Is Spock's Beard done?

**fiberman** · 05-13-2023

Originally Posted by Splicer

I've enjoyed Pattern-Seeking Animals so looking forward to more from them.

Me too! Great band!

**Rarebird** · 05-14-2023

Originally Posted by Brainforest

I'm not a good enough player to play most things that I write

Well, I can't play anything I write.

**BravadoNJ** · 05-21-2023

their song writing was never the same after Neal Morse left the band.

**Frumious B** · 05-21-2023

Originally Posted by BravadoNJ

their song writing was never the same after Neal Morse left the band.

If Transatlantic is really over and the most recent Spock’s Beard configuration is in limbo then it seems like the opportunity might be there to put the old band back together.

**Steve983** · 05-21-2023

I assume Enchant is done too. Does anyone know?

**progmatist** · 05-21-2023

Originally Posted by Frumious B

If Transatlantic is really over and the most recent Spock’s Beard configuration is in limbo then it seems like the opportunity might be there to put the old band back together.

The reason Neal left SB was to go on a "mission" go gain "converts." I don't foresee him abandoning that to rejoin SB. That would be abandoning his very faith.

**Frumious B** · 05-21-2023

Originally Posted by progmatist

The reason Neal left SB was to go on a "mission" go gain "converts." I don't foresee him abandoning that to rejoin SB. That would be abandoning his very faith.

That hasn’t stopped him from doing less religious more secular oriented music with NMB and Transatlantic. It seems like he took a harder line on that sort of thing when he first exited SB, but has evolved since.

**Mota** · 05-21-2023

Originally Posted by Frumious B

That hasn’t stopped him from doing less religious more secular oriented music with NMB and Transatlantic. It seems like he took a harder line on that sort of thing when he first exited SB, but has evolved since.

Yes, I think so. It took several years though. He quit Spock's in what... 2001? And Momentum in 2012 is really the precursor to the NMB. The two previous albums are Sola Scriptura and Testimony 2 so very much religious before then.

And now here we are in 2023, according to an Inner Circle email, God told him to "pause", and you'll notice that he isn't publicly working with any of his bands right now. The only thing he is working on is his Brother Andrew play which I'm not even sure will be a Neal Morse album at all. So I think he may be going in the other direction.

**SteveSly** · 05-21-2023

Originally Posted by Mota

Yes, I think so. It took several years though. He quit Spock's in what... 2001? And Momentum in 2012 is really the precursor to the NMB. The two previous albums are Sola Scriptura and Testimony 2 so very much religious before then.

And now here we are in 2023, according to an Inner Circle email, God told him to "pause", and you'll notice that he isn't publicly working with any of his bands right now. The only thing he is working on is his Brother Andrew play which I'm not even sure will be a Neal Morse album at all. So I think he may be going in the other direction.

I thought I read that another Morse, D'Virgillion, Jennings album was also in the works?

**BarryLI** · 05-22-2023

Originally Posted by Mota

Yes, I think so. It took several years though. He quit Spock's in what... 2001? And Momentum in 2012 is really the precursor to the NMB. The two previous albums are Sola Scriptura and Testimony 2 so very much religious before then.

And now here we are in 2023, according to an Inner Circle email, God told him to "pause", and you'll notice that he isn't publicly working with any of his bands right now. The only thing he is working on is his Brother Andrew play which I'm not even sure will be a Neal Morse album at all. So I think he may be going in the other direction.

I'm a little jealous that God has Neal on Speed Dial and I couldn't get his attention if I set myself on fire.

**progmatist** · 05-22-2023

Originally Posted by Frumious B

That hasn’t stopped him from doing less religious more secular oriented music with NMB and Transatlantic. It seems like he took a harder line on that sort of thing when he first exited SB, but has evolved since.

Transatlantic was never a full time band for any of its members. It was always a side project. Mike in particular was quite busy with Dream Theater before he left that band.

**Man In The Mountain** · 05-22-2023

Originally Posted by BarryLI

I'm a little jealous that God has Neal on Speed Dial and I couldn't get his attention if I set myself on fire.

When's the last time you called up God and invited him to lunch at Shelsky's Delicatessen? You gotta' schmooze the man, Barry.

**Mota** · 05-22-2023

Originally Posted by SteveSly

I thought I read that another Morse, D'Virgillion, Jennings album was also in the works?

Yes I believe so as well. But no bands and tours, it's just a quick project that won't have any live support.

**Progatron** · 06-05-2023

From Spock's Beard official page:

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:
We regret to announce that due to circumstances beyond our control, Spock's Beard will not be performing at HRH Prog this year, and since the rest of our planned UK / Europe tour hinged on doing that festival, the tour won't be happening either.
We're really sorry we couldn't make this happen, we really wanted to play for you all. Hope to see you all sometime soon!

**Scott Bails** · 06-05-2023

Not a good development for the band.

**Dan Roth** · 06-05-2023

Originally Posted by Progatron

From Spock's Beard official page:

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:
We regret to announce that due to circumstances beyond our control, Spock's Beard will not be performing at HRH Prog this year, and since the rest of our planned UK / Europe tour hinged on doing that festival, the tour won't be happening either.
We're really sorry we couldn't make this happen, we really wanted to play for you all. Hope to see you all sometime soon!

I saw that post on Spock’s Beard Facebook page. Ted Leonard commented “Well, this is an odd way to find out.”

**Progatron** · 06-05-2023

Originally Posted by Dan Roth

I saw that post on Spock’s Beard Facebook page. Ted Leonard commented “Well, this is an odd way to find out.”

Yikes...

**Scott Bails** · 06-06-2023

Oh boy....

**miamiscot** · 06-06-2023

So sad. Here's me and Scott Medina (Sonic Perspectives) breaking down the Beard's discography:

**Progatron** · 06-06-2023

I wonder who is in charge of the official SB page. It's awfully strange that such an announcement would be made public and have fans commenting on it before a member of the band even knows about it. It also sucks that they now seemingly can't even tour Europe anymore, which was about the only place they have been able to for quite some time, if I'm not mistaken. It doesn't bode well for the future - for them and plenty of others - but I don't want to be overly doom 'n gloom about it.

**Rarebird** · 06-06-2023

Originally Posted by Progatron

I wonder who is in charge of the official SB page. It's awfully strange that such an announcement would be made public and have fans commenting on it before a member of the band even knows about it. It also sucks that they now seemingly can't even tour Europe anymore, which was about the only place they have been able to for quite some time, if I'm not mistaken. It doesn't bode well for the future - for them and plenty of others - but I don't want to be overly doom 'n gloom about it.

I can even remember having seen them on German television in the Rockpalast series. The presenter (Peter Rüchel) was very enthousiastic. I've recorded it and burned it on a DVDr.