2004 should be even better, starting with the release of the "NDV Live and Acoustic" DVD and CD. I'm hoping to have it released in the middle of January or very shortly thereafter. Stan and I went over the editing last night and he is just about finished. John B. has already started on the NDVMusic web site and that will be up very soon.

Spock's is working on a gig for sometime in February for filming of our DVD. We have a ton of footage already, but we need a better concert. I will keep you informed of when that gig will be. I am working on it daily.

There will also be a new Spock's CD sometime this year, probably around next September or October, just in time for more touring:) YEAH!!! And I bet you there will be other things too.

All the best everybody!!!!

NDV

Now I haven't been doing nothing. I can't afford to do that. I have been writing some new songs on my own and with Al and John B. We have some really great stuff happening.

I just finished the last of the sessions for the the new Mike Keneally Band record that will be released early next year. It was actually really fun getting back to drummer mode for a few days. There is some amazing music on this record. Go to www.keneally.com to get all the info on the new record called "DOG". You can pre-order now and get a special offer. Go check it out!

I have been getting together the new and improved NDVMusic.com website. John Boegehold is designing a fab new site for me that will launch very soon. And along with that launch will be the release of the "NDV live and acoustic" CD and DVD. I went out with my friend, the fabulous Rick Musallam who plays in the Mike Keneally Band with me this past summer and did some acoustic gigs to promote the new Spock's record and to just play. Well, we recorded and filmed the show at Imusicast in Oakland, CA, along with a few other bits and pieces and have come up with a really nice package. The DVD will have a full concert along with other fun bits and pieces. The CD will have the same songs as the DVD, plus others that will not be on the DVD. I am mastering the audio tomorrow and should be ready to release these, and launch the new web site very soon. So stay tuned...

Last but not least is the Spock's Beard live DVD. We also filmed at the Imusicast and got some cool stuff, but we still need more. So what we are thinking (if we can get it together) is to put on a big event early next year, probably February, do a big show and film and record that. We will do different material than on the tour and rock the house SB style. Should be fun, and this time we need to pack the place.

Thanks for time everybody. I hope you are all having a great and joyous holiday season.

Take care, NDV

Apparently, there has been some confusion about Enchant opening up for us in Oakland. Unfortunately, they will not be opening at that show but they WILL be opening down in LA. The main reason for this is that we are filming and recording and for those of you who are in bands and have tried to do that also, you know first hand how big of a cluster f#*@%&$^%@# it can be. So sorry about that. All of you down in So. Cal. make sure to get to the gig early so you don't miss any of Enchant's set. They are a great band. Other then that, we can't wait to see you all out there. - Take care, NDV

I wanted to let you all know, or remind those who already know, that the fantastic Bryan Beller solo debut CD "VIEW" is now officially released. Go to bryanbeller.com and get all the details of how to get the CD.

Here is a quick run down. I play in the Mike Keneally band with Bryan Beller. I have been very very fortunate in my career to have played with some of the worlds best bass players and Bryan is definitely one of the best. When Bryan told me he was writing for a solo CD and he played me a few of his demos I knew immediately that I had to be involved in some way on this record. Well I got very involved. I engineered and mixed it. Along with superb help from the head of team Burl-Core ED MONSEF. I have been trying to get more work along these lines for some time. I really like engineering and especially mixing. After working with such amazing ears as Kevin Gilbert and Rich Mouser I have been trying to know recording as well as playing music. Bryan's project turned out very well. It was a lot of work but it was a total labour of love. You should all order it. If you are into amazing musicianship. Hearing people play their instruments with all their heart and soul. Then you will dig this record. It crosses fusion to rock very easily. I am pushing this record like this because I really feel it is good and deserves to be heard by a lot of people. Hopefully you :)!

Take care everyone and thanks for lending me your ear.....or I guess I should say eyes. - NDV

Spock's Beard
c/o Brainforest Music
P.O. Box 6061-225
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Please only send digital video if possible. It is just so much better then the old kinds of tape like Hi-8 and VHS. If you have the ability to send copies rather then originals, then go ahead and do so. We will try and send the tapes back to you. I can't promise but I give my word that I will try. Thank you everybody!

