In this post I have a lot of different information and videos about the drummers in this set of auditions. I've taken some time to try to compile it so it is interesting and informative. I hope you enjoy it.
I hope any of you into percussion, drums, and music enjoy these videos
A founding member and drummer Mike Portnoy left Dream Theater. They held auditions and a lot of people tried out. It is fun to watch those videos on the auditions and the different drummers.
The exciting part for me was Marco Minnemann. I couldn't help but smile while I watched him audition. They ended up giving the job to another person who is an amazing drummer but, Marco has this DIFFERENT way of playing and joy that just makes it hard not to laugh and smile while watching him play. Maybe they didn't think smiling and laughing was the goal of some serious chugging metal. I love progressive metal and I think he would have made watching them even more entertaining. Mike Mangini got the role and he is very impressive, but there is just something about Marco... He reminds me of some of the interns on the TV Series Bones (The one named Fisher), and other comedians if they were awesome percussionists.
I don't have specific videos of just Marco's auditions but I have info on all those that auditioned and time stamps and which videos they were in as well as other info I collected. This way you don't have to agree with me on Marco.
HERE ARE ALL THE AUDITION VIDEOS IN ORDER IF YOU ARE A FAN LIKE ME AND WANT TO WATCH THEM. THEY ARE GOOD.
AUDITIONS
Mike Mangini - In Part 1 video - starts at 11 minutes 0 seconds.
Derek Roddy - In Part 2 video - starts at 30 seconds into video.
Thomas Lang - In Part 2 video - starts 5 minutes and 41 seconds.
Virgil Donati - In Part 2 video - starts 10 minutes and 5 seconds.
Marco Minnemann - In Part 2 video - starts 16 minutes in. <--- This guy is my favorite of these auditions.
Aquiles Priester - In Part 3 video - starts 10 seconds into video.
Peter Wildoer - In Part 3 video - starts 4 minutes and 30 seconds in.
ABOUT THE DRUMMERS WHO AUDITIONED
Mike Mangini
From: Newton, Massachusetts
Drummer for: Annihilator, Extreme, Steve Vai, Mull Muzzler, James LabBrie, Trime of Judah
Has performed with: Mike Visconti
Interesting fact: Between 2002 and 2005, he set five World's Fastest Drummer records
Derek Roddy
From: Deerfield Beach, Florida
Drummer for: Hate Eternal, Malevolent Creation, Serpent's Kiss
Thomas Lang
From: Vienna, Austria
Solo artist who's performed with: John Wetton (King Crimson), Falco, Mick Jones (The Clash), and Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple)
Virgil Donati
From: Melbourne, Australia
Drummer For: Planet X, Southern Sons
Has Performed with: Steve Vai
Marco Minnemann
From: Hanover, Germany
Solo artist who's performed with: Paul Gilbert, Adrian Belew (King Crimson), Kreator, Necrophagist (and after these auditions I saw him perform in a concert with Porcupine Tree)
Aquiles Priester
From: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Drummer for: Hangar, Freakeys, Vinnie Moore Band
Peter Wildoer
From: Gumslov, Sweden
Drummer For: Darkane, Pestilence, James LaBrie Solo Project
