







Mike Portnoy, by Evil Robb Photography

The Winery Dogs, a prog rock supergroup featuring guitarist/vocalist Richie Kotzen (Poison, Mr. Big), bassist Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big, David Lee Roth) And drummer Mike Portnoy (Sons of Apollo, Dream Theater, Neal Morse Band, Flying Circus) are plotting a new North American tour in May of 2019. Tour dates are coming soon and it will be the group’s first tour in nearly three years.

Portnoy recently gave an interview to Mitch Lafon where he discussed TWD coming back together:

“It’s just a matter of when” until the group would reconvene. “I know all three of us love that band and we love working together, so it’s a matter of Richie kind of just getting his rocks off on his own,” he said. “He’s just enjoying doing his own thing. He’s always been a little… um… I don’t wanna say ‘scared’… I’ll say, like, ‘hesitant’ to commit to a full-time band for the rest of his life. He spent so much of his life and career as a solo artist, and then once he got swept up in THE WINERY DOGS for two back-to-back cycles, which lasted maybe four or five years, I think it maybe overwhelmed him a bit and he just needed to step away and breathe and not have to be so committed to something. He likes to kind of just float on his own terms and his own schedule and do his own thing, which I can totally respect. So, at this point, when he’s ready, I know Billy and I would love to do some more.”