extreme and Vai.
With DT, I have a very hard time finding his playing enjoyable.

Mike is a great player, he's just not a very pleasant human being.

Mmm...I never read or heard anything about him being an unpleasant human...he seems fun, energetic and good at teaching. Monster player. Not much of his stuff interests me

Morgenthaler wrote:I really, really dug his playing when he was with Extreme and Vai.

Exactly!

>>>

Those guys sound really baked.

I have never heard anything unpleasant from Mike...in fact when I met his at NAMM
during his speed drumming phase, he couldn't have been nicer...I have made the error
of judging a personality based on a meeting if the drummer was aloof or cold (Steve Smith)
compared to the high energy Kenny Arnoff or sweet Greg Bissonette...something we
need to be careful of...these guys are human...it would be nice if some geared up
psychologically before walking on the NAMM floor knowing they will get star struck
fanboys googling over them...(Steve Smith WILL get guys with copies of Escape wanting
to be signed 20 years after...expect it!)

OK, a little people skills goes a long way...realize what will happen over, "really dude...get a life"
attitude. Some gets this way more than others...Weckl isn't exactly a warm fuzzy cat...so what,
Peart is very shy, Vinnie can be the coolest cat in the room or intense, Jeff was almost always
modest with a, "Oh man...have you heard Omar play?" reaction...

I have always argued any celebrity needs three go to moves in public, especially in airports
so they do not rely on feelings...have three options to respond to fans or a TMZ mic shoved
in your face after a five hour flight, fight with your girlfriend, and just getting over the flu...

Amazingly, many do not! (it is Rick Springfield's nightmare...airports...yet all he has to do is
not engage, "Hi or Thanks"...avoid specific questions, "Hey Rick is it true you..." (or)
HAVE A RESPONSE that makes you come out as the cool guy! Not that hard to do...

A keyboardist friend of mine that I used to play Floyd with for a few years and more than a few great shows is playing Radio City tonight with Brit Floyd. He's playing some of the nicest venues on the planet. So damned happy for him. He's dedicated his life to progressive rock, and only playing what he wants to play. It's amazing to me how it all turned out for him. He and Wally Minko, keys with Ponty, grew up together. Wally got on a bike and rode out to LA many years ago. Matt would remark about how their lives turned out...and now here he is touring the world. So happy for him.