Editing Spock's Beard (section)

==History==
===Neal Morse era (1992–2002)===
Spock's Beard was formed in Los Angeles in 1992 by brothers [[Neal Morse|Neal]] and [[Alan Morse]]. Both had played together in bands in the 1980s and initially intended for their new project to be just the two of them, with Neal on vocals and keyboards and Alan on guitar. The brothers soon decided to form a full band and recruited drummer [[Nick D'Virgilio]] after meeting him at a [[blues]] jam in Los Angeles. John Ballard, a friend of Neal's, was brought in to play bass but was replaced by [[Dave Meros]] before the band began recording demos for their first album.<ref name="goldmine interview part 1" /><ref name="nm wonderous stories interview">{{cite journal|title=Neal Morse (Spock's Beard) Interview|journal=[[Classic Rock Society#The Magazine – Wondrous Stories/Rock Society|Wondrous Stories]]|date=August 1998|issue=80}}</ref> The group's name is a reference to the 1967 "[[Mirror, Mirror (Star Trek: The Original Series)|Mirror, Mirror]]" episode of ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]''.<ref name="star trek">{{cite web|title=Exclusive Interview: Prog Rock Band Spock's Beard|url=http://www.startrek.com/article/exclusive-interview-prog-rock-band-spocks-beard|website=[[StarTrek.com]]|access-date=March 10, 2016|date=October 27, 2015}}</ref> According to Alan Morse:

{{quote|Spock's Beard was sort of a phrase that we'd say to each other, my brother and I, when something weird would happen. We'd say, "Wow, that's like Spock's Beard", meaning, "that only happens in a parallel universe, right?" Anyway, [[Spock]] only has that beard in the one episode, and it's when he's in the parallel universe in "Mirror, Mirror". So, that was just something we'd say to each other as an inside joke. I put Spock's Beard on the list sort of as a joke. Everybody seemed to like it the best, and so we picked that one.}}

The band's debut album, ''[[The Light (Spock's Beard album)|The Light]]'', was recorded independently throughout 1994 and released later that year. While Neal Morse had performed the keyboard parts on the album, [[Ryo Okumoto]] was hired to fill in for live performances.<ref name="goldmine interview part 1" /> One of their first major live shows was at the San Francisco Progfest in 1995, where they were introduced to Thomas Waber. Waber, a founding member of [[Giant Electric Pea]] and [[InsideOut Records]], signed the band to Giant Electric Pea and licensed ''The Light'' for release in Europe.<ref name="goldmine interview part 1" /><ref name="gep">{{cite web|title=Giant Electric Pea Ltd – Thomas Waber – Business Manager|url=http://www.gep.co.uk/index.php/thomas-waber-business-manager|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002055220/http://www.gep.co.uk/index.php/thomas-waber-business-manager|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 2, 2015|website=[[Giant Electric Pea]]|access-date=April 15, 2016}}</ref>

===Nick D'Virgilio era (2002–2011)===
Immediately following the release of ''Snow'', Neal Morse announced that he was leaving Spock's Beard. Having recently converted to Christianity, Morse wanted to explore that aspect of his life more through his music but did not want to impose his beliefs upon the band.<ref name="nm crr interview">{{cite web|last1=Sparks|first1=Ryan|title=An Interview with Neal Morse|url=http://classicrockrevisited.com/interviewNEALMORSE.htm|website=Classic Rock Revisited|access-date=September 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914041831/http://classicrockrevisited.com/interviewNEALMORSE.htm|archive-date=September 14, 2011}}</ref><ref name="nm rockunited interview">{{cite web|last1=Koolen|first1=Martien|title=Neal Morse Interview|url=http://www.rockunited.com/nealmorse.htm|website=Rock United|access-date=September 8, 2015}}</ref> Nick D'Virgilio took over as the band's lead singer. D'Virgilio would continue to play drums on studio albums, while [[Jimmy Keegan]] was hired to fill in for him as drummer during live performances.<ref name="jk sborg interview">{{cite web|title=Jimmy Keegan Interview May 2005|url=http://www.spocksbeard.org/interview_keegan_022006.html|website=spocksbeard.org|access-date=September 8, 2015|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119153432/http://www.spocksbeard.org/interview_keegan_022006.html|archive-date=November 19, 2008}}</ref>

