Spock's Beard
Encyclopedia
Spock's Beard is a progressive rock
band formed in 1992 in Los Angeles
by brothers Neal
and Alan Morse
. Neal played keyboards and was the lead vocalist, as well as being the primary songwriter before leaving the band in 2002 to pursue a solo career. Alan plays electric guitar
. The pair teamed with fellow musicians Nick D'Virgilio
(drums
) and Dave Meros
(bass
) and released their debut album, The Light, in 1995. The quartet were later joined by veteran keyboardist Ryo Okumoto
. Neal Morse departed in 2002, with D'Virgilio taking over lead vocals until his departure in 2011. The band currently consists of Alan Morse, Meros, Okumoto, Jimmy Keegan (who has toured with the band since 2002) and Ted Leonard.
The band plays a brand of progressive rock
with pop music
leanings (drawing much influence from Genesis
). The band is also well known for their intricate multi-part vocal harmonies
(such as those found on certain Gentle Giant
songs) and use of counterpoint
on cuts such as "Gibberish", "Thoughts (Parts I and II)", "June", "A Guy Named Sid Pt.5: Sid's Boy Choir", and "Devil's Got My Throat."
had a beard ["Mirror, Mirror"]. Wouldn't that be a cool name for a band? Spock's Beard." Then, when it came time to choose a name for the band, Alan made a list of over 100 names and threw Spock's Beard on the end as a joke, and the band chose it.
In 2002, the band released the highly acclaimed double-CD concept album
Snow, which tells a story of an albino psychic who acquires a messianic following, who spiritually falls and loses the direction of his calling, then to be rescued with new chance to live in harmony. Many listeners and critics have noted the parallels between the storyline of Snow and Neal Morse's own highly-publicized conversion to Christianity
.
Following the release of Snow, Neal Morse
left the band for a solo career. Drummer Nick D'Virgilio took over the lead singing and songwriting role, in a move reminiscent of Genesis
's drummer Phil Collins
taking over for Peter Gabriel
. Their first album, Feel Euphoria
, has a harder-rocking and more experimental sound than the Neal Morse-led band, relying on Alan Morse's guitar to a greater extent.
In early 2005, after a long writing and recording process, Spock's Beard released Octane
, their second album after the departure of Neal Morse. This was seen by many fans as a return to a more bright and epic sound after the previous songwriting differences in Feel Euphoria.
As posted on their website on November 8: Their ninth studio album was released on 21 November 2006, simply entitled "Spock's Beard
"
A live DVD as well as CD (of the same material) recorded live in Holland in 2007 were released on 13 June 2008 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the remainder of Europe on 16 June, and in North America on 24 June.
On 23 July 2009, the band's website announced that most of the material for a new album has been written, and that their tenth album is to be released independently rather than through a record label. Adopting an approach similar to that taken by the band Marillion
, Spock's Beard have decided to take pre-orders of the CD before entering the recording studio, to support the production costs. The band expects the album to be released first as a limited edition of 5000 CDs to those who pre-ordered the album, and then available on general release a month later.
The band's current album, X, was released in June 2010.
In an interview with Anil Prasad in Guitar Player, SB drummer and lead vocalist and songwriter Nick D'Virgilio says that “From the very beginning, Spock's Beard has been a songwriting-based progressive rock band. [...] In between all the crazy stuff we do, there are always some very memorable melodies that stick in people's heads, and that has helped us cross over into the mainstream a little bit. It's funny—guys sometimes bring their prog-rock-hating girlfriends to our gigs, and our songs will convert them.”
The band played the Sweden Rocks festival in June and the UK High Voltage Festival
on Sunday 24 July 2011, with Ted Leonard (Of Enchant) filling in for Nick on vocals on both occasions. They were joined at High Voltage by Neal Morse, who reunited with the band for the end of The Light and June. Concert Live recorded the performance. Nick D'Virgilio announced his departure from the band on November 18, 2011 for personal reasons and other commitments.
