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. 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 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.
Neal then embarked upon the most ambitious musical project of his career. Entitled Testimony
(2003), it chronicles his spiritual and musical journey in words and music. The 2 CD set spans
over two hours as one continuous piece of music. In genre, it ranges from a gospel choir to hard
rock; from symphony orchestra to contemporary pop. Testimony was also Neal’s first of many
albums with drummer Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater). A deftly woven musical tapestry, Testimony
takes the listener on a fascinating journey as unique as the man behind it.
The ensuing world tour was captured on one unforgettable night for the 2-DVD set, Testimony Live
(2004). Morse was recognized as a remarkably passionate and engaging performer by Britain’s
Classic Rock Magazine, who included him in their “100 Greatest Frontmen of Rock” listing. The
tour was awarded “Best Rock Tour” from the popular Dutch website, DPRP, besting nominees
Peter Gabriel, Radiohead, RUSH and others.
Morse’s next studio album was a conceptual, progressive rock album entitled One. Mike Portnoy
returned to perform on drums (in what is regarded as perhaps his finest performance), with bassist
Randy George. They were joined by legendary guitarist Phil Keaggy. The result was a bandfocused
sound, harkening back to Neal’s Transatlantic work. Continuing in the tradition of Snow
and Testimony, One proved epic in scope and sublime in nature.
For Morse’s third progressive rock album, he took a new approach, artistically. On Question
(2005), Morse weaves a compelling storyline that owes as much to C.S. Lewis as Indiana Jones.
His journey is a timeless quest—to find the biblical dwelling place of God. Joining Neal are more of
prog’s brightest stars, including Mike Portnoy and Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), Roine Stolt (Flower Kings, Transatlantic) and Steve Hackett (Genesis).
Bringing Question to the stage required an outstanding tour band. Fusing technical wizardry with
musical nuance, a young band of unknowns proved themselves in the fire of Question’s musical
roller-coaster. The audience responded with energy and passion. Unrestrained, raw, and
magnificent, the resulting 2 CD set Question: Live (2007) was fitting as Neal’s first live album.
Neal’s next prog epic was his most daring, stirring passions and controversy. On Sola Scriptura
(2007), Morse tells a compelling and sometimes macabre tale of the darkness that inevitably falls
when humankind tries to elevate itself to God. Focusing on the Church in the Middle Ages, Morse
is unflinching in his description of its abuses. Neal frames the issue as just one example of faith
separated from its true foundations. The album closes not with an end but a beginning—for us to
consider our world, and feel called to illuminate it.
Question and Sola Scriptura were received as Neal’s best to date, and the ensuing tours were
captured on film. The ensuing release, Sola Scriptura & Beyond (2008) was an extraordinary live
concert 2-DVD set that brought both albums to life. Also included were generous selections from
One and Testimony, a Transatlantic selection, five songs from Spock’s Beard, and an hour of
behind-the-scenes tour footage.
Less than three months later, Neal completed Lifeline (2008), his next studio album. Unlike his
other releases, Lifeline wasn’t a concept album. Free from this constraint, Neal stretched out in all
directions. He revisited early Spock’s Beard, Snow, Transatlantic, his solo releases, and launched
into new territory. Joining him once again were Mike Portnoy and Randy George.
A Transatlantic reunion had been the dream of many fans, and after ten years, a seemingly
quixotic one. On April 16 of 2009, though, they were surprised to hear of a new album from the
prog supergroup. The album began with Neal’s work a 45 minute composition, “The Whirlwind”. As
he progressed, Neal, who felt it was taking on the attributes of a Transatlantic piece. He shared it
with the band, and they agreed. Each band member brought material to the eight days of
writing/recording sessions; by the end, they’d written a completely new album. Retaining Neal’s
original title, The Whirlwind went on to be the group’s highest charting album to date.
Meanwhile, Neal had been touring in North America and Europe. Several shows from the end of
2008 were recorded to multitrack, and saved for future release. On November 16, 2010, the 3-CD
set So Many Roads was released, presenting an astonishing 3.5 hours of new live music.
Featuring 29 tracks spanning Neal’s entire 20 year career, So Many Roads is the definitive live
Neal Morse release.
Later in 2010, Transatlantic embarked on their biggest tour yet, with dates in 11 nations across
Europe and North America. The London, UK show was immortalized for the double-live DVD,
Whirld Tour 2010: Live in London.
On May 23, 2011, Neal is releasing his next progressive rock studio album, Testimony II. Mike
Portnoy and Randy George return to revisit the trio’s unique and powerful chemistry. As usual,
special guests (including Spock’s Beard) are on-hand. Simultaneously, Morse will release his
autobiography, appropriately entitled, Testimony.
Neal’s largest ever tour follows, over the summer, with his international live band led by Collin
Leijenaar. Meanwhile, Neal continues development on his unnamed rock opera and a new
collaborative mainstream rock project.
2012 CD is “Momentum” another beautiful step in his artistic career.