Adrenaline Mob Frontman Russell Allen Addresses Mike Portnoy’s Exit

Adrenaline Mob are currently down a drummer after the exit of Mike Portnoy, but frontman Russell Allen says that it's a move that unfortunately had to happen in order for the band to move forward.

Speaking with Brazil's Wikimetal podcast (as heard below), Allen says the band was aware that Portnoy's decision was coming as his project with The Winery Dogs required more and more attention. He explained, "The truth of it is we wanna keep working. We wanna keep doing Adrenaline Mob and we don't wanna wait around for Mike to have the time. And he doesn't know when he will have the time again, so that's what's really going down."

Allen says that he and guitarist Mike Orlando are the originators of the group and invited Portnoy to take part after the writing was already complete for their debut disc. They had hoped he would continue with the band in the future, but the scheduling hasn't worked out. "It's a bummer," says Allen. "He's got his sights on other things and he's not gonna stick around, so we wish him the best of luck, but the Mob's gotta go on."

As for Portnoy's replacement, Allen explains, "We don't have a drummer in mind yet, but we are writing new material right now and we're looking to get a record out sometime later this year. So that's our plan and that's what we're currently doing. Mike was really cool with even suggesting some people to replace him in the band and we're looking at all options right now. The word is obviously out that the Mob needs a drummer."

Allen says at present, writing comes first, but after they have tackled the initial material for their next album, the drummer search will follow and they will likely start closer to home in looking for their new skinbeater.