22 Facts About Mike Mangini

Michael Anthony Mangini was born on April 18,1963 and is an American musician, best known for his tenure with the progressive metal band Dream Theater, with whom he performed from 2010 to 2023.

Mike Mangini has played with artists and bands including Annihilator, Extreme, James LaBrie, and Steve Vai.

Mike Mangini appeared on the Discovery Channel series Time Warp, where his drumming was captured with high-speed cameras.

Mike Mangini first started playing the drums when he was two and a half years old, being inspired by Ringo Starr of The Beatles.

In 1987, Mike Mangini scored one of his first high-profile gigs, playing drums for Boston's Rick Berlin Band.

In 1991, Mike Mangini joined the thrash metal band Annihilator, playing drums on several tracks for the band's album Set the World on Fire.

Mike Mangini went on to tour with the band in support of this album until 1994.

Mike Mangini played on three songs on Extreme's 1995 album Waiting for the Punchline, and appeared with the band on the Late Show with David Letterman.

Mike Mangini successfully auditioned for Vai's band and relocated to Los Angeles.

Mike Mangini appeared on Vai's studio albums Fire Garden and The Ultra Zone, and the live album Alive in an Ultra World.

Mike Mangini formed the short-lived band Tribe of Judah with former Extreme frontman Gary Cherone and bassist Pat Badger.

Mike Mangini appeared on his second and third Annihilator albums titled All for You and Metal, respectively.

In 2005, Mike Mangini accepted a full-time teaching position at the Berklee College of Music in the Percussion Department.

Mike Mangini played drums for the band Into The Great Divide on their self titled album released in 2018.

In 2023, Mike released his first solo album, Invisible Signs, under the name Mangini.

Mike Mangini had previously appeared on three solo albums by Dream Theater's lead singer, James LaBrie.

Mike Mangini was announced as Dream Theater's new drummer on April 29,2011, several months after he actually joined.

Mike Mangini appeared on every Dream Theater release from 2011's A Dramatic Turn of Events to 2021's A View from the Top of the World.

On October 25,2023, Dream Theater announced that Mangini was leaving the band and that their former drummer Mike Portnoy was returning in his place.

Mike Mangini served as the drummer for Dream Theater bandmate John Petrucci on the G3 tour, along with bassist Dave LaRue, in 2012 and 2018.

In 2015, Mike Mangini joined progressive rock band UK for their Final World Tour.

Mike Mangini plays and endorses Zildjian cymbals, Vater drumsticks, Remo drumheads and Shure microphones.