Mike Mangini is an American drummer. Since 2010, he has been a member of
progressive metal band Dream Theater, following the departure of founding
drummer Mike Portnoy. He has also played for bands and artists such as
Annihilator, Extreme, James LaBrie, and Steve Vai. Before joining Dream Theater,
Mangini was a faculty member at Berklee College of Music. Between 2002 and 2005,
he set five World's Fastest Drummer records. Mangini appeared on the
Discovery Channel show Time Warp, displaying his drum skills for high
speed cameras. Early life
Born in Newton, Massachusetts, Mangini first started playing the drums when he
was two and a half years old, being inspired by Ringo Starr of The Beatles.
He would practice two to four hours a day and by the time he was nine he was
already mimicking Buddy Rich performances. Other influences include
Bobby Colomby, Danny Seraphine, John Bonham, Neil Peart and Terry Bozzio.
By high school, he was performing in bands and participating in the
prestigious All-State, and All-Eastern United States ensembles.
After graduating from Waltham Senior High School in 1981, Mangini put aside
his music studies to pursue a computer science major at Bentley University.
After graduating Mike started programming software for the Patriot
Missile program. At the same time, he was working on a program that studied
the links between the human brain and body.
In 1987, Mangini scored one of his first high-profile gigs, playing drums for
Boston's Rick Berlin Band. This would be his first collaboration with bassist
Philip Bynoe. He also taught drums privately in Boston during this time.
Recording career In 1991, Mangini joined the thrash metal
band Annihilator, playing drums on several tracks for the band's album Set
the World on Fire. He went on to tour with the band in support of this album
until 1994. That year, he joined Boston hard rock band Extreme, replacing
original drummer Paul Geary. Mangini played on several songs on Extreme's
1995 album Waiting for the Punchline, and appeared with the band on the Late
Show with David Letterman. After Extreme disbanded in 1996, Mike
was informed through drummer Jonathan Mover that guitarist Steve Vai was
auditioning drummers for his live band. Mike successfully auditioned for Vai's
band and relocated to Los Angeles. From late 1996 to early 2000, Mangini was the
highly regarded drummer of Vai's live ensemble, which also included bassist
Philip Bynoe, guitarist Mike Keneally and beginning in 2000, guitarist Dave
Weiner. Mangini appeared on Vai's studio albums Fire Garden and The Ultra Zone,
and the live album Alive in an Ultra World.
During a hiatus on Vai's Ultra Zone tour in 2000, Mangini returned to Boston,
where he served as an associate professor at Berklee College of Music.
He also formed the short-lived band Tribe of Judah with former Extreme
frontman Gary Cherone and bassist Pat Badger. Mangini appeared on other albums
during this time, including a Rush tribute record entitled Subdivisions and
a second Annihilator album titled All for You. He also recorded tracks for
artists Sal DiFusco, Bill Lonero and Chris Emerson.
In 2005, Mangini accepted a full-time teaching position at the Berklee College
of Music in Percussion Department. He resigned in 2010 after joining Dream
Theater. Mangini appeared on a third Annihilator
album in 2007, titled Metal. In late 2010, Mangini, along with Marco
Minnemann, Peter Wildoer, Virgil Donati, Aquiles Priester, Derek Roddy and Thomas
Lang, auditioned to succeed Mike Portnoy as the drummer for Dream Theater. He had
previously appeared on three solo albums by Dream Theater's lead singer, James
LaBrie. Mangini was announced as Dream Theater's new drummer on April 29, 2011,
several months after he actually joined. He has since recorded two studio albums
and two live albums with Dream Theater. In 2012, he toured with John Petrucci
and Dave LaRue for the G3 tour in South America.
Discography = Selected album appearances=
With Annihilator Set the World on Fire
All for You Metal
With Extreme Waiting for the Punchline - tracks "Hip
Today", "Leave Me Alone" and "No Respect"
With Steve Vai Fire Garden - tracks "Bangkok" and "The
Fire Garden Suite" G3: Live in Concert
The Ultra Zone - tracks "Jibboom", "Windows to the Soul" and "Here I Am"
Alive in an Ultra World With MullMuzzler/James LaBrie
Keep It to Yourself James LaBrie's MullMuzzler 2
Elements of Persuasion With Tribe of Judah
Exit Elvis With Mike Visconti
Take 3 In Other Words
With Dream Theater A Dramatic Turn of Events
Dream Theater Live at Luna Park
Breaking the Fourth Wall The Astonishing
References External links
Official website Official Rhythm Knowledge website
Pearl Drums: Drumset Artists - Mike Mangini: Dream Theater