Losing a someone close to you is never easy, but it’s got to be incredibly difficult when that you lose someone while on the road. Following last night’s Dream Theater show in Zagreb, Croatia, Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy shared the deeply personal news that his sister Samantha Leone Cattaneo had succumbed to her battle with cancer.
In a heartfelt post on social media, he poured his heart out to the world, explaining how he’d learned of his sibling’s passing just before the show started, making it “one of the hardest shows I’ve ever had to play.”
“Tonight in Zagreb Croatia was one of the hardest shows I’ve ever had to play. About 30 minutes before showtime, I received a call from my brother that my loving sister Samantha Leone Cattaneo had just passed away. My sister had been battling Cancer all year and the last few days she took a turn for the worse…it’s been a devastating couple of days for me and my family knowing the inevitable was coming…
“As hard as it was, tonight’s show went on and James [LaBrie, Dream Theatersinger] dedicated ‘The Spirit Carries On’ to her…this picture is from tonight…those lights in the air were for Sam…I wept like a baby the entire time (John [Petrucci, Dream Theater guitarist] even came and sat beside me at my kit for the ending solo which meant so much to me…)
“My sister was always one of DT’s biggest fans & supporters and us reuniting meant sooooooo much to her. She wanted so badly to be in London [at the opening show of the tour] but her health had declined so quickly that it was impossible for her to travel. But she told me she watched some videos of the show online in the hospital and I know how happy it made her.
“I will be thinking of her each and every night on stage throughout this tour when we play ‘The Spirit Carries On’ knowing that she now gets to watch every show, every night, everywhere.
“I love you Sis”.
That is incredibly heartbreaking to read, though it’s good to know that Cattaneo was able to leave this world knowing her brother had rejoined his close friends in Dream Theater — that things were going to be okay for Portnoy and the boys.
Mike Portnoy rejoined Dream Theater back in October 2023, to much shock and fanfare. Currently, the band is on tour in Europe, with plans to come back stateside next year, along with the release of their new album Parasomnia on February 7.
If you’d like to catch Dream Theater live and share in the tribute to Portnoy’s sister, be sure to check out the dates below and buy your tickets today.
An Evening With Dream Theater 40th Anniversary Tour 2024 – 2025
November 1 – Budapest, Hungary – Budapest Arena [Tickets]
November 2 – Prague – Czech Republic – Fortuna Arena [Tickets]
November 3 – Lodz, Poland – Atlas Arena [Tickets]
November 6 – Helsinki, Finland – Metro Areena [Tickets]
November 8 – Stockholm. Sweden – Waterfront [Tickets]
November 9 – Oslo, Norway – Spektrum [Tickets]
November 10 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Poolen [Tickets]
November 12 – Luxembourg – Rockhal [Tickets]
November 13 – Zurich, Switzerland – The Hall [Tickets]
November 14 – Lyon, France – Halle Tony Garnier [Tickets]
November 16 – Lisbon, Portugal – MEO Arena [Tickets]
November 17 – Madrid, Spain – La Cubierta de Leganés [Tickets]
November 20 – Stuttgart, Germany – Beethovensaal [Tickets]
November 21 – Frankfurt, Germany – Jahrhundderthalle [Tickets]
November 23 – Paris, France – Adidas Arena [Tickets]
November 24 – Amsterdam – AFAS Live [Tickets]
December 7 – Mexico City, Mexico – Explanada Estadio Azteca [Tickets]
December 10 – Belo Horizonte, Brazil – Befly Hall [Tickets]
December 13 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Vivo Rio [Tickets]
December 15 – Sao Paulo, Brazil – Vibra [Tickets]
December 16 – Curitiba, Brazil – Live Curitiba [Tickets]
December 17 – Porto Alegre, Brazil – Araújo Vianna [Tickets]
December 19 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Movistar Arena [Tickets]
December 21 – Santiago, Chile – Movistar Arena [Tickets]
December 22 – Santiago, Chile – Movistar Arena [Tickets]
February 7 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met [Tickets]
February 8 – Raleigh, NC – Martin Marietta Center [Tickets]
February 10 – Nashville, TN – Opry House [Tickets]
February 11 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy [Tickets]
February 12 – Biloxi, MI – Hard Rock Café [Tickets]
February 14 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall [Tickets]
February 15 – Dallas, TX – Texas Trust CU [Tickets]
February 16 – San Antonio, TX – Majestic [Tickets]
February 18 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Center [Tickets]
February 19 – Highland, CA – Yaamava Theater [Tickets]
February 21 – Las Vegas, NV – The Chelsea [Tickets]
February 22 – Los Angeles, CA – YouTube Theater [Tickets]
February 24 – San Jose, CA – San Jose Civic [Tickets]
February 25 – Sacramento, CA – Safe Credit Union Performing [Tickets]
February 27 – Seattle, WA – Moore Theater [Tickets]
February 28 – Portland, OR – Keller Auditorium [Tickets]
March 2 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra [Tickets]
March 4 – Salt Lake City, UT – Maverik Center [Tickets]
March 6 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom [Tickets]
March 8 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Theatre [Tickets]
March 9 – Cleveland, OH – MGM Northfield Park [Tickets]
March 11 – Toronto, ON – Coca-Cola Coliseum [Tickets]
March 12 – Montreal, QC – Place des Arts [Tickets]
March 14 – Wallingford, CT – Oakdale Theater [Tickets]
March 15 – Boston. MA – Boch Center [Tickets]
March 17 – Rochester, NY – Kodak [Tickets]
March 18 – Wheeling, WV – Capitol Theater [Tickets]
March 19 – Cincinnati, OH – Brady Music Center [Tickets]
March 21 – Washington, DC – The Anthem [Tickets]
March 22 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall [Tickets]
By: www.metalsucks.net