On November 21, 2011, it was announced on the bands official website that former touring musicians Ted Leonard and Jimmy Keegan will be the new singer and drummer of the band, respectively. The band also stated they will be releasing their 11th studio album sometime in summer 2012.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band formed in 1992 in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
by brothers Neal
Neal Morse
Neal Morse is an American multi-instrumentalist and progressive rock composer based in Nashville, Tennessee.-Background:...
and Alan Morse
Alan Morse
Alan Morse is a guitarist for the progressive rock band Spock's Beard. He is the brother of Neal Morse, who left the band in 2002. Morse is married to Kathryn Morse and has two children, Julia and John. He has recorded with many artists including Chad & Jeremy, Spencer Davis, Neal Morse, and Ryo...
. Neal played keyboards and was the lead vocalist, as well as being the primary songwriter before leaving the band in 2002 to pursue a solo career. Alan plays electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
. The pair teamed with fellow musicians Nick D'Virgilio
Nick D'Virgilio
Nick D'Virgilio is an American drummer and multi-instrumentalist musician, often referred to as NDV, best known as a former member of the progressive rock band Spock's Beard. He was also one of two drummers chosen to replace Phil Collins in Genesis on the Calling All Stations album...
(drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
) and Dave Meros
Dave Meros
Dave Meros , is an American bass guitar player, best known as the bass player for progressive rock band Spock's Beard...
(bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) and released their debut album, The Light, in 1995. The quartet were later joined by veteran keyboardist Ryo Okumoto
Ryo Okumoto
Ryo Okumoto is a rock keyboardist, best known for his work with progressive rock group Spock's Beard. He joined the band in 1996 and has been a member ever since. When singer and keyboardist Neal Morse was in the band, Ryo played Hammond Organ and Mellotron on the albums...
. Neal Morse departed in 2002, with D'Virgilio taking over lead vocals until his departure in 2011. The band currently consists of Alan Morse, Meros, Okumoto, Jimmy Keegan (who has toured with the band since 2002) and Ted Leonard.
The band plays a brand of progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
with pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
leanings (drawing much influence from Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
). The band is also well known for their intricate multi-part vocal harmonies
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
(such as those found on certain Gentle Giant
Gentle Giant
Gentle Giant were a British progressive rock band active between 1970 and 1980. The band was known for the complexity and sophistication of its music and for the varied musical skills of its members. All of the band members, except the first two drummers, were multi-instrumentalists...
songs) and use of counterpoint
Counterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm and are harmonically interdependent . It has been most commonly identified in classical music, developing strongly during the Renaissance and in much of the common practice period,...
on cuts such as "Gibberish", "Thoughts (Parts I and II)", "June", "A Guy Named Sid Pt.5: Sid's Boy Choir", and "Devil's Got My Throat."
History
Alan Morse came up with the name after a particularly wild party, where he remarked to his brother, Neal, "It's almost as if we were in an alternate universe, like that one episode of Star Trek where SpockSpock
Spock is a fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by Leonard Nimoy in the original Star Trek series, Spock also appears in the animated Star Trek series, two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, seven of the Star Trek feature films, and numerous Star Trek...
had a beard ["Mirror, Mirror"]. Wouldn't that be a cool name for a band? Spock's Beard." Then, when it came time to choose a name for the band, Alan made a list of over 100 names and threw Spock's Beard on the end as a joke, and the band chose it.
In 2002, the band released the highly acclaimed double-CD concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
Snow, which tells a story of an albino psychic who acquires a messianic following, who spiritually falls and loses the direction of his calling, then to be rescued with new chance to live in harmony. Many listeners and critics have noted the parallels between the storyline of Snow and Neal Morse's own highly-publicized conversion to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
.
