Mike Portnoy on Playing With Twisted Sister + Honoring A.J. Pero [Exclusive Video]

During Mike Portnoy's most recent visit to our studios, the legendary metal drummer talked with us about performing with Twisted Sister and honoring the band's late stickman A.J. Pero.

The world of metal lost A.J. Pero this year, and following Pero's death, Twisted Sister vocalist Dee Snider vowed the band wouldn't continue without him after completing a farewell tour with Portnoy filling in behind the kit. With a handful of 2015 shows already in the books, 2016 will be Twisted Sister's final year on the road, so we spoke with Portnoy about the current inner workings of the band.

After praising Pero's chops and the anthemic playing which, according to Portnoy, should put A.J. in any drummer's "hall of fame," Portnoy compared his role replacing Pero to the one he accepted after Avenged Sevenfold drummer The Rev passed away. "In both situations it's important for me to come in there and completely honor and respect my fallen drumming brother," says Portnoy. "I wasn't hired to be Mike Portnoy with Avenged or with Twisted, I'm hired to finish the job for the guys that can't be there."

Portnoy also spoke of Twisted Sister being one of metal's quintessential live bands. "You can't follow them [on a bill]," Portnoy exclaims. "I don't care if you're f---ing Slayer, Motorhead, Iron Maiden… Twisted Sister is a band you can't follow. They f---ing wipe the stage with anybody on the bill and they're hands down one of the greatest live bands of all time."

Check out our conversation with Mike Portnoy about Twisted Sister and A.J. Pero in the clip above.

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