Story by Anne Erickson

Flying Colors and Adrenaline Mob drummer couldn’t be happier with Lzzy Hale collaboration

Mike Portnoy has his hands full right now with two album releases set for this month: one with supergroup Flying Colors set for March 27 and the other with metal supergroup Adrenaline Mob dropping on March 13. On the latter album, “Omertà,” Portnoy and the guys called on sultry Halestorm vocalist Lzzy Hale to lend her raspy, powerful vocals to a cover of Duran Duran’s hit, “Come Undone.” This result is nothing less than mesmerizing.

So, how did the drumming wiz approach Miss. Hale to get on board the project? As it turns out, the two were already friends. “She’s somebody I’m friends with from touring together on Uproar a few years back,” Portnoy exclusively told Audio Ink Radio. “Lzzy and I became good friends, and when the idea for a female vocalist came up for ‘Come Undone,’ I knew she would absolutely kill it! So, I her gave call, and it was the same situation as with John, without even hearing it, she was on board because she wanted to do something with me. Once she heard the tune, she was like, ‘This is awesome. This is going to be great!’”

Portnoy knew Hale would knock it out of the park, but even he couldn’t anticipate just how emotion-drenched and action-packed the track would turn out. “Her voice just fits perfectly,” he said. “The minute I heard tracks, the hair on the back on my neck stood up. It just gave me chills.” Check back for Audio Ink Radio’s full interview with Portnoy in the coming weeks, and check out why Portnoy says the new Flying Colors album brings a blend of sounds, here. (Photo credit: Joey Pippin.)

Story by Anne Erickson

Mike Portnoy Says Flying Colors Album Carries a Gamut of Styles

Mike Portnoy is gearing up for the release of not one, but two albums from his bands Flying Colors and Adrenaline Mob. Both new albums hit stores this March, so wanton to say, it’s a busy time for the famed prog drummer.

Flying Colors — including Portnoy, Deep Purple’s Steve Morse, Dave LaRue, Neal Morse and Casey McPherson — release their self-titled debut March 27. A few weeks before then, Adrenaline Mob — packing Portnoy, Russell Allen, Mike Orlando, Mike Portnoy and John Moyer — have their full-length debut, entitled “Omertá,” out March 13.

Flying Colors’ new album, Portnoy says, isn’t what you would necessarily expect from a group of prog-rockers. Songs cover the gamut of genres, from pop to rock to metal to folk. Because of the vast variety, Portnoy’s favorite track on the album is always in flux.

“It depends on what mood I’m in,” Portnoy exclusively told Audio Ink Radio, when asked about his choice track on the album. “If I’m in the mood for something prog-y and deep, then I listen to the closing track, ‘Infinite Fire’ is obviously the epic of the album. But if I’m looking for something simple and poppy, ‘Love is What I’m Waiting For’ is a favorite. ‘Forever in a Daze’ is something a bit more funky and bouncy. So, all the songs bring different things to the party.” Check back for our full interview with Portnoy in the coming weeks, in which he elaborates more on the upcoming Flying Colors set. (Photo credit: Joey Pippin.)

Story by Anne Erickson

Exclusive: Mike Portnoy says ‘diversity element’ on Flying Colors’ new album is ‘pretty crazy’

Mike Portnoy is the busiest man on the planet. Not only is the iconic drummer gearing up to release a new album with heavy metal supergroup Adrenaline Mob on March 13, but he’s also dropping his debut set with another supergroup, Flying Colors, on March 27. Call it an unstoppable work ethic.

Flying Colors brings together the talents of Portnoy, Steve Morse, Dave LaRue, Neal Morse and Casey McPherson. With members bringing years of experience from bands like Deep Purple and Dream Theater, it sounds like a prog-rock match made in heaven. But, Portnoy says when the guys got in the same room and actually starting gutting out melodies and songs, they found themselves creating everything from pop to rock to folk.

“I think if most people looked at this band on piece of paper, they would think that it would be very progressive and instrumentally-based music, but I think once we started playing together, we got taken into all new directions,” Portnoy exclusively told Audio Ink Radio. “I think a lot of that had to do with Casey, because Casey comes from a more modern rock and alternative rock background, so I think that really helped take the entire band in new directions.

“The diversity element is pretty crazy. It ranges from poppy classic rock sounds like the Beatles and Queen all the way to modern rock and alternative bands like Radiohead, Muse and Coldplay, and everything in-between. There’s some prog stuff like Yes thrown in, as well, and then there are moments that are like the Red Hot Chili Peppers or Foo Fighters. So, it really runs the gamut from track to track.” Check back for our full interview with Portnoy in the coming weeks. (Photo credit: Joey Pippin.)