Mike Portnoy's 'Dream Monster' kit

Yesterday, Tama posted a video where Mike Portnoy detailed description of his new shell set built especially for the Dream Theater 40th Anniversary Tour. The video, which we share under the article, was shot during Portnoy’s last visit to Drumeo.

Here are the ‘Dream Monster’ drum kit specs:

Shell set: Tama Starclassic Maple (20 pcs.)
finish: White To Purple Sparkle Fade Custom
Bass drums: 22″ x 18″ (2 pcs.), 20″ x 18″
Rack toms: 8″ x 7″, 10″ x 8″, 12″ x 9″
Concert toms (no reso heads): 6″ x 5″, 8″ x 6″, 10″ x 7″
Floor toms: 14″ x 14″, 16″ x 16″ (2 pcs.)
14″ x 5.5″ extra shallow custom rack tom
14″ x 5.5″ Bubinga Melody Master Snare (Mike Portnoy signature)
12″ x 5″ Hammered Steel Melody Master Snare (Mike Portnoy signature)
Gong drum: 20″ x 14″
Octobans: 6″ x 17.5″, 6″ x 18.5″, 6″ x 21″, 6″ x 23.5″
Pedals: Tama Speed Cobra
Rack system: Tama Power Tower
Cymbals: Sabian
Heads: Remo

Among other things, Portnoy said this about this new kit:

“A lot of people see these monster kits I use with Dream Theater and don’t necessarily understand that it’s actually two kits in one. It’s not at all meant to be sat at and played at once. It’s essentially a double bass kit on one side and a single bass drum kit on the other. […] It gives me great options in the studio and live to have different work environments. I play some of the […] metal tunes […] on the double bass traditional setup. I go to the other side [for] a ballad or a more experimental track. […] It’s a Tama Starclassic Maple. The finish is kind of like white fade into a purple sparkle.”

Dream Theater 40th Anniversary Tour has been going on since February 7, 2025. After a string of 30 dates across the US and Canada, fans will be able to see and hear the ‘Dream Monster’ kit in action in the following cities and venues: