NEAL MORSE Defends Drummer MIKE PORTNOY In The Wake Of Backlash Following Online Rant – "This Is Being Blown Way Out Of Proportion"

On March 7th drum legend Mike Portnoy – currently on the road with Neal Morse – took to Facebook to express his dissatisfaction with the Whittington Hospital in London, England when he fell ill: 

“A very special NO THANKS to the staff at the Whittington Hospital for NOT seeing me regardless of telling them that there is an audience waiting for our show to begin. I finally left without seeing a doctor in order to make tonight’s show. I have no idea how the hell I’m going to make it through this show. I can’t even stand up or lift my arms…”

Portnoy received a barrage of hate mail for his rant, for which he’s apologized (click here). Morse has since weighed in on the situation with the following update:

“Regarding last night in London, the paramedics came around 6:00 and THEY said Mike should go to the hospital, loaded him in the ambulance (I got in with him). They ran vitals. Then, after some time the driver said they were too low on fuel and suggested alternate transport. Shocked and in a bit of a panic, I ran into the venue and asked if anyone had a car. We got a ride from a very kind fan and it took us 30 minutes because of traffic that the ambulance probably could’ve avoided. It was now about 7:15 and we were supposed to go on around 8:00. 

The women at emergency told us to sit and wait though we gave them the ambulance papers and told them the situation. No one would tell us anything about how long it might take or any info at all. I did most of the talking as Mike was pretty out of it. No one made a scene at all. We were all very polite to one another. So we waited. Not sure what to do, at around 7:45, I went back where it said no admittance and found a nurse who kindly looked him up in the computer to see where he was in the queue and said he wouldn’t be seen for quite awhile and there was no way to change that. So, Mike opted to go back and do the gig untreated. That’s what happened as best I can tell it.

My only comment is that Mike was never rude to anyone at all during the whole process. This is being blown way out of proportion. There was no rage at all. The fact that he did the gig as well as he did is a testimony to what a workhorse kind of guy he is! I had the same thing and went to the doctor (I’ve never been to the doctor on tour in my life!) in Zurich two days before and I can tell you it’s nasty. 

Anyway, I just wanted everyone to know how it all went down. Thank you.”