Neal Morse
Acting
Biography
As a young musician, Neal’s dream was like many others – to find success in the pop music world. But after years of struggling in the Los Angeles singer-songwriter scene, he realized that this dream would not materialize. Rejecting conventional wisdom, Morse took a courageous step: He about-faced and devoted himself to progressive rock, the music truly in his heart. The obscure and fiercely competitive genre held little chance of commercial success. Undaunted, he formed the quirkily-named Spock’s Beard with his brother, Alan. They recorded The Light with what money they could scrape together. Against all odds, it was a breakout success, sending shockwaves through the small genre’s community. Over the next 10 years, Spock’s Beard released 10 critically acclaimed CDs and 2 DVDs, ascending to the top of the prog world. Neal also released 6 CDs and 3 DVDs with Transatlantic, the heralded prog supergroup comprised of the genre’s best musicians. The proverbial wayward son, Neal had finally found the success he sought. On the outside he seemed to have it all. On the inside, however, something was missing. Morse came to realize that for him, embracing the Christian faith was the fulfillment of his spiritual quest. His walk was at once gradual and sudden – and as with so many, completely unexpected. As he continued, his path increasingly revealed more of what his heart had sought all along. Yet he also began to find his career growing at odds with his faith. The rising spiritual tension and increasing commercial success finally came to a head with the release of Snow (2002), the group’s magnum opus... and swan song with Morse. The extraordinary 2-CD rock opera, composed by Morse, was widely acclaimed as the group’s finest. But it was the end of the era. Neal felt God calling him out of his former musical life and into the unknown. He made the agonizing decision to leave both Spock’s Beard and Transatlantic. Despite having finally achieved the success he had long sought, Morse had to begin all over again; musically, emotionally and spiritually.
Known For
One More Night in New York City from drummer Mike Portnoy's amazing Beatles tribute band Yellow Matter Custard. This release was recorded live at B.B. King's in New York City on February 28th, 2011 and was the final show of a three show run that brought the band back together for the first time in 8 years.
Yellow Matter Custard: One More Night in New York City
With 2DVDs and 3CDs, Testimony 2 - Live in Los Angeles is Neal's most opulent live release as a solo musician. Both the DVDs and CDs capture the concert at the Whittier Community Center from May 28, 2011. The tour itself was Neal's biggest tour ever to date and, for the US gigs only, features the reunion of most of the musicians from the original Testimony band: Neal's 2011 album Testimony 2 - the sequel to Testimony (2003) - could thus be performed live in full length by some of Neal's longtime friends Mike Portnoy, Eric Brenton, Rick Altizer and Mark Leniger. Mike Portnoy's wish to "finally" perform some of the greatest longtracks of Neal's solo catalog on a stage could be fulfilled. Wonderful renditions of "The Separated Man" and "Seeds of Gold" are surely a highlight on this release.
Neal Morse: Testimony Two - Live in Los Angeles
Featuring great never before seen footage – both bands jamming together in the dressing room – the only known film of the London Transatlantic Encore with guest Steve Hackett The Flower Kings Numbers The Truth Will Set You Free Rising The Imperial Last Minute On Earth In The Eyes Of The World Neal Morse Band Momentum Author Of Confusion The Temple Of The Living God Another World 12 Entrance Inside His Presence World Without End Transatlantic Neal Morse Band And Roine Stolt– Bridge Across Forever Neal Morse Band And The Flower Kings– All Of The Above (Part I. Full Moon Rising) Neal Morse Band And The Flower Kings– The Whirlwind (Part I. Overture / Whirlwind) Neal Morse Band And The Flower Kings– The Whirlwind (Part IV. A Man Can Feel) Neal Morse Band And The Flower Kings– The Whirlwnd (Part VI. Rose Colored Glasses) Neal Morse Band And The Flower Kings– Stranger In Your Soul (Part VI. Stranger In Your Soul)
The Neal Morse Band/The Flower Kings: 19 Days in Europe
Eric Burdon sings classic Animals songs.
Eric Burdon & The New Animals: Live at the Coach House
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Neal Morse: Question Mark and Sola Scriptura Live
The Neal Morse Band, the progressive rock collective comprised by singer/guitarist/keyboardist Neal Morse, drummer Mike Portnoy, bassist Randy George, keyboardist Bill Hubauer and guitarist Eric Gillette, released their critically admired double-disc concept album The Similitude of a Dream, almost two years ago on November 11th, 2016. It was the eighth studio album with the core of Morse, Portnoy and George, and the second as a true collaboration with this current lineup.
Morsefest 2017 - Testimony of a Dream
Go behind the scenes with Neal, Randy and Mike to explore the making of the momentous 2012 release, "Momentum"
Neal Morse: The Making of Momentum
The 4 CD/2 Blu-ray also features a host of bonus features including two of the VIP Q&A sessions from Morsefest 2019, featuring all of the members of both bands taking questions from the crowd. There are also some additional multiscreen video mixes of tracks from both Flying Colors and the Neal Morse Band. Taken from the iso-cams located on the stage, you get an alternate view of the show from various stage angles, including around, behind and below Mike Portnoy’s drum kit.
