Nick D'Virgilio

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Nick D'Virgilio
Big Big Train live at the Town Hall, Birmingham (49008621286).jpg
D'Virgilio with Big Big Train in 2019
Background information
Birth nameNicholas D'Virgilio
Born (1968-11-12) November 12, 1968 (age 55)
Origin Whittier, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • singer
Instruments
  • Drums
  • vocals
  • guitar
  • keyboards
Years active1992–present
Member of
Formerly of
Website nickdvirgilio.com

Nicholas D'Virgilio (born November 12, 1968), often abbreviated and referred to as NDV, is an American drummer, singer and guitarist, best known as a member of the progressive rock band Spock's Beard. [3] He was also one of two drummers chosen to replace Phil Collins in Genesis on the Calling All Stations album. He has also done session work with many artists including Tears for Fears [4] and Mystery, and is an official member of Big Big Train.

Contents

Career

Spock's Beard (1992–2011, 2017–2018)

D'Virgilio was the drummer in Spock's Beard since the band began in the early 1990s. [5] [6] After Neal Morse left in 2002, D'Virgilio took over on lead vocals and became their frontman during live performances. [7] [8] In this line-up, Spock's Beard subsequently recorded four albums, Feel Euphoria , Octane , the self-titled Spock's Beard , and X , prior to D'Virgilio's departure in 2011. [9]

D'Virgilio performing with Spock's Beard in 2007 Spocks beard hh 07-03.jpg
D'Virgilio performing with Spock's Beard in 2007

On July 26, 2011, D'Virgilio released a solo EP called Pieces. [10] He performed a show in Quebec City, Canada performing the EP in its entirety with local musicians on the day of the album release. [11]

On November 18, 2011, D'Virgilio announced that he had left Spock's Beard, [9] because of his work with Cirque du Soleil, "It is very hard for me to write this, but as all good things come to an end at sometime or another, unfortunately I have to tell you all that my time with Spock's Beard has come to a close." [12]

Later in 2014, D'Virgilio left Cirque du Soleil due to show cutbacks [13] and joined Sweetwater Sound in August as a drum ambassador "where he creates how-to content, demonstration videos, and product reviews. He also teaches music and pro audio classes and serves as the Sweetwater Studios' first-call session drummer." [14]

In July 2016, D'Virgilio and Neal Morse joined Spock's Beard for the only two performances of the album Snow , first at Morsefest on July 2 and then for Night of the Prog, in Loreley, Germany on July 15. [15] [16]

Kevin Gilbert (1994–1999)

In 1994, D'Virgilio joined Kevin Gilbert's reformed band Giraffe for a one-off performance of the Genesis piece "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" at Progfest '94. [17] In 1995, he performed drums as part of Gilbert's touring band, Thud, which recorded a live album, Live at the Troubadour , released in 1999. [18] After Gilbert's death in 1996, D'Virgilio was asked by Gilbert's estate to complete his second solo album, The Shaming of the True , based on the extant tapes and Gilbert's notes. Shaming was released posthumously in 2000 and has D'Virgilio on many tracks contributing drums, percussion, bass, guitar, keyboards and backing vocals. [19] [20] In November 2002, D'Virgilio headlined ProgWest in Claremont, California and played the entire The Shaming of the True album live in a band consisting of other friends and colleagues of Gilbert's. In 2008, [21] video tapes of the Troubadour concert were uncovered for the first time, leading to a DVD, entitled Welcome to Joytown – Thud Live at The Troubadour, released in 2009. [22]

Big Big Train (2007–present)

D'Virgilio with Big Big Train in 2007. Nick D'Virgilio Difference Machine sessions.jpg
D'Virgilio with Big Big Train in 2007.

After guesting on three tracks on Big Big Train's 2007 album The Difference Machine , [23] [24] he was billed as a "permanent guest" on The Underfall Yard (2009) [25] and subsequently joined the band as a full member, appearing on all of the band's releases since, and also performing live with the band since 2014 when they returned to live performances.

