|
Home | Search | Talent Request Form | About Us | References | Industry News | Contact Us |
Spock's Beard
| To book artists and talent such as Spock's Beard for your corporate event, private party, fundraiser, or club, just use our Talent Request Form or Contact us. |
Consummate and seasoned professionals, individually the members of Spock's Beard have performed or recorded with Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Genesis, and Tears For Fears. Drummer Nick D'Virgilio is one of the more high profile members of the band. He is currently featured on the latest Genesis record and recently recorded with Peter Gabriel. Ryo Okumoto brings his Hammond Organ and Mellotron to the band after stints with Phil Collins and Eric Clapton. Bassist Dave Meros joined the band after working with Eric Burdon and Gary Myrick. Rounding out the band is Al Morse on guitar, cello and Mellotron, and Neal Morse, who writes all the band's material and contributes lead vocals, piano, synths, and guitars. Neal is the creative mind behind the band, writing the majority of its material from standard four minute tunes to 15 minute rock suites. "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."
Influences of the band include Yes, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Gentle Giant, Genesis, Pink Floyd and many other progressive rock greats from the 70's! Small wonder that Spock's Beard seems to command such respect from fans of those bands.
"Spock's Beard is the most fulfilling band that I've been in," says bassist Meros. "Neal's songs are consistently superb, everyone can really play add everyone really gets to play. It ROCKS!"
Spock's Beard began in 1992 when brothers Neal (lead vocals) and Al Morse (guitar) teamed up with drummer Nick D'Virgilio. After self-financing their first album, bassist Dave Meros joined, and The Light was recorded in 1994. Consisting of four lengthy songs, this debut album was well received by progressive rock fans, but received little public acclaim. Ryo Okumoto joined in 1995 to play keyboards. In 1996, The Official Bootleg was released, a live performance containing the entire first album plus one song from the upcoming second album. 1996 also saw the band sign with various record labels around the world, in addition to releasing Beware of Darkness, which contains the same style of music, but in shorter pieces (all ten minutes or less, except for the 15-plus-minute last track). Spock's Beard's third studio album, The Kindness of Strangers, was released at the end of 1997.
Spock's Beard was formed in Los Angeles in the spring of 1992. Brought together by their common love of progressive music, Neal, Alan, and Nick began playing around Los Angeles. Having had offers from several independent labels, they chose to make the album themselves, as none of the labels shared their musical vision. In 1994, with the addition of Dave Meros on bass, the band went into the studio and recorded their debut album The Light. In 1995 they've added another extraordinary musician to the line up - Mr. Ryo Okumoto on keyboards.
Together they recently played at The Troubadour in Los Angeles to a cheering, standing room only crowd. Their debut album The Light was released in Europe in late 1996 and the follow up Beware of Darkness was released in Europe in March 1996 to raving fans and press alike. The third album "The Kindness of Strangers" is out now!