Morse, Neal (November 2003)

Interview With Neal Morse: Life Before and After Spock's Beard

In August of 2002, Neal Morse surprised many progressive rock fans when he announced he was leaving Spock's Beard, the band he had formed with his brother Alan in the early 90s, who released their debut The Light in 1994. His departure from Spock's Beard also signaled his (apparent) departure from the "supergroup" Transatlantic, with whom he recorded two studio and two live albums (and two DVDs). While many speculated that Morse's departure from these bands signaled a departure from music entirely, in part based on an interpretation of Morse's statements at the time, he surprised fans again by releasing the double album Testimony this past September, his third solo album and an album that lyrically and musically explains just where Neal Morse is at today.

MuzikMan: The question that is on everyone's mind is what happened with Spock's Beard? Personally, I can see it was something that developed over time with you on a deep spiritual and personal level that nobody could ever hope to understand without knowing you. Even though it was sudden and a shock to everyone in the music industry, I would be willing to bet it was a well thought out change that was necessitated by your needs as an individual and your beliefs.

Neal Morse: Well, yeah, I prayed about it for a long time. It was the most difficult thing I've ever done. It was different from other hard things I have done. There have been other times in my life when I did unusual things that were hard for other people to understand, things that did not make sense, because I felt in my heart that I needed to do it. However, this involved many other people, my friends and the guys that were so important to me, that was the unbearable part. But, yes, I was praying about it for about 9 months before the announcement was made.

MM: Where were you and what were you doing before Spock's Beard came to be? What life changing experience brought a higher power into your life in such a way that you could not ignore?

NM: I was trying to get a record deal in LA as a singer/songwriter for most of my life. I finally gave it all up and moved to Nashville and that is when things started to open up for me. Well, there were many things that led me to the Lord. My walk has been gradual. The Lord very slowly brought me around. I felt the Lord calling me more and more to come to church. Being in church, I felt the Lord starting to deal with my heart. I started to feel the Holy Ghost moving in my life. At first, I was what you would call a "Chreaster," that's somebody who just comes at Christmas and Easter [laughs]. I was just going to be a nice Husband to my wife. I just sort of started to feel something there, an urge to go more often. I always wanted to be closer to God. I was hungry and I was reaching. I didn't think that Jesus was the way to get closer to God. I didn't understand about Jesus. But I thought, if I start going to church I'm going to get closer to God, and that was more important to me than anything. It has proven out. So I started going more and more. It was probably around '96, then a little bit more in '97 and a little bit more in '98 and so on. I remember I used to not go on Sunday nights because I wanted to watch The X-Files, then at some point it dawned on me that it might be more life changing to actually go to church!

The Lord started to take things out of my heart and out of my life, and then one day I was up there getting prayed for, the whole church was praying for me, and that's what the song "Oh To Feel Him" is about, about me actually receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. That's on the Testimony project. It wasn't until the year 2000 that the Lord really came in and made all that happen. Since then I've just been surrendering to him more and more, just wanting him to take every corner of my life, because the more he's in control the better my life is.

MM: Your new albumTestimony is a very ambitious, spiritually driven personal message to all of your listeners; because of this, do you feel it is your best work? It sure sounds like progressive/symphonic rock to me; do you think because of the subject matter (not that it should matter) some critics will put labels on the music that do not represent what it really is?

NM: I don't know how people will label it. That's not really my thing. My part is to create and deliver it, after that who knows? I never know how people are going to receive these things. But, so far, I've been surprised how kind people have been and how much they love the album!

MM: I understand Kerry Livgren plays on your new album Testimony . "Break Of Day" sounds like a Livgren/Kansas influenced tune, did he play on that track?

NM: No, He played the guitar solo in "Long Story."

MM: How do you feel (overall) working as a solo act now? Is there more freedom for you artistically? Do you miss all the people from Spock's Beard?

NM: Yeah , I miss 'em. It's hard 'cause sometimes I have to watch footage of us for one reason or another you know, to approve something or not or whatever, and it always makes me miss 'em all the more. But, I also love what I'm doing now and I love my new guys, we pray before we play and it's great! I feel real good as a solo guy now. It feels right to me right now.

MM: What are your plans to promote all of your new music? Are you already planning to go directly back into the studio after you tour?

NM: Don't know. I'm just trying to get ready for Europe and the U.S. shows right now. After that who knows? I find that God often doesn't show you a ton of stuff all at once; it's one step at a time.