Other bands

A lifelong fan of the progressive rock band Genesis, D'Virgilio was given an opportunity by the band to replace Phil Collins on drums for their 1997 album Calling All Stations . [26] D'Virgilio split percussion duties with Nir Zidkyahu during work on the album. [27] D'Virgilio had been a full member of the Mike Keneally Band from 2001 to 2004, [28] playing on the tour supporting Keneally's 2000 album Dancing and later providing drums and vocals on the 2004 album Dog, as can be seen on the DVD included as part of the Dog Special Edition in both live and "making-of" studio footage. [29] Previous Keneally drummer Joe Travers took D'Virgilio's place in the band for the subsequent Guitar Therapy tour. [30]

D'Virgilio's first solo album, Karma, was recorded in 2001 at Kevin Gilbert's former studio, Lawnmower and Garden Supplies Studio, in Pasadena. The album included performances by Mike Keneally and Bryan Beller, D'Virgilio's bandmates in The Mike Keneally Band. D'Virgilio also served as the chief engineer on Beller's solo album View, recorded at the same studio as Karma. [31]

D'Virgilio filled in for Mark Zonder on Fates Warning's summer tour with Dream Theater and Queensrÿche in 2003. [2] Zonder's prior commitments prevented him from taking part in the tour, and he ceased performing with the band following its 2005 release FWX due to a reported aversion to touring. [32] D'Virgilio played with the band on a handful of gigs supporting that album and appeared on the 2006 DVD release Live in Athens . [33] D'Virgilio also appeared on Jordan Rudess' 2007 album The Road Home . [34]

In early 2014, D'Virgilio appeared on Roy Strattman's album The Lie of the Beholder, [35] stating: "Recording the drums for Roy's record was a total blast. I am really honored that he asked me to be a part of his new musical adventure. The record rocks and, from a drummer's perspective, I got to hit 'em hard and got challenged by the songs – 2 things drummers love. I really enjoyed the whole process and the music."

In August 2016, rock trio The Fringe released its self-titled debut album, featuring D'Virgilio on drums and vocals, Jonas Reingold of The Flower Kings on bass and backing vocals, and Randy McStine (Lo-Fi Resistance) on vocals and guitars. [36] [37]

In 2018, it was announced that D'Virgilio had returned to Spock's Beard as their recording drummer following the departure of Jimmy Keegan. [38] He appears on their 13th studio release, Noise Floor . [39] It remains unclear whether D'Virgilio will continue recording with the band, which has designated Mike Thorne (of Saga) as their live drummer. [40]

In 2020, D'Virgilio released his first solo album in nine years, Invisible. The album was recorded at Sweetwater Sound with the string and brass sections recorded at Abbey Road Studios. [41] D'Virgilio wrote the concept during his time in the booth while touring with the Cirque Du Soleil show Totem . [42]

In 2023, it was announced that he would be performing as the drummer for Mr. Big on their "BIG Finish Tour". [43]

Personal life

D'Virgilio lives in Fort Wayne, [44] Indiana with his wife Tiffany [45] and his two children Anthony and Sophia. [46]

Discography

Solo albums

With D'Virgilio, Morse & Jennings

With Spock's Beard

With Big Big Train

With The Fringe

Other collaborations

YearArtistTitleNotes
1997 Genesis Calling All Stations drums on four tracks
2001 Roland Orzabal Tomcats Screaming Outside drums
2002KaviarThe Kaviar Sessionsbass and drums
2003 Mike Keneally BandA Fair Forgery of Pink Floydas member of Mike Keneally Band on Astronomy Domine
2004Dogdrums
2005 Fates Warning Live in Athens
2006 Tears For Fears Secret World Live in Paris drums on live tracks and one studio tracks
2007Amaran's PlightVoice in The Lightdrums
2008Rewiring GenesisA Tribute to the Lamb Lies Down on Broadwaydrums, percussion, lead and backing vocals and production
Martin Orford The Old Roaddrums, and or tambouring on 8 tracks
2010 Aeon Zen The Face of the Unknown vocals on one track
2010 Frost* The Philadelphia Experimentdrums and vocals on all tracks
2012 Mystery The World Is a Game drums
2013CosmografThe Man Left in Spacedrums on four tracks
2014Capacitordrums on all tracks
StrattmanThe Lie of the Beholder
Dave Kerzner New World drums
2016CosmografThe Unreasonable Silence
The Dreaming StreetThe Dreaming Street
2017 Carl Verheyen Essential Bluesdrums and percussion
2019 Neal Morse Jesus Christ The Exorcist vocals of Judas Iscariot
2019 Steve Hackett At the Edge of Light drums on one track
2024 Steve Hackett The Circus and the Nightwhale

