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SPOCK'S BEARD BAND PAGE
 SPOCK'S BEARD
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CURRENT NAME
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Spock's Beard | |
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FORMER NAMES
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ORIGIN
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USA | |
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STATUS
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Active | |
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FORMED IN
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LABEL
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InsideOut Music | |
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GENRE
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Progressive rock | |
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STYLE
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LYRICAL THEME
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| BAND ADDED | 2004-02-23, 00:00 | |
| LAST UPDATE | 2004-02-23, 00:00 | |
Biography | Band members | Discography | Shows | Forum
| Band biography |
Spock's Beard influences include: Yes, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Gentle Giant and Genesis. The individual members have worked with: Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Eric Burdon and Tears For Fears.
Their first release, the classic- `The Light' (1995), gave them a solid foundation and showed they were a talented progressive band to be taken seriously. The `Kindness of Strangers' album was their first to be released nationally.
Prior to 1994, Spock's Beard had an offer from a small prog label, but -after months of negotiations- they chose to make the album themselves. The band went into the studio and recorded their debut album "The Light", which many critics have called the best progressive album of the decade.
After Ryo Okumoto joined `The Beard' (as sometimes the group is called), in 1995 to play keyboards (mainly organ & mellotron), `The Official Bootleg' was released, the year later.
"Beware of Darkness,' continued in a similar style with their first album but compositions were shorter except for the last track. 1997 brought forth their third studio album- `The Kindness of Strangers,' at the end of 1997.
"Writing this music is so much fun because you can follow the music to wherever it seems to want to go," says Morse "On The Kindness of Strangers, we do have a few shorter tunes along with the epics."
During August 2000, the band performed as openers for Dream Theater in the second leg of their Metropolis 2000 US tour.
Neal Morse, who writes most of the compositions with consistently strong hooks, obviously showing a pride in his progressive roots. He is also a talented keyboardist, singer and is heavily involved with Transatlantic, a group with members of : Spock's Beard, The Flower Kings, Marillion and Dream Theater which consistently put out epic pieces has released two CDs and a live album. The latest is: `Bridge Across Forever,' which included two tracks over 25 minutes long.
Spock's Beard is one of the most talented, well-reviewed and well-known of the new Prog bands. Being workaholics, The Beard' have put out almost two dozen group and solo albums, V, (2000), being the last.
D'Virgilio released his first solo offering in August 2001- `Karma.'
Spock's Beard were supposed to record their 6th studio album during September 10-14 of 2001, but Nick D'Virgilio became very ill and recording had to be postponed.
Neal Morse has released his second solo album `It's Not Too Late; and created a Christian music record label- Latter Rain Records, dedicated to and specializing in Christian music. Morse adds- "I certainly hope I don't offend anybody, I just want to make this music available to those who would be touched by it.
Spock's Beard double concept album- `Snow,' was released in fall 2002, which was critically acclaimed, unfortunately, a proposed tour of the mega-album had to be shelved after Neal Morse resigned from Spock's Beard to pursue a spiritual direction (which has been growing in himself the last few years). The band though devastated by the news, has vowed to continue. Nick D'Virgilio, who has a fine voice is slanted to become SB's new lead vocalist. How the band will deal with losing their talented lead composer and multi-talented musician is an answer that will come forth in the not-too-near future. Best Wishes Neal. We'll miss you.
The band released a great quality DVD of their `Day For Night',' tour of the entire show... it also included the `Making of V,' video that was released on video a couple years back.
`Feel Euphoria,' is the band's 7th studio album and first without Morse (Neal). The Beard sounds edgier, darker in spots, but still retain bits and pieces of their familiar sound. Missing is Neal's signature style of playing keys and guitar and of course his strong voice, but Nick V. fills in well, as does Ryo on all the keys. Allan's guitar work has more emphasis on the disk and might show a hint on where the band is heading. From the opening metal rocker, "Onomatopoeia," to the 20 min.+ epic- "A Guy Names Sid", Spock's Beard has showed us they can create their own style and ideas without their mega-talented frontman... Best luck to both.
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