Mike Mangini, the former drummer of DREAM THEATER, has released a drum-cam playthrough video for Oligarchs, the first single from his new band, MONOLITH.
Along with Mangini, MONOLITH features Hernán “Motley” Rodríguez on bass and vocals, and Andy Barrow on guitar. The trio describes itself on social media as “a genre-defying band that embodies the fusion of rock and metal.”
The official music video for Oligarchs premiered on February 28.
Mangini’s debut solo album, Invisible Signs, was released in November 2023. The album featured Tony Dickinson on bass, Ivan Keller on guitar, Gus G. (from FIREWIND and OZZY OSBOURNE) on lead guitar, and Jen Majura (ex-EVANESCENCE) on vocals.
Mangini joined DREAM THEATER in late 2010 after a highly publicized audition following the departure of co-founder Mike Portnoy. Mangini triumphed over six of the world’s top drummers—Marco Minnemann, Virgil Donati, Aquiles Priester, Thomas Lang, Peter Wildoer, and Derek Roddy—during a three-day audition, which was filmed for a documentary-style reality show called The Spirit Carries On.
Mangini first made a name for himself in the hard rock world in the mid-1990s when he played with EXTREME, later joining guitar legend Steve Vai in 1996. Nearly a decade later, he took a full-time teaching position at the prestigious Berklee College of Music.
In a recent interview, DREAM THEATER’s James LaBrie was asked about how Mangini responded when the band informed him in October 2023 that Mike Portnoy would be returning. LaBrie praised Mangini’s professionalism, saying, “It was very admirable of him. He took it in style and class. Obviously, it must have been upsetting, but he accepted it with understanding. He said things like, ‘It makes sense, guys. I see why this is happening. It seems natural for the band given the history.’ He was a class act.”
During a January 2024 interview with Chris Akin Presents…, Mangini revealed that he had no prior warning about Portnoy’s return to the band, describing it as an “immediate” decision. He explained, “It was immediate. But it’s like… the fish comes up out of the water; it’s immediate, but the fish was swimming for a while. I got it.”
He continued, “It was easy for me to deal with. I thought, ‘Okay, original guy back in the band.’ It wasn’t difficult at all. I had left so many things undone over the years—publishing books, teaching classes—that I had a lot of other things to focus on. I just let it all happen, looked at my list, and moved on.”
When asked about his feelings regarding being pushed out of DREAM THEATER after helping the band win its first Grammy Award, Mangini responded: “I don’t know if that’s the full picture, and I don’t let myself dwell on it. People make decisions, and I respect that. It is what it is.”
In early November 2023, Mangini discussed the news of Portnoy’s return during an appearance on SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk. “When I heard about it, all I thought was, ‘Oh, this is an original guy coming back to his band.’ It seemed simple to me. Once it became real, I just got busy, focusing on my work. I had videos to finish, and I had other things to do.”
At 61 years old, Mangini, who had been with DREAM THEATER since 2010, continued, “I’m focused on a lot of things with my solo album. There are still things to accomplish, and once I got the news, I immediately moved forward.”
Eddie Trunk remarked that Mangini’s departure from DREAM THEATER, his attitude, and the fans’ response had been handled in the best way possible. Mangini agreed, stating, “It is as good as it could be. There’s a lot to do, and I’m grateful for what I’ve been able to accomplish in my career.”
Reflecting on his career and his family’s support, Mangini shared, “How fortunate am I to be a part of that history? It’s all positive. Despite the struggles, I’ve accomplished so much. What’s important is how I’ve treated people and how they’ve treated me. I want my kids to grow up with the same values. That’s what truly matters.”
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