Also, we need to get as many of you out to all the upcoming US shows, but the Oakland show on Nov. 4 is of particular importance, because that is where we will be filming. So come on out and bring your friends and feel free to scream your heads off. It will be a party!!! - All the best , NDV

Check out these pics of last week's FE tour rehearsals: Click here.

New photos have been added to the photos & press page.

Ryo is on tour with Natalie Cole this summer. Click here to find out when he'll be in your area.

I wanted you all to know that I will be going out on my own to do some gigs starting at the end of August into September. The band can't tour until October, so I decided to go out on my own and rock a little. The dates are all be listed below and I sure hope you will all come out and rock with me. I will be performing on my own, except there will be some special guests at various shows that I will announce later. It should be a lot of fun.

I am going to play lots of Spock's tunes, some NDV tunes, and some other songs too, but I need your help with the other songs. I would like you all to vote on what cover songs I do. I always like to do a few covers when I go out and play, mainly because there is so much great music out there. So, send your vote of what cover tunes you want me to play, the top 3 to 5 will win and I will play them. Now I only have a month to prepare, so that is why I am saying 3 to 5. I will at least to the top 3, and you will all know which songs win. Feel free to pick anything you want but be nice :) If they are all Frank Zappa, Rush, and DT songs, then I may have a tough time, but I will try no matter what you all pick. Just be nice :) :)

Now to let you all know that we will be doing the same thing for the band when we go out, except we will have you all vote on what older Spock's tunes you would like to have us play. That vote will start soon at a different email address. But for now, send you votes to pick4nick@spocksbeard.com and I will pick the winners on August 8th. Happy voting and don't be worried about picking weird songs. See you at the shows. Take care, NDV.

PS - Don't forget all of you in the EU that the the band will be over there in October to rock the house for the Inside Out 10th anniversary with Enchant and The California Guitar Trio. Go to the concerts page or to Inside Out Music for details, and I will be in touch again very soon for another vote. Peace!

I am back from rock land after five weeks and what an adventure it was. Let me say first off that all the guys that I was on the road with are awesome! I had a blast and everybody worked their butts off to make our little spot on the bill run smoothly every time.

It started off for me getting sick the day we left to do our first gig in Phoenix. By the time we got to El Paso for a day off, I was in a cab going to the emergency room to get something for my incredibly bad sore throat. It sucked!! For the first 8 days of the tour, I was on the bus after every gig, curled up on the couch. Did I say it SUCKED!! Well, it finally went away and I slowly got back to my usual self. It was not a good way to start a tour with a band that I had never played with before, but I made it through.

The rest of the tour all the way through the Chicago show went great. I was healthy and we were all having a great time. I was hanging with my brother Mike at his place before and after the Fates set and on the way back to the bus that night, my lower back started feeling stiff. the next morning we were in St. Louis for a day off and I could barely stand up, so... I went to an Urgent care place to get something for my back. Well, the Doctor had me move a few different ways and next thing I know I was on the ground of the room writhing in pain. It didn't hurt that bad until that point. It took him and two of his nurses to get me up. I could barely walk. The lame ass doctor would not prescribe anything for pain. He said that once the inflammation went down that the pain would go away. Well, he prescribed a drug that my insurance didn't cover and I had to go to 2 different pharmacies to the the other prescription. So, I had nothing for pain except Tylenol, which did nothing.

The next morning we arrived in Kansas City and still my back was not well and Bruce our tour manager said "lets go to the emergency room" and I reluctantly agreed. This is by far, a record for trips to the doctor while on tour for me. The only other time I ever had to go was on the Tears For Fears tour when I got and ear infection. I went to the hospital and was really doing badly. They gave me a shot of Morphine to dull the pain but what it did was give me about 45 minutes of muscle spasms so bad that I can't really describe how bad it felt. I don't think I have ever felt anything more painful. They gave me some other things and a prescription for pain (YES!!) and kicked me out. Have I said how shitty this whole thing was yet? Out of all three bands on this tour and all the crew for all three bands I was the only one in the friggin hospital! WAK!!! But I went back to the hotel and chilled out hope that my back would calm down a little, because I have never, repeat never missed a gig. I have subbed out gigs before but have never cancelled the day of a show for anything. I have been sick with fevers, have puked, I'm sure there have been other things, and I didn't want to miss my first gig now. Luckily, Mike Portnoy was there and was going to fill in for me if I didn't make it. Well, I chilled for a few hours, took a hot soak in the shower, and took a cab to the gig. I was not in great shape really but felt that I could do the show. They were rehearsing when I walked in and they were all surprised to see me there. I told Mike to get up, he really wanted to play :), and I played a song. It was uncomfortable but I knew I could get through it. And I did. I didn't move my upper body at all. Just my arms. Everybody was so cool to me. From all the band to all the crew. They all asked how I was. It was very cool. I am home now and my back is still not back to normal, but hopefully my Doc can do something.

