When I sit down to do an interview, I try to be polite and answer the questions that I'm asked.
I'm very proud of the album I made with Adrenaline Mob, and I think that there was really a great chemistry there; it was a great band.
With Dream Theater, every creative aspect of the group went through me. I oversaw it all from top to bottom.
Richie Kotzen is such an unbelievable talent as a vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter.
I'd just like to be remembered as a huge music lover.
I don't think there's such a thing as a 'best' drummer.
My time and my legacy with Dream Theater will always be a part of me. It's something I'll always be proud of.
I don't want people to think that I think I'm this great drummer because, to me, I'm just a kid playing drums, and I love music.
Billy Sheehan has always been my number one favorite bass player of all time.
When you're putting together a concept album, it's all about the flow and the story.
Some of my heroes are John Bonham, Keith Moon, Neil Peart, Ringo Starr, Terry Bozzio, Bill Bruford... The list goes on and on and on.
When Dream Theater first started, we were touring in a van and playing clubs.
I usually have three to four bands a year going at any given point.
The most bizarre occurrence has to be when I dislocated my wrist during a show in Germany in 1997.
First and foremost, play what you love to play. Don't try to jump on a bandwagon or a trend or a popular musical craze.
I love when people know me from things other than Dream Theater.
I love my family more than life itself, but I can only sit at home by my pool eating barbecue food so many days before I go cuckoo.
I need to be creative all the time.
To me, a great drummer isn't always about somebody with chops who can shred. A great drummer is someone who is part of a great band.
My lesson would be to not sell yourself to anybody else and stay true to yourself.
I'm not a politician; I'm a very open, honest guy, and that's the way it is - that's the way I am; take it or leave it.
I could be just as happy playing a Beatles song as I am when I'm thrashing out the double bass stuff with Adrenaline Mob.
Life is too short for resentments, and I always forgive.
I tend to like the heavier things, especially live on stage. I need that energy and interaction and feeling the audience.
Normally, when I write the setlist for a Dream Theater show, I'll change it up every night, and we can basically play whatever we want.