Following the release of Snow, Neal Morse
Neal Morse
Neal Morse is an American multi-instrumentalist and progressive rock composer based in Nashville, Tennessee.-Background:...
left the band for a solo career. Drummer Nick D'Virgilio took over the lead singing and songwriting role, in a move reminiscent of Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
's drummer Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
taking over for Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
. Their first album, Feel Euphoria
Feel Euphoria
Feel Euphoria is the seventh studio album by American progressive rock band Spock's Beard. It was the first album the band recorded following the departure of vocalist/songwriter Neal Morse...
, has a harder-rocking and more experimental sound than the Neal Morse-led band, relying on Alan Morse's guitar to a greater extent.
In early 2005, after a long writing and recording process, Spock's Beard released Octane
Octane (album)
Octane is the eighth studio album by American progressive rock band Spock's Beard, released in 2005. The first seven tracks form the multi-part epic "A Flash Before My Eyes".A Special Edition release contained a second disc with more music and a video....
, their second album after the departure of Neal Morse. This was seen by many fans as a return to a more bright and epic sound after the previous songwriting differences in Feel Euphoria.
As posted on their website on November 8: Their ninth studio album was released on 21 November 2006, simply entitled "Spock's Beard
Spock's Beard (album)
Spock's Beard is the eponymous ninth studio album by American progressive rock band Spock's Beard.On September 21, 2006, Dave Meros added the tentative tracklist to the band's website, and said the following regarding the album's title:...
"
A live DVD as well as CD (of the same material) recorded live in Holland in 2007 were released on 13 June 2008 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the remainder of Europe on 16 June, and in North America on 24 June.
On 23 July 2009, the band's website announced that most of the material for a new album has been written, and that their tenth album is to be released independently rather than through a record label. Adopting an approach similar to that taken by the band Marillion
Marillion
Marillion are a British rock band, formed in Aylesbury, England in 1979. Their recorded studio output comprises sixteen albums generally regarded in two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original vocalist & frontman Fish in late 1988, and the subsequent arrival of replacement Steve...
, Spock's Beard have decided to take pre-orders of the CD before entering the recording studio, to support the production costs. The band expects the album to be released first as a limited edition of 5000 CDs to those who pre-ordered the album, and then available on general release a month later.
The band's current album, X, was released in June 2010.
In an interview with Anil Prasad in Guitar Player, SB drummer and lead vocalist and songwriter Nick D'Virgilio says that “From the very beginning, Spock's Beard has been a songwriting-based progressive rock band. [...] In between all the crazy stuff we do, there are always some very memorable melodies that stick in people's heads, and that has helped us cross over into the mainstream a little bit. It's funny—guys sometimes bring their prog-rock-hating girlfriends to our gigs, and our songs will convert them.”
The band played the Sweden Rocks festival in June and the UK High Voltage Festival
High Voltage Festival
High Voltage is a music festival held in Victoria Park, London. The event hosts artists from various strands of rock music, including classic rock, progressive rock, and heavy metal. The first festival was held on the 24 and 25 July 2010...
on Sunday 24 July 2011, with Ted Leonard (Of Enchant) filling in for Nick on vocals on both occasions. They were joined at High Voltage by Neal Morse, who reunited with the band for the end of The Light and June. Concert Live recorded the performance. Nick D'Virgilio announced his departure from the band on November 18, 2011 for personal reasons and other commitments.
On November 21, 2011, it was announced on the bands official website that former touring musicians Ted Leonard and Jimmy Keegan will be the new singer and drummer of the band, respectively. The band also stated they will be releasing their 11th studio album sometime in summer 2012.
Current lineup
- Alan MorseAlan MorseAlan Morse is a guitarist for the progressive rock band Spock's Beard. He is the brother of Neal Morse, who left the band in 2002. Morse is married to Kathryn Morse and has two children, Julia and John. He has recorded with many artists including Chad & Jeremy, Spencer Davis, Neal Morse, and Ryo...
