Portnoy Wins Golden Gods Best Drummer Award

Following a tumultuous year of innuendo, loss, and inter-band politics, Mike Portnoy must have savored a sense of vindication when he accepted the Best Drummer Award at the 2011 Golden Gods AwardsCeremony last night at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles.

He won the prized hard rock and heavy metal music trophy for his work with Avenged Sevenfold, with whom he toured and recorded the band’s latest album Nightmare, filling in for the band’s original drummer Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan, who passed away from drug-related complications in December 2009.

Upon accepting the award, Portnoy said, “It was an honor for me to play on the album and do the job the Rev wasn’t able to complete. The thing that blew me away was the fans. Thank you all.”

Portnoy aced out an impressive roster of metal drummers who were nominated this year, including Tommy Clufetos, Abe Cunningham, Joey Jordison, Roy Mayorga, and Nicko McBrain.