MM: Is there anything in particular thing you would like to say to all of your fans before we close Neal?

NM: Thanks for hanging in there with me through all of these changes! Oh, and you can find out all the current info on my live shows at www.nealmorse.com, thanks!

When the opportunity presented itself to interview Morse, Keith asked if I had a few questions.

Stephanie Sollow: I do wonder if you have encountered any negativity from SB and/or Transatlantic fans about your departure from the band(s) and how do you address those critics...

NM: Well, there is always some negativity; it has been OK though, mostly good, thank God!

SS: ...and even the critics who dislike your new direction, judging the music solely on lyrical themes versus the whole package -- and even those who are judging it without even having heard it!

NM: Well, you know how people are. It doesn't bother me really.

SS: What was it like working with Kerry Livgren?

NM: Great! What a guy. He's really warm and filled with the spirit! We spent an afternoon together just talking mostly about all kinds of things Kansas and SB and God and all, eventually we got round to some music! It was great?

SS: Looking at the official site, you'll be touring in the fall... can you reveal who the "combo" is?

NM: It is: Mark Leniger - drums and vocals
Eric Brenton - gtr, violin, vocals
Bert Baldwin - keys, vocals
Randy George - bass, vocals

(Morse also toured with Transatlantic co-hort Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) in his band)

[See also Marcelo's interview with Morse from February 2002, and Steph's brief interview from September 2002 -ed.]

Discography:
Spock's Beard:
The Light (1991/1995)
Beware of Darkness (1995)
Official Live Bootleg (1996)
The Kindness of Strangers (1997)
From The Vault - 1995-1998 (1998)
The Beard Is Out There Live (1995)
Day For Night (1999)
Live At The Whiskey and NEARfest (1999)
Don't Try This At Home (2000)
V (2000)
Don't Try This @ Home Either! (2000)
There And Here (2001)
Snow (2002)

Neal Morse/Neal Morse Band: Neal Morse (1999)
Merry Christmas From The Morse Family (2000)
It's Not Too Late (2001)
Testimony (2003)
One (2004)
Lead Me Lord (Worship Sessions Volume One) (2005)
? (2005)
God Won't Give Up (2005)
Worship Sessions Volume II: Send The Fire (2006)
One Demos (2007)
Sola Scriptura (2007)
Songs from the Highway (2007)
?: Live (2007)
Sing It High (a collection of singles) (2007)
Worship Sessions Volume III: Secret Place (2008)
Lifeline (2008)
Worship Sessions Volume IV: The River (2009)
So Many Roads Live In Europe (3 CD Digibook) (2009)
Mighty To Save (Worship Sessions 2010) (2010)
Testimony Two (2011)

Testimony 2 - Live in Los Angeles (3CD/2DVD) (2011)
Testimony, The Book (2011)
Momentum (2012)
Songs From November (2014)
The Grand Experiment (2015)

Testimony Live (DVD) (2004)
Sola Scriptura And Beyond (DVD) (2008)
Testimony 2 - Live in Los Angeles (3CD/2DVD, 2011) Transatlantic:
SMPTe (2000)
Live In America (2001) Bridge Across Forever (2001)
Bridge Across Forever - Special Edition (2001)
Neal Morse - The Transatlantic Demos (2003)
SMPTe - Roine Stolt Mixes (2003) Live In Europe (2003)
The Whirlwind (2010)
More Is Never Enough (3CD/2DVD) (2011)
Kaleidoscope (2014)

Live In America (DVD) (2001)
Whirld Tour 2010 - Live At Shepherd's Bush Empire (DVD) (2010) Building A Bridge (DVD) (2002)
Live In Europe (DVD) (2003)
The Official Live Bootleg DVD (DVD) (2010)
Whirld Tour 2010 (DVD) (2010)
More Is Never Enough (2DVD/3CD) (2011)
KaLIVEoscope (2DVDs+3CDs+BR, 3CD+DVD, BR) (2014)

Others:
Neal Morse and Nick D'Virgilio - Two Separate Gorillas - Live In Europe (2000)
Morse Portnoy George - Cover To Cover (2006)
Morse Portnoy George - Cover 2 Cover (2012)
Flying Colors - Flying Colors (2012)
Flying Colors - Live In Europe (2013)
Flying Colors - Second Nature (2014)