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spock's Beard</span> American progressive rock band

Spock's Beard is an American progressive rock band formed in Los Angeles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neal Morse</span> American rock musician

Neal Morse is an American singer, musician and composer based in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1992, he formed the progressive rock band Spock's Beard with his brother Alan and released an album which was moderately successful. In 1999, he joined Dream Theater's co-founder and then drummer Mike Portnoy, together with Flower Kings' Roine Stolt and Marillion's Pete Trewavas they formed the super-group Transatlantic. In 2002, Neal Morse became a born again Christian, left Spock's Beard and began a Christian rock solo career, releasing many progressive rock concept albums about his new religious faith. In the meantime, he continued to play with Transatlantic and formed three new bands with Portnoy, Yellow Matter Custard, Flying Colors and The Neal Morse Band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Gilbert (musician)</span> American musician (1966–1996)

Kevin Matthew Gilbert was an American singer, songwriter, musician, composer and producer. He was best known for his solo progressive rock projects, Toy Matinee and his contributions to Tuesday Night Music Club (1993), the debut studio album by Sheryl Crow.

<i>Snow</i> (Spocks Beard album) 2002 studio album by Spocks Beard

Snow is the sixth studio album of the progressive rock band Spock's Beard, and the final album with main songwriter and vocalist Neal Morse, who left immediately after the release of the album due to his conversion to Christianity. It was released in 2002 on Radiant Records.

<i>The Light</i> (Spocks Beard album) 1995 studio album by Spocks Beard

The Light is the 1995 debut album by American progressive rock band Spock's Beard. The album features two different covers—one for its domestic release, and one for its European release. "The Light" has since become Spock's Beard's signature song. The album has since been remastered and re-released by Radiant Records.

<i>Beware of Darkness</i> (album) 1996 studio album by Spocks Beard

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<i>Feel Euphoria</i> 2003 studio album by Spocks Beard

Feel Euphoria is the seventh studio album by American progressive rock band Spock's Beard released on July 8, 2003. It was the first album the band recorded following the departure of vocalist/songwriter Neal Morse, also the first full-length album to feature drummer Nick D'Virgilio as lead vocalist. It marked the beginning of a more band-oriented era of songwriting, as before Neal Morse had written the bulk of the band's material, now all of the remaining band members wrote for the band, including bass player Dave Meros, who picked up his first songwriting credit in the history of the band on the song "Ghosts of Autumn".

<i>Official Live Bootleg/The Beard Is out There</i> 1996 live album by Spocks Beard

Official Live Bootleg is the third album and first live album by American progressive rock band Spock's Beard. It was released in 1996, with a European release under the title The Beard Is out There in 1998.

<i>Gluttons for Punishment</i> 2005 live album by Spocks Beard

Gluttons for Punishment, released in 2005, is a double live album by the progressive rock band Spock's Beard. It was recorded during the band's Octane tour on March 18, 2005, at Colos-Saal in Aschaffenburg, Germany; March 20 at Z7 in Pratteln, Switzerland; and March 21 at Substage in Karlsruhe, Germany. It is the first live album released by Spock's Beard since the departure of the former frontman Neal Morse.

<i>Spocks Beard</i> (album) 2006 studio album by Spocks Beard

Spock's Beard is the ninth studio album by American progressive rock band Spock's Beard released on November 21, 2006.

<i>There and Here</i> 2001 live album by Spocks Beard

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Big Train</span> English progressive rock band

Big Big Train are an English progressive rock band formed in Bournemouth in 1990. The current line-up includes band founder Gregory Spawton, along with Nick D'Virgilio and Rikard Sjöblom. Until 2009, the band were active as a predominantly studio project led by Spawton and co-founder Andy Poole, who departed the band in 2018, with changing line-ups and guest musicians. They have released fourteen studio albums and six EPs.

<i>Live at High Voltage Festival</i> 2011 live album by Spocks Beard

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"The Light" is a song by the American progressive rock group Spock's Beard. It is the first track on their debut album, The Light. It is one of the most well known songs by the band and was ranked as the second best Modern Prog Song of the 1990-2015 period by The Prog Report in 2017. It is one of the band's most played songs.