- guitar, vocals (1992-present) - Dave MerosDave MerosDave Meros , is an American bass guitar player, best known as the bass player for progressive rock band Spock's Beard...
- bass guitar, vocals, keyboards (1992-present) - Ryo OkumotoRyo OkumotoRyo Okumoto is a rock keyboardist, best known for his work with progressive rock group Spock's Beard. He joined the band in 1996 and has been a member ever since. When singer and keyboardist Neal Morse was in the band, Ryo played Hammond Organ and Mellotron on the albums...
- keyboards, vocals (1996-present) - Jimmy KeeganJimmy KeeganJimmy Keegan is a drummer. He has played with artists such as Santana, as the drummer on the song "Primavera" on Santana's hit album Supernatural and with John Waite, and is the current drummer for the Progressive rock band Spock's Beard, having replaced original drummer Nick D'Virgilio in November...
- drums, vocals (2011-present; live member: 2002-2011) - Ted Leonard - vocals, guitar (2011-present; live member: 2011)
Former members
- Nick D'VirgilioNick D'VirgilioNick D'Virgilio is an American drummer and multi-instrumentalist musician, often referred to as NDV, best known as a former member of the progressive rock band Spock's Beard. He was also one of two drummers chosen to replace Phil Collins in Genesis on the Calling All Stations album...
- drums, backing vocals (1992-2002) lead vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(2002–2011) - Neal MorseNeal MorseNeal Morse is an American multi-instrumentalist and progressive rock composer based in Nashville, Tennessee.-Background:...
- lead Vocals, Synths, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards (1992–2002; live member: 2011)
Collaborators
- John Boegehold - song co-writer (2003-present)
- Stan Ausmus - song co-writer (2003-present)
Studio albums
- The Light (1995)
- Beware of DarknessBeware of DarknessBeware of Darkness is the second studio album by American Progressive rock band Spock's Beard, released in 1996. The album was the band's first release following the addition of keyboardist Ryo Okumoto to the group....
(1996) - The Kindness of Strangers (1998)
- Day for Night (1999)
- VV (Spock's Beard album)V is the fifth studio album of progressive rock band Spock's Beard.The release of V also produced a CD single, this time promoting the track All on a Sunday. The track itself was re-recorded in 2001 and is slightly different from the album track...
(2000) - Snow (2002)
- Feel EuphoriaFeel EuphoriaFeel Euphoria is the seventh studio album by American progressive rock band Spock's Beard. It was the first album the band recorded following the departure of vocalist/songwriter Neal Morse...
(2003) - OctaneOctane (album)Octane is the eighth studio album by American progressive rock band Spock's Beard, released in 2005. The first seven tracks form the multi-part epic "A Flash Before My Eyes".A Special Edition release contained a second disc with more music and a video....
(2005) - Spock's BeardSpock's Beard (album)Spock's Beard is the eponymous ninth studio album by American progressive rock band Spock's Beard.On September 21, 2006, Dave Meros added the tentative tracklist to the band's website, and said the following regarding the album's title:...
(2006) - XX (Spock's Beard album)X is the tenth studio album by American progressive rock band Spock's Beard. Similar to what Marillion did for Anoraknophobia, the album was funded by pre-orders of a limited edition of the album before the album was recorded...
(2010)
Singles
- SkinSkin (Spock's Beard single)"Skin" is the first single from the band Spock's Beard, released in 1999. The song appears on their album Day for Night.It contains, in addition to the song "Skin", 3 additional tracks: An edited version of "The Healing Colors of Sound", "Can't Get It Wrong", and also the Neal Morse track "Lost...
(1999) - All On A Sunday (2001)
- Their Names Escape Me (2010)
Live albums
- Official Live Bootleg/The Beard is Out ThereOfficial Live Bootleg/The Beard is Out ThereOfficial Live Bootleg is the third album and first live album by American progressive rock band Spock's Beard. It was released in 1996, with a European release under the title The Beard is Out There in 1998....