On July 8, 2003, Spock's Beard released their first album without Neal Morse, ''[[Feel Euphoria]]''.<ref name="blabbermouth feel euphoria">{{cite web|title=Spock's Beard to Release 'Feel Euphoria' In July|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/spock-s-beard-to-release-feel-euphoria-in-july/|website=[[Blabbermouth]]|access-date=September 8, 2015|date=May 19, 2003}}</ref> Without their principal songwriter, the band adopted a more collaborative approach as well as enlisting the help of John Boegehold and Stan Ausmus with songwriting, both of whom would go on to contribute to all of the group's subsequent albums.<ref name="jb progreport interview">{{cite web|title=John Boegehold – Spock's Beard Secret Weapon|url=http://progreport.com/john-boegehold-spocks-beard-secret-weapon/|website=The Prog Report|access-date=September 8, 2015|date=August 14, 2014}}</ref><ref name="dm nosiefull interview">{{cite web|last1=Karadimitris|first1=Chris|title=Spock's Beard (Dave Meros)|url=http://noisefull.com/interviews/spocks-beard-dave-meros|website=Noisefull|access-date=September 8, 2015|date=August 12, 2015}}</ref> The result was a musical departure from previous albums, with a conscious shift towards a more modern sound, which was met with a mixed response from fans.<ref name="dm echoes interview">{{cite web|last1=Cooper|first1=Dave|title=Interview: Dave Meros from Spock's Beard|url=http://echoesanddust.com/2015/07/interview-dave-meros-from-spocks-beard/|website=Echoes and Dust|access-date=September 8, 2015|date=July 31, 2015}}</ref><ref name="goldmine interview part 2">{{cite web|last1=Whitman|first1=Howard|title=Spock's Beard part 2: Spock 2.0|url=http://www.goldminemag.com/features/spocks-beard-part-2-spock-2-0|website=Goldmine|access-date=September 8, 2015|date=October 22, 2010}}</ref> On February 1, 2005, Spock's Beard released their eighth album, ''[[Octane (album)|Octane]]'', which received a generally more positive reception from listeners.<ref name="blabbermouth octane">{{cite web|title=Spock's Beard to Release 'Octane' Next Month|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/spock-s-beard-to-release-octane-next-month/|website=Blabbermouth|access-date=September 8, 2015|date=January 12, 2005}}</ref><ref name="alienearmusic article">{{cite web|last1=Kay|first1=Lorraine|url = http://www.alienearmusic.com/2010/10/18/spock%E2%80%99s-beard-rocks-hob-hollywood-2006/|title=Spock's Beard Rocks HOB Hollywood 2006|website=Alien Ear Music|date=October 18, 2010|access-date=November 30, 2015}}</ref> Several concerts from the ''Octane'' tour were recorded and the highlights released as ''[[Gluttons for Punishment]]'', the band's first live album since the departure of Neal Morse.<ref name="bravewords year review 2005">{{cite web|title=Spock's Beard Frontman Looks Back on a Busy 2005|url=http://bravewords.com/news/spocks-beard-frontman-looks-back-on-a-busy-2005|website=[[Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles|BraveWords]]|access-date=November 30, 2015|date=December 29, 2005}}</ref>

On May 21, 2006, Dave Meros confirmed that the group had begun working on their ninth studio album.<ref name="bravewords 9th album news">{{cite web|title=Spock's Beard – Recording Sessions for New Album Underway, Early Fall Release Planned|url=http://bravewords.com/news/spocks-beard-recording-sessions-for-new-album-underway-early-fall-release-planned|website=BraveWords|access-date=November 30, 2015|date=May 21, 2006}}</ref> Titled ''[[Spock's Beard (album)|Spock's Beard]]'', it was released on November 21, 2006, to mixed reactions.<ref name="dm echoes interview" /><ref name="goldmine interview part 2" /><ref name="bravewords spocks beard">{{cite web|title=Spock's Beard – Release Date for New Album Confirmed, Now Available for Pre-Order|url=http://bravewords.com/news/spocks-beard-release-date-for-new-album-confirmed-now-available-for-pre-order|website=BraveWords|access-date=November 30, 2015|date=October 23, 2006}}</ref> The band continued to tour sporadically over the next few years, with a 2007 show in the Netherlands released as a live album.<ref name="auralmoon spocks beard live">{{cite web|title=Spock's Beard|url=http://auralmoon.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1970&Itemid=2|website=Aural Moon|access-date=December 1, 2015|date=May 26, 2008}}</ref> On July 23, 2009, Spock's Beard announced they had begun work on their tenth album, to be released independently rather than through a record label. Production costs were covered by pre-orders through the band's website.<ref name="sb news 2009">{{cite web|title=Spock's Beard|url=http://spocksbeard.com/news2009.html|website=Spock's Beard|access-date=December 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225025521/http://spocksbeard.com/news2009.html|archive-date=December 25, 2010}}</ref> ''[[X (Spock's Beard album)|X]]'' was issued as a limited edition for those who had pre-ordered in May 2010. A standard edition was released at the end of August 2010 through [[Mascot Records]], four years after the release of ''Spock's Beard'', the longest gap the band has had between albums.<ref name="sb news 2010">{{cite web|title=Spock's Beard|url=http://www.spocksbeard.com/news2010.html|website=Spock's Beard|access-date=December 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103042949/http://www.spocksbeard.com/news2010.html|archive-date=November 3, 2011}}</ref> Mascot Records also released a live album, ''The X Tour Live'', recorded at the only US show in support of the ''X'' album.<ref name="blabbermouth x live">{{cite web|title=Spock's Beard Brings Fans 'The X Tour Live' on New Multi-Disc Set|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/spock-s-beard-brings-fans-the-x-tour-live-on-new-multi-disc-set/|website=Blabbermouth|access-date=December 1, 2015|date=February 13, 2012}}</ref>

