Mike Mangini

Occupation(s)DrummerYears active1987–presentFormerly ofWebsitemikemangini.com

Michael Anthony Mangini (born April 18, 1963) is an American musician, primarily known as the former drummer of progressive metal band Dream Theater, with whom he played between 2010 and 2023. 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.^[1] 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.^[2]

Early life and career

Mangini first started playing the drums when he was two and a half years old, being inspired by Ringo Starr of The Beatles.^[3] He would mimic Buddy Rich performances. Other influences include Bobby Colomby, Danny Seraphine, John Bonham, Neil Peart and Terry Bozzio.^[4]

After graduating from Waltham Senior High School in 1981,^[5] Mangini put aside his music studies to pursue a computer science major at Bentley University. After graduating he started programming software for the Patriot Missile program.^[6]

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.

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 three songs on Extreme's 1995 album Waiting for the Punchline, and appeared with the band on the Late Show with David Letterman.^[7]

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 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.^[8]

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 his second and third Annihilator albums titled All for You and Metal, respectively.

In 2005, Mangini accepted a full-time teaching position at the Berklee College of Music in the Percussion Department. He resigned in 2010 after joining Dream Theater.

Dream Theater

In late 2010, Mangini auditioned to succeed Mike Portnoy as the drummer for Dream Theater.^[9] 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.^[10] He appeared on every Dream Theater release from 2011's A Dramatic Turn Of Events to 2021's A View from the Top of the World. Distance over Time, Mangini's fourth studio album with Dream Theater, featured his debut as a lyricist, on the song "Room 137".

On October 25, 2023, Dream Theater announced the departure of Mangini, along with the return of founding drummer Mike Portnoy.^[11]

Other projects

Mangini served as the drummer for Dream Theater bandmate John Petrucci on the G3 tour, along with bassist Dave LaRue, in 2012 and 2018.

In 2015, Mangini joined progressive rock band U.K. for their Final World Tour.^[12]

Gear

Mike plays and endorses Pearl drums, hardware and percussion.

He plays and endorses Zildjian cymbals, Vater drumsticks, Remo drumheads and Shure microphones.^[13]

Discography

Selected album appearances

Annihilator

• Set the World on Fire (1993)
• All for You (2004)
• Metal (2007)

Extreme

• Waiting for the Punchline (1995) – tracks "Hip Today", "Leave Me Alone" and "No Respect"

Nuno Bettencourt

• Schizophonic (1997) – tracks "Swollen Princess" and "Fine By Me"

Mike Keneally

• Sluggo! (1997) – track "Egg Zooming"

Steve Vai

• Fire Garden (1996) – tracks "Bangkok" and "The Fire Garden Suite"
• G3: Live in Concert (1996)
• Merry Axemas – A Guitar Christmas (1997) – track "Christmas Time is Here"
• The Ultra Zone (1999) – tracks "Jibboom", "Windows to the Soul" and "Here I Am"
• Alive in an Ultra World (2001)
• The Story of Light (2012) – track "The Moon and I"
• Modern Primitive (2016) – track "Never Forever"

MullMuzzler/James LaBrie

• Keep It to Yourself (1999)
• James LaBrie's MullMuzzler 2 (2001)
• Elements of Persuasion (2005)

Sal DiFusco

• Nevertheless (2000)
• Great Exploits (2002)
• Vanishing Mist (2008)

Tribe of Judah

• Exit Elvis (2002)

Mike Visconti

• Take 3 (1999)
• In Other Words (2003)
• Boston Accent (2007)

Tim Donahue

• Madmen & Sinners (2004)

Rush Tribute

• Subdivisions (2005)

Shredding the Envelope

• The Call of the Flames (2009)

Daniel Pique

• Boo!! (2009)

Dream Theater

• A Dramatic Turn of Events (2011)
• Dream Theater (2013)
• Live at Luna Park (2013)
• Breaking the Fourth Wall (2014)
• The Astonishing (2016)
• Distance Over Time (2019)
• Distant Memories – Live in London (2020)
• A View from the Top of the World (2021)

Into the Great Divide

• Into the Great Divide (2018)

Rob Silverman

• Drumology II (2022) – track "Victory"

Cross Country Driver

• The New Truth (2023) – tracks "Wild Child", "Rio Tularosa" and "Shine"^[14]

Mangini

• Invisible Signs (2023)

References

External links

• Official website
• Official Rhythm Knowledge website
• Pearl Drums: Drumset Artists – Mike Mangini: Dream Theater