Biographies Needing Attention

Neal R. Morse - Born August 2, 1960 (Van Nuys, California, USA)

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 LA singer-songwriter scene, he realized that his dream would not materialize. Eschewing conventional wisdom, Neal 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” (1995) 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 7 years, SPOCK’S BEARD released 10 6 critically acclaimed CDs and 2 concert DVDs, ascending to the top of the "prog" world. Neal also released 6 CDs and 3 DVDs 2 CDs and 2 live albums with TRANSATLANTIC, the heralded prog "supergroup" comprised of the world's finest prog musicians. The proverbial wayward son, Neal had finally found the success he dreamed of. But something was missing. While on the outside Neal had it all; on the inside, something was missing. Morse came to realize that for him, embracing the Christian faith was the fulfillment of his spiritual quest. His walk was at once gradual and sudden - and like with so many, completely unexpected. 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), SPOCK’S BEARD's (with Morse) magnum opus and swan song.

The extraordinary 2-CD rock opera, composed by Morse, was widely acclaimed as the group's finest. But it was the end of the era: Neal made the agonizing decision to leave SPOCK’S BEARD. After also leaving TRANSATLANTIC, the transformation was complete. Despite having finally achieved the success he had long sought, Morse began all over again; musically, emotionally and spiritually. While SPOCK’S BEARD elected to continue without him, TRANSATLANTIC disbanded (though this would later turn out to be a hiatus). 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 (3 CDs for the Special Edition) spans over two hours as one continuous piece of music. It ranges in style from a full gospel choir to hard rock; from a symphony orchestra to contemporary pop. A deftly woven musical tapestry, the album takes the listener on a fascinating journey as unique as the man behind it.

Artistically, “Testimony” was a remarkable solo achievement, with Neal not only writing, arranging and producing; but singing the lead vocals and performing most of the instruments. Recognized as a virtuoso multi-instrumentalist, he is endorsed as a guitarist, keyboardist and singer (Yamaha, Gibson, Rode Microphones, and others). Legendary drummer Mike Portnoy performed on drums, with guest guitarist Kerry Livgren (Kansas) on several tracks. The mainstream and CCM press alike lauded Testimony as was one of the best progressive rock albums of the year. It received numerous honors, from Progressive World (Top 5 Albums) to The National Review (10 Best of the Year). The ensuing world tour was captured on one unforgettable night at the beautiful Dutch concert hall, (named only as a number) 013, during his European tour. The performance (and tour) won him "Best Rock Tour" from the Dutch Progressive Rock Poll, besting nominees Peter Gabriel, Radiohead, RUSH and others. (Neal also won Best Album for the Testimony studio release.) Released as a 2-DVD set, Testimony Live (2004) showcases Neal Morse as a remarkably passionate and engaging live performer. On lead vocals, guitar and keyboards, Neal demonstrates why, after the European leg of the tour, England's Classic Rock Magazine included him in their "100 Greatest Frontmen of Rock" listing.

Morse's new studio album is a conceptual, progressive rock album entitled, One. Mike Portnoy returns to perform on drums (in what is regarded as perhaps his finest performance), and up-in-coming prog artist Randy George (Testimony Live) returns on bass. They are joined by legendary guitarist Phil Keaggy on several tracks. The result is a more of band-focused, straight-ahead sound than on Testimony, harkening back to Neal's Transatlantic work. Neal also took a more collaborative approach on One, writing with Portnoy and George. The three artists worked together closely to capture and articulate Neal's vision; his singular design enriched with their distinct voices. Continuing in the tradition of Snow and Testimony, One is epic in scope and sublime in nature; the next remarkable chapter in Neal's musical and spiritual journey.

