Neal Morse

Acting

Neal Morse

Born 1960-08-02 · 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 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. His walk was at once gradual and sudden – and as 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), the group’s magnum opus... and swan song with Morse. 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 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.

Acting credits

Yellow Matter Custard: One Night in New York City poster
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The entire legendary Beatles tribute show featuring Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, Paul Gilbert and Matt Bissonette as filmed at BB King's in New York City on May 18th 2003.

Yellow Matter Custard: One Night in New York City

2003

Spock's Beard: Live At The Whisky poster
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Live at the Whisky A Go-Go in Los Angeles, California on May 11, 1999.

Spock's Beard: Live At The Whisky

1999

Yellow Matter Custard: One More Night in New York City poster
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One More Night in New York City from drummer Mike Portnoy's amazing Beatles tribute band Yellow Matter Custard. This release was recorded live at B.B. King's in New York City on February 28th, 2011 and was the final show of a three show run that brought the band back together for the first time in 8 years.

Yellow Matter Custard: One More Night in New York City

2011

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Each pre-order will include a free bonus DVD, Flying Colors - Second Nature - Video Anthology with behind the scenes footage, interviews and more,

Flying Colors: Second Nature Video Anthology

2014

Neal Morse: Question Mark and Sola Scriptura Live poster
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No synopsis available yet.

Neal Morse: Question Mark and Sola Scriptura Live

2017

Morsefest 2019 poster
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The 4 CD/2 Blu-ray also features a host of bonus features including two of the VIP Q&A sessions from Morsefest 2019, featuring all of the members of both bands taking questions from the crowd. There are also some additional multiscreen video mixes of tracks from both Flying Colors and the Neal Morse Band. Taken from the iso-cams located on the stage, you get an alternate view of the show from various stage angles, including around, behind and below Mike Portnoy’s drum kit.

Morsefest 2019

2021

Transatlantic: KaLIVEoscope poster
8.0

"The Kaleidoscope tour was indeed a landmark for Transatlantic. It was our first time in many parts of the world, and it was indeed epic! We grew as a band and as people and if you got to be there at one of the shows, you know how incredible it was! This live DVD, Blu-ray and all the rest, captures Transatlantic in an amazing way, and I'm sure you're going to love it!" - Neal Morse

Transatlantic: KaLIVEoscope

2014

Flying Colors : Third Stage - Live in London poster
8.5

Continuing their pattern of making a studio album, followed by a live album, "Third Stage: Live In London" is the 3rd live album by the prog-supergroup Flying Colors. It was recorded in December 2019 in London on a short and highly anticipated tour, directly after the release of their studio album "Third Degree". Teaming the talents of such heavyweights as guitarist Steve Morse (Deep Purple, Dixie Dregs), drummer Mike Portnoy (Transatlantic, Winery Dogs, ex-Dream Theater), keyboardist/singer Neal Morse (solo artist, Transatlantic, ex-Spock’s Beard), bass wizard Dave LaRue (Dixie Dregs, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai), with new pop singer/songwriter Casey McPherson, the band quickly established itself as one of rock’s most melodic enigmas.

Flying Colors : Third Stage - Live in London

2020

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Join Neal behind the scenes at Cruise To The Edge 2024. Neal was invited to Cruise to the Edge 2024 to play with Flying Colors. Join him and the band as they rehearse, get on board, and join the rest of the travelers. While on board, Neal also guested with some members of Spock’s Beard as part of Ryo Okumoto’s band, and took part in the first live performance by D’Virgilio, Morse & Jennings. He also jumps up with an All Star Band to play The Beatles’ Abbey Road Medley!

Neal Morse - Cruise to the Edge: Awakening - The Movie

2024

Morsefest 2015: Sola Scriptura poster
10.0

THE NEAL MORSE BAND, featuring MIKE PORTNOY, the 38 musicians on stage create a prog orchestra. Saturday night's performance of the Sola Scriptura album. Free from the constraints of studio recording deadlines, MORSE added any instrumentation he imagined, including live strings, a 5-piece horn section, and a 14-piece choir (in addition to background singers, and the vocals of the band). At the center is THE NEAL MORSE BAND: singer/guitarist/keyboardist Neal Morse, drummer Mike Portnoy, bassist Randy George, keyboardist Bill Hubauer and guitarist Eric Gillette.

