I think the best choice, and I'm sure a lot of you will hate the idea, would be to have the Synth guy Rudess to synthesize some really modern breakbeat/glitch type drumming.

That's the way they've been going using lots of modern instruments to add to the songs.

Why not have really good electronic style drums like Sean Bevan did for the intro to better? The type of sample/synth type stuff Nine Inch Nails use.

That is the logical next step for Dream Theater.

They sell themselves as progressive, so do something progressive then.

It would be a huge statement, but if any modern band has the skills to program good drums into their music its going to be Dream Theater. Rudess is well up on the audio technology involved in doing that.

No other drummer will EVER live up to the reputation of Porrtnoy for the Hardcore DT fans, and DT only have one type of fan. Hardcore.

It'd be new and creative, respectful of Portnoy by not trying to replace him (though he doesn't deserve that respect imo) and could work really really well with their music, give it a whole new feel.

What do you guys think?

Would the hardcore fans accept drum loops and synths in the place of portnoy if they were done really well?

Would it even sound well?

I think do this next album like that. Then open the door for Portnoys return BUT maintain the technology aspect of the  sound mixed in with his drumming.

Could get them out of the creative hole they are in and if they take Portnoy back for the album after the next one they'll be in a very strong position to keep DT a democracy, they'll have proved they don't need Mike and can work as a democracy rather than him controlling everything.

On top of that it might be revolutionary who knows.
Just my 2 cents and it's probably just because I really love the sound of "robotic" drumming.

So?
There are a million pub bands that never made an impact on anyone and are far superior to anyone we've discussed here.

And for the record. Bon Jovi may not have struck a chord across the board. But where they did hit they hit hard and deep.

I went through a Zeppelin phase and yes they're great, I went through a Queen phase and yeah they're excellent too. Bon Jovi, may not have had as wide an allure or scaled the dizzy heights musically but they came close and their music resonates with me personally on a much deeper note than Queen or Zeppelin ever did

How is it the same?

These Days