Last week it was announced that DREAM THEATER’S John Myung had won the Music Radar poll for ‘Greatest Bassist of All Time’ and this week, he has spoken to the site about winning such an accolade and also about the recent departure of drummer and ‘face’ of the band, Mike Portnoy.

When asked about how it felt to win the title, John stated, “It’s definitely an honor. I view it as a social endorsement that reflects on a lot of different things, from the band I’m in to the records we’ve put out to the basses I play. But it’s quite an honor, absolutely, one which tells me I’m on the right path. My gratitude goes out to everyone who voted.” He continued, “But I, in no way, feel that it’s true in the sense of the title of the award, because there’s so many great players all over the world who contribute amazing music. So, even though I’m deeply flattered and appreciative, let’s say that it’s taken with a bit of objectivity.” His way of saying ‘I’m not worthy? “Exactly. [laughs] You have to keep these things in perspective.”

On Mike’s recent departure, John comments, “I can’t say I saw it coming. And of course, nobody likes conflict. Dream Theater works best as a creative unit, and it’s not going to be easy to find a replacement and have somebody we can really bond with. I’d say the general band vibe is positive. We’re looking for the right guy, and I’m sure we’ll find that person.”

You can find the full article, which expands on John’s response to winning the award, the basses he uses plus his techniques and practice regimes at this location. See some of John’s 6 string bass wizardry can be seen in the player below.

Dream Theater’s current album Black Clouds And Silver Linings is in stores now. Pick it up online here.

STONE SOUR front man Corey Taylor sat down with Inked recently and spoke to the mag about his work in both Stone Sour and SLIPKNOT and the themes running through his collection of tattoos.

“I’m still very grounded. I think that’s because I never forgot why I do this.” Says Corey, “It’s always been more expression than anything else, and now I can let that out in a healthy way and not get wrapped up in too much angst, self-loathing, and self-pity. If you hang around too long and get stuck in that one-trick-pony moment, that’s what can happen. You can get wrapped up in a lot of your “self” stuff, and it’s ugly. Nobody wants to hear that. It’s self-aggrandizing and masturbatory. To me it makes more sense to stay in the moment and do it for the reasons that you’re feeling in that moment. I am going to be 37 in December. I don’t want to be bitching about stuff that I did in high school when I’m 50. I really don’t. I’ll play the old songs and love them and remember where I was when I was in that moment, but you’ve got to break new ground. You’ve got to be constantly challenging yourself. I want to be in this for the long haul, and if that means I play the same stuff over and over and over, that’s fine, but I want people to embrace the new stuff as well. Luckily I’ve got an audience that loves it.”

On his tattoos, Corey explains that there is an overriding theme to the majority of his ink, “Everything I have is kind of a yin-yang thing. I’ve always been fascinated by the multifaceted nature of humans. I’ve never believed in absolute evil or absolute good. I think they all exist on a sphere, and we’re constantly turning. Without getting too fucking hippie or esoteric, that’s where a lot of this artwork comes from. I have “dogma” and “truth” tattooed on the inside of my arms because I feel like we’re all constantly struggling against it. The truth is the truth, and dogma are the little rules and regulations that take away from the truth. We’re constantly fighting to figure things out. That’s the kind of message I want to say with a lot of my ink, that this whole journey is just a road map.”

We recommend you head HERE to read the full article. Well worth your time!

Stone Sour’s new album AUDIO SECRECY is in stores now. You can check out the track ‘Say You’ll Haunt Me in the player below and order the album online at this location.

Tommy Lee recently sat down with the Suicide Girls to talk about his latest release with METHODS OF MAYHEM and in the interview he talks about how his work on the project and specifically new album A Public Disservice Announcement is his chanhce to spread his musical wings.

“I call it my adult playground, or my adult sandbox. I totally get to go fucking crazy stylistically. I get to do whatever it is I want. Because I can’t really do that with M