Mike Mangini (born April 18, 1963 in Newton, Massachusetts) is the current drummer for Dream Theater, and has played for Annihilator, Extreme, James LaBrie, and Steve Vai. He is a teacher at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and held five World's Fastest Drummer world records. He is also known for his work as a session musician. He joined Dream Theater after the departure of Mike Portnoy.
So today we celebrate this news with a classic DT tune ”Pull Me Under”, that is the first track and second single from Dream Theater's 1992 album "Images and Words”.
"Pull Me Under," which originally had the working title "Oliver's Twist," is widely considered to be Dream Theater's most well known song. Although the band did enjoy its success with MTV and radio play during the release and there after, the band has continued to keep its distance from the mainstream scene; although, it is still performed in world tours. In a radio interview, Mike Portnoy stated that "...it was just an 8 and a half minute song, and it was just a fluke for MTV and radio play to happen." The song peaked at #10 on the Billboard Magazine Mainstream Rock Tracks charts.
A distinctive feature of the song is its lack of a conventional ending. "Pull Me Under" simply stops at 8 minutes and 11 seconds.
"Oh that this too, too solid flesh would melt.”
A shortened version of the song (clocking at 4:48) also featured a music video which alternated between clips of the band performing and an obscure storyline about someone, who is often described by band members and fans as a "wolfman." The band members were reportedly unhappy with the storyline, saying that it doesn't have anything to do with the song's subject matter. Lead singer James LaBrie can be seen wearing a Napalm Death shirt in the video. According to drummer Mike Portnoy that shirt actually got the band connected with Napalm Death. Anyway, enjoy todays tune!
Dream theater - pull me under by cramchur
Images and Words tour - Live in Tokyo
Some Nerd Mike Mangini stuff!
Mangini currently endorses Pearl Drums and Zildjian Cymbals. In 2008, Pearl Drums released the Mike Mangini Signature Popcorn Snare. It is 10x6.2" made from 6ply Birch. He also uses his own Zildjian Mike Mangini Signature Sticks, which are laminated Birch with an acorn style tip, 16 1/5" long and .585" in diameter.
Mangini also uses Pearl Eliminator Pedals, and Pearl Hardware, Roland Electronics, Shure Microphones, and Remo Drumheads.
[edit]Current Setup (2008)
Pearl Masters Premium 6ply Maple Drums & Zildjian Cymbals:
Drums — Red Pearl, Red Onyx or Shimmer of Oz Finishes
10x8" Tom
12x9" Tom
14x14" Floor Tom
18x16" Floor Tom
22x18" Bass Drum
10x6.2" Mike Mangini Signature Popcorn Snare
14x5.5" Snare
Cymbals — Zildjian
14" A Custom Hi-Hats
13" A Custom Hi-Hats
14" ZHT Hi-Hats
13" Mastersound Hi-Hats
21" Rock Ride
20" Oriental Crash of Doom
18" A Custom Crash
17" A Custom Crash
22" Oriental China Trash
18" Oriental China Trash
14" Oriental China Trash
14 ZXT Trashformer (x3)
6" A Custom Splash
6" A Zilbel
Drum Heads — Remo
Toms: (10", 12", 14", 18") Clear Emperors (top), Clear Ambassadors (bottom)
Bass Drum: (24") Clear Powerstroke 3 with Falam Slam Patch (back), Standard Pearl Ebony (front)
Snares: (14", 10") Coated CS Controlled Sound or Coated Ambassadors (top), Clear Ambassadors(bottom)
Percussion — Pearl
Primero 6" Cowbell
Mide-Pitched Clave Block
Hardware — Pearl
DR503C Curved Icon Rack
PCX100 Clamp (x3)
PCX200 Clamp (x4)
TH-2000S Tom Arms (x3)
TH2000I Tom Arms (x2)
CH70 Cymbal Holders (x2)
CH-2000 Cymbal Holders (x2)
CH-2000S Cymbal Holders (x4)
CLH1000 X-Hat Attachment (x2)
AX25 Adapter (x2)
AX25L Adapter (x2)
P120 Bass Drum Pedal (x2)
P2002B Eliminator Double Pedal (Belt Drive w/Red Cams)
S2000 Snare Stand
RH-2000 Remote Hi-Hat (w/red cams) (x2)
DC-L300P Drop Clutch
D1000 Roadster Throne
PPS20 Cowbell Footpedal Bracket (x2)
PS85 Pedal Stabilizer
At his height from 2002–2005, Mangini was notorious for setting five World's Fastest Drummer records. These include the Fastest Matched Grip at 1,247 single strokes in 60 seconds in 2005, Fastest Barehands, which he earned by executing 1,138 single stroke notes in 60 seconds in 2002, until Glen Sobel (Of Beautiful Creatures) broke it with 1,140 notes in 2006. Fastest Traditional Grip which he earned by executing 1,126 single strokes in 60 seconds in 2003, a record that stood for five years before falling to Matt Smith (1,132) in 2008, and Fastest Single Stroke Foot record playing 13,222 hits in 15 minutes and 4,555 hits in five minutes; records that stood for two years before falling to Mike "Machine" Mallais (13,309/4,595) in 2007.
Mangini has written two books about his drumming techniques. These books, titled Rhythm Knowledge, are a practice method for deconstructing and simplifying complex polyrhythms and time signatures.
Mangini recently appeared on the Discovery Channel show Time Warp, displaying his drum skills for high speed cameras.
King is dead long live the King or should we say Mike is dead long live the Mike!
More info @
Dream Theater - The Official Site
Official Mike Mangini Website
Official Mike Mangini Myspace
Listen to ”Dream Theater - Pull Me Under" on Spotify here!Follow tuneoftheday.blogspot.com on Spotify here!