Morsefest 2015: Sola Scriptura

2017

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Making of Kaleidoscope DVD – Full length DVD behind the scenes of the writing and recording of this amazing album.

Transatlantic: The Making of Kaleidoscope

2014

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In mid-July, Mike, Bill, Eric and I played a set of songs at a friend’s 40th birthday party in Cancun. Now as you know, we don’t normally do party gigs but… for one night only, we played some stuff we’ve never done before. In addition to songs by Spock’s Beard, Flying Colors, and NMB, we did a bunch of covers and jam material, and we were joined by Melody Portnoy and Julie Harrison. We didn’t plan to release this, but when I realized it was recorded on audio and video, I thought this would be a great thing to share with the Inner Circle – a true one-off performance that you’ll not get anywhere else! Tracklist: 01. Intro #1 02. Wild World 03. On Broadway 04. Intro #2 05. What You Leave Behind 06. Meine Kleiner Grüner Kaktus 07. Your Place In The Sun 08. Intro #3 09. Back In The USSR 10. Intro #4 11. It Don’t Come Easy 12. Oh Darling 13. Kayla 14. Cesar Mendiburu/ Happy Birthday 15. Wind At My Back

Morse, Portnoy, Gillette, Hubauer & Friends: Live in Cancun 2022

2022

Flying Colors : Second Flight - Live at The Z7 poster
8.5

Virtuoso prog/pop/rock band with (former) members of Deep Purple, Dream Theater, The Winery Dogs, Avenged Sevenfold, Dixie Dregs, Spock’s Beard, Alpha Rev & Transatlantic •Second Flight is shot with 24 cameras during the Second Nature Tour 2014; the album Second Nature charted in Top-10 positions around the world. •All video, including the 4K Ultra-HD version, was mastered by Cinnafilm using their Dark Energy technology (IMAX) for stunning visuals.

Flying Colors : Second Flight - Live at The Z7

2015

Transatlantic: Morsefest 2022 - The Absolute Whirlwind poster
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This mammoth Limited 5CD + 2 Blu-ray Artbook set features both sets from Morsefest in their entirety, with nearly 4 and a half hours of music in total. Night 1: Into The Blue In Held (‘Twas) In I Shine We All Need Some Light Overture/Whirlwind The Wind Blew Them All Away On The Prowl A Man Can Feel Out Of The Night Rose Colored Glasses Evermore Set Us Free Lay Down Your Life Pieces of Heaven Is It Really Happening? Dancing With Eternal Glory/Whirlwind (Reprise) Night 2: Overture Reaching For The Sky Higher Than The Morning The Darkness In The Light Take Now My Soul Bully Rainbow Sky Looking For The Light The World We Used To Know The Sun Comes Up Today Love Made A Way (Prelude) Owl Howl Solitude Belong Lonesome Rebel Can You Feel It Looking For The Light (Reprise) The Greatest Story Never Ends Love Made A Way Bridge Across Forever The Final Medley

Transatlantic: Morsefest 2022 - The Absolute Whirlwind

2024

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This is the audio and video of the Inner Circle show from Morsefest in Europe in 2023. In Holland, Neal was joined by his son Wil (and grandson Emerson!), Randy and Pam George, Bill Hubauer, Collin Leijenaar (who played percussion at the show!) and Francis Norman, who was a member of the string section at that show. Setlist: Isaiah 60 Old MacDonald Had a Farm Get Smart and Loose Your Mind The Step of Yes Open Wide the Flood Gates Bennie and the Jets We Can Work It Out The Man’s Gone Cradle to the Grave Help Me / The Spirit and the Flesh Wind At My Back

Neal Morse & Friends: Morsefest Inner Circle Show – De Boerderij, Holland 2023

2024

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Originally available as part of a sold out deluxe CD/DVD set, here is an opportunity to see behind the scenes at Radiant Studios as the Cover 2 Cover album is put together. Hear Neal, Mike, and Randy discuss their choices, how the original versions influenced them, and what they did to make the songs their own. Featuring lots of studio footage and a quite a few laughs, you can now see this out-of-print video of the master musicians at work.

