Neal Morse
When we talk about progessive rock, the word Morse reaches our head almost immediately. Neal Morse could be described as elegant, decided and most important of all, a dreamer. These qualities of the California-born haven been around since he was just a kid. The music flowed through his veins at a very short age. first trying the piano and later, the guitar, Morse had an impressive development as the days went by. Despite this, he soon discovered that the local scene wouldn’t help him at all.
Europe and the beginning of success
After his career and musical talent was discouraged by some of the producers of Los Angeles, Morse traveled toEurope in search of a place where he could display all his potential without any kind of restraint.
Yet, before his departure, he got to write 2 musicals wich he would publish later in his life to critical acclaim. Those works were clearly influenced by the current frustation in his life.
After discovering most parts of Europe and from extensively playing in small venues or anywhere he could. Morse decided to return to his county very discreetly but with a solid idea in his mind, to start a band with the true determination of defying the musical industry, and thus began his career in the progressive rock world.
Beside his brother Alan, Nick D’Virgilio in the drums and Dave Meros in the bass guitar, he founded Spock’s Beard in 1992.
What a started as a silly brainstorming for the name of the new band, the Project would went to become one of the most defining acts of the genre by the end of the decade, alongside bands as Dream Theater and Porcupine Tree.
The conversion
And so, with an unexpected success and with rave reviews by his side, Morse soon turned all his thoughts to another unrest wich had bothered him from a time now.
Despite having created another band with members from Dream Theater (Portnoy), Marillion (Trewavas) and Flower Kings (Stolt) called Transatlantic, Morse had yet to conclude the quest he began in his teen days in Los Angeles.
In 2002, Morse suprisingly left Spock’s Beard and Transatlantic to pursue the way of God, the musician would now turn to christianity as a way to counter all the stuff that was carried with his sudden fame, they were simply not compatible.
The following years were perhaps the most productive in his career. Projects like Testimony, deepened in his motifs for his conversion and his search for God. But not all was left behind, some collaborators from his past continued to work along him, like Mike Portnoy, with whom he still shared a very important bond of friendship and professionalism.
Solo projects
During his solo ventures, Morse stated very clearly his religious vision of life, his constant attacks to the Catholic Church in some of his lyrics were vere revealing in how he would take his spiritual life for the rest of his days.
In 2004, Morse joined forces again with Mike Portnoy and also with Randy George to produce a new work called “One”, another religious themed venutre very defining about Morse thoughts. From that moment, the threesome became almost inseparable. After some joint productions, these musicians have been on tour together several times and the success has been inevitable in the progessive rock scene, still echoing in our days.
Finally, in this very same year, Morse has started a new band called Flying Colors formed by Mike Portnoy, Steve Morse, Dave LaRue y Caset McPherson. With a new chapter of his life just beginning, there is no doubt that Morse will not cease to amaze us in the near future.
Morse, Portnoy and his friend Randy George will be perfoming all together this next october 5 in Mexico City. The expectation is overwhelming. Stay tuned.
