New DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Mangini is featured in a new interview with Noisecreep's Chris Epting. An excerpt is available below:

Noisecreep: This has been quite a year for you.

Mangini: "Just amazing. Almost indescribable. As I see it, as I look back, I really think what happened was that this band kind of started over. They were in a new place as they looked for a drummer, and I when got the news, after the shock wore off, I knew what I wanted to do – which was just basically come in and try to support where they wanted to go. They had a vision, they had great ideas, and I just wanted to help them achieve those things."

Noisecreep: How do you feel you've connected with the Dream Theater fans?

Mangini: "I almost speechless at the level of acceptance I have received. After the third song for most of the shows on the first tour I did, they had a chant going for my name in every city, which blew me away. I didn't know if I'd get hit with a tomato, or gourd, or prickly pear or horned melon fruit [laughs]. To be accepted like that? Wow. Best fans in the world. But I think I figured out what it is. It's not about my arms and legs and how I hit drums. I think the fans know what this band means to me. Other than my spiritual faith and my faith, this band is it. And I think fans sense that."

Click here for the complete interview.

As previously reported, on November 30th, the US Recording Academy officially began the countdown to the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, which will take place live from Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 12th, 2012, at 8 PM ET/PT on CBS.

Nominees for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance include:

'On The Backs Of Angels' - DREAM THEATER

'White Limo' - FOO FIGHTERS

'Curl Of The Burl' - MASTODON

'Public Enemy No. 1' - MEGADETH

'Blood In My Eyes' - SUM 41

Dream Theater comment on their nomination as follows:

"2011 has been quite an amazing year for us. We watched A Dramatic Turn Of Events — our eleventh studio album - enter the Top Ten in 14 countries around the world including the US. And now we land our first-ever Grammy nomination [for the song 'On The Backs Of Angels' in the Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance category]. It’s the icing on the cake - we’re honored and thrilled, no doubt about it. It took us a while to receive this Grammy attention - and we’ve done it on our own terms musically, so it feels particularly sweet. What keeps you going as a musician is the love and support from the fans - they are always there for us on this crazy adventure. So we give them a big shout-out as we celebrate our Grammy nomination. See you all on the road… and let's all keep dreaming big.”

For a complete list of nominees visit this location.