Morse Portnoy George: The Making of Cover 2 Cover

2012

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This is a behind the scenes DVD of the Testimony 2 tour in both the United States and Europe. It was compiled by Chad Hoerner and contains great funny moments with the band and also some inspired performances. Come on tour with the band! You’ll feel like you were there over the entire month from the rehearsals with the U.S. band (featuring Mike Portnoy) to the European band, all the way from Nashville to the last gig in London in 2011.

Neal Morse: Testimony 2...For You.

2011

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The MF USA 2023 concert include the live debuts of 5 songs from The Dreamer: Joseph – Part 1 which had just been released the previous day, a sing along section of “favorites” from Spock’s Beard and Transatlantic. Neal also debuted a song called “The First Man” and “Old MacDonald Had A Farm” (never previously played at Morsefest!), plus his son Wil reprised their duet of “Cradle To The Grave.” Tracklist: The First Man A Million Miles Away Burns Like a Wheel Liar, Liar The Pit Like a Wall Old MacDonald Had a Farm Cradle to the Grave Huggin’ and Chalkin’ We All Need Some Light Wind at My Back Stranger in Your Soul

Morsefest USA 2023: Inner Circle Concert

2023

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Taking a look back into the making of the “Sola Scriptura” album. This video includes the exclusive video from the sessions that soon became one of Neal’s most popular and controversial albums.

Neal Morse: The Sola Scriptura Sessions

2015

Neal Morse: Morsefest - Testimony & One feat. Mike Portnoy Live poster
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Over 5 hours of great performances including the entire Testimony and One albums plus special encores of the Spock's Beard classic, "The Light" featuring Alan Morse, and the Transatlantic epic "Stranger In Your Soul." Also included is a behind-the-scenes documentary with footage of Neal's exclusive acoustic concert, rehearsal footage, "Name That Prog Tune" game with Mike and more! Complete with 4 piece horn section, 6 member female background vocal section, violin and cello, full orchestra percussion with timpani and chimes, dancers, special guests and special staging, this is the most elaborate live release of Neal Morse's career!

Neal Morse: Morsefest - Testimony & One feat. Mike Portnoy Live

2014

Neal Morse: Testimony Two - Live in Los Angeles poster
6.8

With 2DVDs and 3CDs, Testimony 2 - Live in Los Angeles is Neal's most opulent live release as a solo musician. Both the DVDs and CDs capture the concert at the Whittier Community Center from May 28, 2011. The tour itself was Neal's biggest tour ever to date and, for the US gigs only, features the reunion of most of the musicians from the original Testimony band: Neal's 2011 album Testimony 2 - the sequel to Testimony (2003) - could thus be performed live in full length by some of Neal's longtime friends Mike Portnoy, Eric Brenton, Rick Altizer and Mark Leniger. Mike Portnoy's wish to "finally" perform some of the greatest longtracks of Neal's solo catalog on a stage could be fulfilled. Wonderful renditions of "The Separated Man" and "Seeds of Gold" are surely a highlight on this release.

Neal Morse: Testimony Two - Live in Los Angeles

2011

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This is some really vintage video that Neal found of Spock’s Beard at Progfest in 1997. Some of the songs included are: "Go the Way You Go", "The Light", "June", "Walking on the Wind". A great view of the band in the early days not to be missed.

Spock's Beard: Progfest '97 Raw & Uncut

2011

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For this show, we kicked off with some Late Bloomer songs, as well as the rarely played song The Kind Of Heart, which is probably one that’s less well known as it’s from the Send The Fire album – I dropped this on Wil pretty last minute and he did a great job! Then I’m joined by the guys from The Resonance, and we have some intros to them before we talk through a playback of the title track from the album that was released that day: No Hill For A Climber. So you get to hear about all the various elements that went into that song. 1. Already There 2. To Love You And Be Alive 3. The Kind of Heart 4. The Resonance – introductions 5. No Hill For A Climber playback with commentary

Neal Morse & Friends: Morsefest USA 2024 – Inner Circle Show

2024

Morsefest 2014: Testimony poster
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Long-time collaborators Mike Portnoy and Randy George as well as Neal Morse Band anchors, Bill Hubauer and Eric Gillette, join Neal as this group of master musicians perform Neal's world renowned classic album "Testimony" filmed LIVE in Nashville!

Morsefest 2014: Testimony

2015

Behind the camera