===Ted Leonard era (2011–present)===
Spock's Beard played the [[Sweden Rock Festival]] in June and the [[High Voltage Festival]] in July 2011.<ref name="sweden rock festival 2011">{{cite web|title=Sweden Rock Festival – History|url=http://www.swedenrock.com/en/festival/about-the-festival/line-ups-1992-2014|website=[[Sweden Rock Festival]]|access-date=August 11, 2015}}</ref><ref name="high voltage festival 2011">{{cite web|title=High Voltage Adds BCC, Jethro Tull|url=http://www.planetrock.com/news/rock-news/high-voltage-adds-bcc-jethro-tull-1377|website=[[Planet Rock (radio station)|Planet Rock]]|access-date=August 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416055327/http://www.planetrock.com/news/rock-news/high-voltage-adds-bcc-jethro-tull-1377|archive-date=April 16, 2014|date=January 25, 2011}}</ref> On both occasions, [[Enchant (band)|Enchant]] vocalist [[Ted Leonard]] filled in for Nick D'Virgilio, who was unavailable to perform. The High Voltage performance featured an appearance by Neal Morse, who reunited with the band for the end of "The Light" and "June",<ref name="high voltage festival 2011_setlist">{{cite web|url=http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/spocks-beard/2011/high-voltage-festival-london-england-1bd0a96c.html|title=Spock's Beard Concert Setlist at High Voltage 2011 on July 24, 2011|website=setlist.fm|access-date=October 12, 2011}}</ref> which was later released as a [[Live at High Voltage Festival|live album]]. On November 18, 2011, D'Virgilio announced his departure from the band, citing personal reasons and other commitments.<ref name="classic rock nick quits" /> Two days later, it was announced on the band's official website that Leonard and touring drummer Jimmy Keegan would be joining the band.<ref name="facebook new lineup" />

On April 2, 2013, Spock's Beard released ''[[Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep]]'', their first studio album in this lineup. The recording and mastering of the album was funded using the [[crowdsourcing]] site [[Indiegogo]] and featured songwriting contributions from Neal Morse.<ref name="indiegogo brief nocturnes">{{cite web|title=Spocks Beard – 11th studio CD|url=https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/spock-s-beard-11th-studio-cd|website=[[Indiegogo]]|access-date=November 30, 2014}}</ref><ref name="tl ytsejam interview">{{cite web|last1=Hash|first1=Tommy|title=Interview with vocalist Ted Leonard|url=http://ytsejam.com/2013/09/interview-with-vocalist-ted-leonard-thought-chamber-enchant-spocks-beard/|website=YtseJam|access-date=February 29, 2016|date=September 22, 2013}}</ref> On April 22, 2015, the band announced that their twelfth album would be titled ''[[The Oblivion Particle]]'' and released later that year.<ref name="insideout oblivion particle announce">{{cite web|title=Spock's Beard: announce new album 'The Oblivion Particle'; European tour scheduled|url=http://www.insideoutmusic.com/newsdetailed.aspx?IdNews=15827&IdCompany=8|website=[[InsideOut Music]]|access-date=April 23, 2015|date=April 22, 2015}}</ref> It came out on August 21, 2015.<ref name="insideout oblivion particle release">{{cite web|url=http://www.insideoutmusic.com/newsdetailed.aspx?IdNews=16019&IdCompany=8|title=Inside Out Music – Spock's Beard: Spock's Beard reveal release date and album art for 'The Oblivion Particle'|website=InsideOut Music|access-date=June 17, 2015|date=June 17, 2015}}</ref> Later that year, the band issued ''[[The First Twenty Years (Spock's Beard album)|The First Twenty Years]]'', a compilation album spanning their entire career. It included a new song written by Neal Morse, "Falling for Forever", which featured every past and current member of the band except John Ballard, due to his aforementioned departure in 1993 and death in 1999.<ref name="insideout twenty years">{{cite web|title=Spock's Beard: Spock's Beard "The First 20 Years" collection announced!|url=http://www.insideoutmusic.com/newsdetailed.aspx?IdNews=16371&IdCompany=8|website=InsideOut Music|access-date=September 14, 2015|date=September 14, 2015}}</ref>