Morsefest 2019
Neal and all members of SB horsing around and jamming on a bunch of classic and sometimes bizarre tunes. Recorded on Saturday, July 2, 2016 at Morsefest New Life Fellowship, Cross Plains, TN. Track List: 1. Crossroads 2. Led Boots 3. Sweet Caroline 4. Superstition 5. Ryo Karaoke 6. One Way Out 7. Black Magic Woman 8. Separate Ways 9. Stratus
Spock’s Beard – Morsefest 2016 Inner Cicle Jam
Transatlantic Sweden Rocks Festival June, 5 2014 DVD 1. Into The Blue 2. Whirlwind Medley: Intro, Whirlwind, Rose Coloured Glasses, Evermore, Is It Really Happening, Whirlwind Reprise 3. All Of The Above 4. Stranger In Your Soul Band: Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy, Roine Stolt, Pete Trewavas with guests Ted Leonard and Daniel Gildenlow
Transatlantic: Live At Sweden Rock 2014
Released in 2003, it documents the November 12, 2001 show by the band at the 013 Club, Tilburg, Netherlands. The show was part of the tour to support the band's second studio album, Bridge Across Forever. In keeping with the tradition of covering a classic progressive rock epic on each release, Live In Europe features the band running through The Beatles' Abbey Road medley as part of the intentionally Beatle-esque "Suite Charlotte Pike." Rather than being a straight cover version, each section of "Suite Charlotte Pike" is juxtaposed with a section of the Abbey Road medley.
Transatlantic - Live in Europe
More Never Is Enough contains, as the title suggests, more live footage of the Whirld Tour 2010 for the insatiable fans. More precisely, this 5-disc release features two additional concerts of the band: On the 2 DVDs the 3-hour concert in Tilburg (Netherlands) and on the 3 CDs an audio recording of the Manchester show are captured for eternity. Both concerts have - except for one encore - the same setlist as the London DVDs and CDs that were released the year before
Transatlantic: More Never Is Enough
This concert was recorded live at the Coach House on 17th October 1998. The picture quality and sound are excellent, as are all the camera angles. Eric has a great band who do all the songs full justice and reproduce the original sounds where needed (e.g. on San Franciscan Nights and Spill The Wine)- they are Aynsley Dunbar on drums, Dean Restum on guitar, David Meros on bass and Neal Morse on keyboards and guitar. There are also five interesting interviews with Eric where he talks about the history of some of the featured songs. These fit in very well between some of the songs, but I don't feel they spoil the continuity and they do not interrupt any songs. Eric performs as his fans would expect - plenty of stage presence and integrity and on the whole he sings extremely well with far less shouting than he has done on some other concert occasions.
Eric Burdon & The New Animals: Live at the Coach House
Spock’s beard featuring Neal Morse and all members past and present perform ‘Snow’ for the first time ever at Morsefest 2016!
Spock's Beard: Snow Live
A video recorded in-store at Tower Records in Nashville just following the launch of the Testimony album. Neal is joined by the majority of the band, who later performed on the Testimony tour – however this show was missing Mike Portnoy, who had other commitments, and so Mark Leniger played the drums. These performances are the public debuts of songs from the album, plus Spock’s Beard and Transatlantic songs. Setlist: Wind At My Back Oh Lord My God The Land of Beginning Again Sleeping Jesus Interlude The Prince of the Power of the Air The Promise Wasted Life Sing It High We All Need Some Light June
Neal Morse: Live at Tower Records 2003
Recorded live at the Iso Soitto Festival in Keuruu, Finland, July 2012, and featuring Eric Gillette, Bill Hubauer, Adson Sodre, Randy George and Jason Gianni on drums! 1. Momentum 2. We All Need Some Light 3. Author of Confusion 4. Sola Scriptura Medley 5. Time Changer / Jayda 6. Time Has Come / Jesus Blood / Truth Will Set You Free 7. King Jesus 8. It’s For You 9. Wind at My Back 10. Sing it High
Neal Morse: Iso Soitto Festival, Finland 2012
Morse's "Testimony," the musical sequel to Spock's Beard's epic concept album "Snow," was brought to the state in November 2003, With seven other musicians, Morse performed his "Testimony" live in various cities over Europe. The show in Tilburg, Germany was filmed and recorded for this DVD release. Fans will enjoy an entire 3 1/2 hour concert plus a tour documentary on two DVD's. Christian prog rocker and former Spock's Beard member Neal Morse follows up his old band's epic concept album SNOW with a musical sequel of his own, TESTIMONY. This 2-volume set captures Morse's live performance of TESTIMONY in its entirety at a concert in Tilburg, Germany, as well as a behind-the-scenes tour documentary of his month-long stint of Europe in November of 2003. Includes Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy on drums and vocals.
Neal Morse: Testimony Live
When The Neal Morse Band released their acclaimed The Similitude Of A Dream album - a progressive rock retelling of John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress) back in 2016, it began a journey of epic proportions, with the companion piece The Great Adventure arriving in 2019.The band embarked on a worldwide tour in early 2019 & it was in Brno, Czech Republic that the band chose to film THE GREAT ADVENTOUR 2019 - LIVE IN BRNO, the definitive record of the tour, as George explains: "This was our first time playing there and this venue had a different look and vibe: the audience also turned out to be very energetic. They loved it!"THE GREAT ADVENTOUR 2019 - LIVE IN BRNO shows The Neal Morse Band at the very height of their powers: extraordinary, passionate, intense and intricate rock music played to perfection by five masters of their craft, backed by dramatic video illustrations by Christian Rios.
The Neal Morse Band : The Great Adventour - Live in BRNO 2019
This two hour long video is a rough cut of the footage taken during the writing and recording sessions of the testimony album. It features footage of all the musicians and singers including Mike Portnoy and Eric Brenton.
Neal Morse: The Making of Testimony
Go behind the scenes and watch the band’s songs come to life through the extraordinary collaborative process that unfolded as the artists grew to know each other musically, as well as personally. Against the ticking clock, watch as Neal, Mike, Casey, Dave, Steve and Peter defy the odds, creating one of the year’s most acclaimed albums in an incredible nine days. Experience the candid moments, lost ideas, original performances, frustrations, joy, reflections and friendships as they happened. See where it all came from, and how it became Flying Colors.