Neal Morse is working on a prog album

[Rick and Roll]

Woj, athletes and musicians have this in common, they find it difficult to retire. There are many parallels. It is really sad to see atheletes hang on past their prime, and musicians can also do the same. Farewell statements should always be taken with a boulder of salt.

Rare is the breed that can go out on top, or even close to it. That being said, it is not for me to say when someone chooses to hang it up or move on. It is not my decision, and I do not begrudge anyone for it.

The only irritant I have is the ones who constantly retire and unretire. Boxers are notorious for that. Look at Kiss, they've been touring for the last time for 10 years now. So many other examples. The only band that I think will mean it, even though I don't like their music, is Phish.

To use a non-prog example, Scott Weiland from STP has formed a band with most of Guns & Roses. I'm a big fan of STP, but they'll move on. It's what they want to do. Why fight it? Just choose to deal with it or move on to a band you like.

Neal Morse is just in a changing situation. I actually envy him because it is very special that someone has the guts (and the means) to choose a different path. I know I don't have that in me. He may decide to play with the Beard later, but that's ok. It may be that he feels differently about it later. Half the time these guys get taken out of context or they say stupid stuff anyway. Morse is probably not sure what he wants to do.

Actually, I'm kind of glad he's doing this. I don't have Testimony, so I can't rate it. I've heard three songs, they're OK. I have Snow, but I'm not impressed. I thought Neal got stale with the second Transatlantic and the last tune on V (The Great Nothing), which I think is a real yawner. (I really like the rest of V, however). Snow is more of the same, with shorter tunes. There are some good tunes, but the majority of Snow to me is indicative of a band reaching their limit.

But there is hope for Beard fans - Livgren came back to Kansas to write the"Somewhere to Elsewhere" record, which I think is just superb. Maybe in 10 to 15 years Morse will do the same.