(1996) (recorded 1995) - Live at the Whisky and NEARfestLive at the Whisky and NEARfestLive at the Whisky and NEARfest is a live album from American progressive rock band Spock's Beard. It was recorded at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, California on May 11, 1999 and at NEARfest 1999 on June 27.- Track listing :...
(1999) - Don't Try This at HomeDon't Try This at Home (Spock's Beard album)Don't Try This at Home is a live album from progressive rock band Spock's Beard, recorded at the 013 in Tilburg, Netherlands, on September 28, 1999, and released in April 2000...
(April 2000) (recorded 1999) (live) - Nick 'n Neal live in Europe - Two Separate GorillasNick 'n Neal live in Europe - Two Separate GorillasNick 'n Neal live in Europe - Two Separate Gorillas is a double live acoustic album by Neal Morse and Nick D'Virgilio of progressive rock band Spock's Beard...
(October, 2000) (From the Vaults, Series 2) - Don't Try This @ Home EitherDon't Try This @ Home EitherDon't Try This @ Home Either is a live album from American progressive rock band Spock's Beard, recorded at the 013 in Tilburg, Netherlands, on September 28, 1999, and released in October 2000...
(2000) (recorded 1999) (live - From the Vaults, Series 3) - There and HereThere and HereThere & Here is a double live album from American progressive rock band Spock's Beard. Individual songs were recorded at several shows on the V tours in Europe, as well as the August 2000 show at the Troubadour in Los Angeles...
(2000) (live - From the Vaults, Series 4) - The Beard Is Out There-Live (2003)
- Gluttons for PunishmentGluttons for PunishmentGluttons for Punishment, released in 2005, is a double live album by the progressive rock band Spock's Beard. It was recorded during the band's Octane tour on March 18, 2005 at Colos-Saal, Aschaffenburg, Germany; March 20 at Z7, Pratteln, Switzerland; and March 21 at Substage, Karlsruhe, Germany...
(2005) (live) - LiveLive (Spock's Beard album)Live is a DVD and 2 CD set released by American progressive rock band Spock's Beard. The two versions are only available separately.It is a live album that features the entire concert played by the band at Zoetermeer, Netherlands, on May 25, 2007...
(2008) (live) - Live At High Voltage FestivalLive at High Voltage FestivalLive At High Voltage is a 2 CD set released by the progressive rock band Spock's Beard recorded by Concert Live. It features the band's complete performance at the UK's High Voltage Festival one one CD, with a second blank CD provided to burn online content onto .It is notable for featuring Neal...
(2011) (Concert Live recording)
Compilations
- From the Vault (1998) (rarities - From the Vaults, Series 1)
Videos
- Spock's Beard Home MovieSpock's Beard Home MovieThe Spock's Beard Home Movie is a video of a live performance of progressive rock band Spock's Beard, recorded at Club Zeche in Bochum, Germany in January 1998.- Track listing :# "Thoughts"# "In The Mouth Of Madness"# "Cakewalk On Easy Street"...
(Video, 1998) - Live at the WhiskyLive at the Whisky (Spock's Beard video)Live at the Whisky is a video of progressive rock band Spock's Beard performing at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, California on May 11, 1999...
(Video, (1999) - The Making of V (Video, May 2001)
- Don't Try This at HomeDon't Try This at Home (Spock's Beard video)Don't Try This at Home, a video from American progressive rock band Spock's Beard, comes with two DVDs. The first is Spock's Beard live in Europe during their Day for Night tour, and the second is The Making of V.-DVD 1 - Don't Try This at Home:...
(2 DVD Set, November, 2002) - The Making of Snow (DVD, 2004)
- LiveLive (Spock's Beard album)Live is a DVD and 2 CD set released by American progressive rock band Spock's Beard. The two versions are only available separately.It is a live album that features the entire concert played by the band at Zoetermeer, Netherlands, on May 25, 2007...
(DVD, 2008)