Neal invited Mike Portnoy, with whom he had played in TRANSATLANTIC, to play drums and this was the beginning of a close friendship and musical collaboration which has endured to the present day. For his next solo album, entitled “One”, Neal added bassist Randy George to the line-up, and Morse, Portnoy and George have formed the nucleus of Morse’s progressive rock albums ever since. Neal has been prolific in releasing solo albums since then, all based on his Christian beliefs yet somehow popular with those who don’t share those views. Most have been concept albums, covering such subjects as his journey to faith (“Testimony” and “Testimony 2”), the Reformation (“Sola Scriptura”), the temple of God ("?") and even a rock opera based on the life and passion of Christ.

In 2012 Neal decided to expand his regular band and held auditions via YouTube. As a result guitarist Eric Gillette and keyboardist Bill Hubauer were added to the permanent line up and the project was relaunched as THE NEAL MORSE BAND (subsequently abbreviated to NMB). This was more of a band project, with the new members contributing to writing as well as sharing lead vocals with Neal.

As well as his solo prog albums and those with NMB, Neal has also released several singer-songwriter albums, a series of worship albums, and three albums of covers under the MORSE PORTNOY GEORGE name. TRANSATLANTIC was resurrected as a side project in 2009 with the highly acclaimed “Whirlwind” album, and in 2012 Morse and Portnoy joined with Steve Morse and Dave LaRue of the DIXIE DREGS, plus vocalist Casey MacPherson, to form FLYING COLORS. He also joined with Nick D’Virgilio (SPOCK’S BEARD, BIG BIG TRAIN) and Ross Jennings (HAKEN) in 2022 to form an acoustic trio. Last but not least, Morse was once part of the Beatles tribute band YELLOW MATTER CUSTARD.

Neal Morse remains one of the most prolific progressive rock artists around today.

Legendary drummer Mike Portnoy performed on drums, with guest guitarist Kerry Livgren (Kansas) on several tracks. The mainstream and CCM press alike lauded ..................................................................................................................................

 next remarkable chapter in Neal's musical and spiritual journey.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

LI'ED Biography.

Formed January 2009, Mevaseret Zion, Jerusalem, Israel.

LI'ED is a Progressive Metal band from Jerusalem, Israel which composes complex and atmospheric music, and uses different musical styles and elements in its compositions.

LI'ED was initially a five-piece band consisting of Uri MANN (vocals, guitars), Noam Barom ELIYAHU (guitars), Nadav GREENHUT (keyboards, synths, orchestral effects), Yitskhak KANNAY (bass) and Shai TUOBOL (drums, percussion). With this line up they released a three-track EP called 'Into The Mist' in January 2013, before adding Hadar FLEXER on vocals in the summer of that year.

Uri MANN had actually begun composing songs with the intention of releasing an album back in high school in 2007, and 'Into The Mist' consisted of early versions of three of these songs. The final finished album, called 'The Mist Within', took almost ten years to complete - including over two years in production - and eventually consisted of 9 tracks spread across 59 minutes of music.

Musically speaking 'The Mist Within' is a very diverse album in which the band tried to describe a kind of journey - the entrance into the fog or the unknown, the hard and winding road within, and the exit into the light at the end. Singer/guitarist Uri MANN also describes it as dealing with various difficulties such as trauma, death, false love, harmful urges, loneliness, and seeking help and support.

LI'ED's music is best described as progressive rock with a heavy edge. Their musical pieces include frequent and drastic dynamic shifts; as well as an extensive use of odd time signatures, syncopation, complex harmonic passages and counter-point. Their musical style is based on many genres of music evident in different parts of their pieces, such as Jazz, Blues, Flamenco, Folk, and different styles of Classical music.

The band cite various artists as their influences, including Prog-Metal bands such as OPETH, PORCUPINE TREE and DREAM THEATER; early Prog bands such as PINK FLOYD, KING CRIMSON and YES; countrymates ORPHANED LAND, Matti CASPI and Yoni RECHTER and the classical composers BACH, BEETHOVEN, MOZART and SCHUBERT.

As of June 2023, a follow-up album is believed to be in its advanced stages - apparently to be called 'Dybbuk'. A Dybbuk is a disembodied human spirit in the Jewish folklore that, because of former sins, wanders restlessly until it finds a body of a living person to possess.