In July 2016, the current lineup of the band reunited with D'Virgilio and Neal Morse for shows at Morsefest in [[Cross Plains, Tennessee]], and at the Night of the Prog festival in [[Lorelei]], Germany, to perform ''Snow'' in its entirety.<ref name="morsefest 2016">{{cite web|last1=Avin|first1=Roie|title=Spock's Beard to Reunite for MorseFest|url=http://www.teamrock.com/news/2016-02-22/spock-s-beard-to-reunite-for-morsefest|website=TeamRock|access-date=February 29, 2016|date=February 22, 2016}}</ref><ref name="loreley 2016">{{cite web|title=Breaking News!!! Spock's Beard with Neal Morse and...|url=https://www.facebook.com/spocksbeard/posts/10153925646663168 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/31676318167/10153925646663168 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |url-access=limited|website=Facebook|access-date=March 14, 2016|date=March 12, 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On October 12, 2016, Keegan announced that he was leaving the band for personal reasons.<ref name="teamrock_jimmy_quits">{{cite web|last1=Lach|first1=Stef|title=Spock's Beard drummer Jimmy Keegan quits|url=http://teamrock.com/news/2016-10-12/spocks-beard-drummer-jimmy-keegan-quits|website=TeamRock|access-date=March 26, 2017|date=October 12, 2016}}</ref> D'Virgilio filled in on drums and backing vocals for their performance on Cruise to the Edge 2017.<ref name=cruise_2017>{{cite web|title=Cruise to the Edge 2017|url=https://www.facebook.com/spocksbeard/posts/10154830269768168 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/31676318167/10154830269768168 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |url-access=limited|website=Facebook|access-date=January 6, 2017|date=January 5, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On March 25, 2017, it was confirmed that D'Virgilio had agreed to play on the band's upcoming thirteenth album, with recording expected to begin in May of that year<ref name=nick_returns>{{cite web|title=Spock's Beard is super excited to announce that the amazing Nick D'Virgilio has agreed to play on our next album!|url=https://www.facebook.com/spocksbeard/posts/10155087361108168 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/31676318167/10155087361108168 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |url-access=limited|website=Facebook|access-date=March 26, 2017|date=March 25, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On February 28, 2018, Dave Meros announced that the new album would be titled ''[[Noise Floor (Spock's Beard album)|Noise Floor]]'' and would be released on May 25, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/dave.meros.3/posts/863580390487944 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/100005079721156/863580390487944 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |url-access=limited|title=Dave Meros|website=www.facebook.com|access-date=February 28, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On June 13, Spock's Beard announced a tour in support of the album, with former [[Saga (band)|Saga]] drummer Mike Thorne as a touring drummer.<ref name="noise_floor_tour">{{cite web |last1=Barrios |first1=Joel |title=Spock's Beard and Roine Stolt's The Flower Kings Revisited to Embark in European Tour, Spock's Confirms New Drummer |url=http://www.sonicperspectives.com/news/spocks-beard-flower-kings-announce-european-tour/ |website=Sonic Perspectives |access-date=June 13, 2018 |date=June 13, 2018}}</ref>

In 2018, a spinoff of Spock's Beard, [[Pattern-Seeking Animals]], was formed by Ted Leonard, Dave Meros, Jimmy Keegan, and John Boegehold. As of 2025, they have released five studio albums.

On March 20, 2025, Ryo Okumoto announced on his Facebook page that a new Spock's Beard album would be coming out in November 2025, with Nick Potters on drums.<ref>{{cite web|title= |url=https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=635784509235311 |website=facebook.com |date=March 20, 2025 |access-date=May 16, 2025}}</ref>