In this whole spew session about my back I didn't say one thing about the band or the tour so... Other then being sick or in pain, the tour was an absolute blast. The guys (Ray, Jim, Frank, and Joey) are great musicians and it was a lot of fun playing with them. I will be honest, I had not heard that much of Fates Warning before the tour, but I am a fan now. We played some really fabulous venues and over all, I think the gigs all went really well. Our crew (Bruce-tour manager, FOH Brent-my fab drum tech and monitor man Geno-fab guitar tech and giver of the mic when I couldn't bend over Charlie-fab bus driver who got us every where we needed to go safely) all did the really hard work and did it so very well.

It was fun watching DT and Queensryche. Both bands kicked ass in my opinion. They put on a great show and everyone was very nice great to work with.

So now I am back and am jumping deep into Spock's Beard land. Getting the new drummer in and start getting ready for touring and all other things Spock's.

So thanks again to Fates Warning and the crew for showing me a great time on the road. Thanks to all you Spock's fans who said hello to me out on the road and I will be writing again very soon.

Take care everybody, NDV

Feel Euphoria is now available. Click here for more info about a special offer available only through this site!!!.

InsideOut Music has a great new in-depth interview with Nick about the making of Feel Euphoria. Click here to read it.

Ryo is featured in the June issue of Keyboard Magazine, along with other prog keyboardists.

Nick played at the Modern Drummer Festival on May 18th. Click here to visit the Meinl website (Nick endorses their cymbals) and check out some video of the show.

Hello everybody! - I hope you are liking the montage of the new record. The whole band is very excited about this new record coming out.

I wanted to announce for all of you in the So. Cal area that Dave, Al and I are going to be doing a small show at The Viper Room in West Hollywood opening up for Derek Sherinian. The gig is on Thursday June 5th. We will go on stage at 10:00PM and the ticket prices are $10.00. This was a very last minute thing. I got a phone call from our record co. the other day asking if I/we wanted to do something like that and I jumped at the chance because WE WANT TO PLAY!!!!!! Now we will miss Ryo, he will be in Japan with Natalie Cole, but me, Al, and Dave have some fun things planned and hope all of you out there come out and blow the roof off the place. Then you can hang out and watch Derek and his band completely demolish the rest of the place:) It should be a fun evening. We will play some new and some old but most of all we will have a great time. If you haven't been to the Viper Room it is a really great little venue in the heart of the Sunset strip. Right down the street from the Whiskey and the Roxy. Two other venues the Beard has rocked in the past. So come out and have a good time with us if you can. We would love to see you. YAAAAA-HOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! - Nick

The latest press release from "InsideOut Music America" (The Beard's new U.S. label) announces the upcoming release of "Feel Euphoria" and goes into more detail about the creative process that went into it. Click here to check it out.

HEY HEY HEY!!!! We've done it! The new Spock's Beard record is in the can. Click here for song titles and more details.

Spock´s Beard feel euphoria!
The new Spock´s Beard album is entitled "Feel Euphoria". Street date is the 30th of June... "Feel Euphoria" will be also available as a Special Edition. Spock´s Beard are coming to Europe in Autumn.

Just added to this site: New MIDI files for many of the songs from Snow.

Pre-Beard, Alan Morse toured with legendary pop group Chad & Jeremy. They've just released a live CD recorded at one of those shows. Click here to visit their site and click on "Electric Paintbox" for more info.