Editing Spock's Beard (section)

===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>