<i>Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep</i> 2013 studio album by Spocks Beard

Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep is the eleventh studio album by American progressive rock band Spock's Beard released on April 2, 2013. It is their first album with new singer Ted Leonard and drummer Jimmy Keegan in place of Nick D'Virgilio, while former member Neal Morse co-wrote two tracks, including "Waiting for Me", on which he plays guitar.

<i>The Oblivion Particle</i> 2015 studio album by Spocks Beard

The Oblivion Particle is the twelfth studio album by American progressive rock band Spock's Beard. It was released on August 21, 2015. It was the last album with drummer Jimmy Keegan, who left the band in October 2016 for personal reasons. This album also features Nick D'Virgilio on one track as a guest musician. Only 3 songs on the album feature writing credits to the band members themselves, with the rest being credited to longtime collaborators Stan Ausmus and John Boegehold.

<i>Noise Floor</i> (Spocks Beard album) 2018 studio album by Spocks Beard

Noise Floor is the thirteenth studio album by American progressive rock band Spock's Beard. It is the band's first full album of original material to feature original drummer Nick D'Virgilio since X in 2010, although this time D'Virgilio is only as a session musician. D'Virgilio had previously recorded a new song with the band for the compilation album The First Twenty Years and a bonus track for the band's previous album The Oblivion Particle, both released in 2015. Noise Floor was released on 25 May 2018.

<i>Troika</i> (DVirgilio, Morse & Jennings album) 2022 studio album by DVirgilio, Morse & Jennings

Troika is a collaborative album by progressive rock/metal musicians Nick D'Virgilio, Neal Morse and Ross Jennings under the moniker D'Virgilio, Morse & Jennings. It was released through InsideOut Music on February 25, 2022.

References

  1. ↑ "MR. BIG Announces 'The Big Finish' World Tour, Unveils New Touring Drummer". Blabbermouth.net. March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "It's Official: SPOCK'S BEARD Drummer To Join FATES WARNING On European Tour". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. January 19, 2005. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Spock's Beard Singer Quits". BW&BK . November 18, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Bio – Nick D'Virgilio" . Retrieved September 26, 2023. Brian recommended me to Tears for Fears leader Roland Orzabal and I got the Tears for Fears gig sight unseen!!! I still can't believe that. Brian's word got me my first major tour (thank you, thank you Brian!!!)
  5. ↑ Whitman, Howard (October 1, 2010). "Spock's Beard part 1: As the Beard grows". Goldmine . Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Neal Morse (Spock's Beard) Interview". Wondrous Stories (80). August 1998.
  7. ↑ Sparks, Ryan. "An Interview with Neal Morse". Classic Rock Revisited. Archived from the original on September 14, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Jimmy Keegan Interview May 2005". spocksbeard.org. Archived from the original on November 19, 2008. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Singer Quits Spock's Beard". Classic Rock . November 19, 2011. Archived from the original on November 22, 2011. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  10. ↑ "New Nick D'Virgilio EP - DPRP News Blog". www.dprp.net. Archived from the original on August 30, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  11. ↑ "July 16, 2011". July 16, 2011. Archived from the original on September 9, 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  12. ↑ "NDV Music » November 18, 2011". November 18, 2011. Archived from the original on November 21, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  13. ↑ "NDV Bio" . Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Nick D'Virgilio, Author at inSync". inSync. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  15. ↑ Avin, Roie (February 22, 2016). "Spock's Beard To Reunite For MorseFest". TeamRock. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Breaking News!!! Spock's Beard with Neal Morse and..." Facebook. March 12, 2015. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  17. ↑ Boardman, Mark (November 8, 2019). "DAVE KERZNER and NICK D'VIRGILIO Remember KEVIN GILBERT and GIRAFFE on the Anniversary of Their Performance of THE LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY: "This Show Changed Our Lives and Careers."". Sonic Perspectives. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  18. ↑ Live At The Troubadour (liner notes). The Estate Of Kevin Gilbert. 1999. KMG 002.
  19. ↑ "A True Story". November 10, 2011.
  20. ↑ Cuniberti, John. "Notes On My Experiences Mixing The Shaming Of The True by John Cuniberti". KevinGilbert.com. Archived from the original on May 8, 2012. Retrieved November 3, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  21. ↑ Alvarez, Michael (November 10, 2002). "Progwest 2002, Day Two (2) Live Review". prognaut.com. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Welcome To Joytown | The Official Kevin Gilbert Site" . Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  23. ↑ Train, Big Big (July 1, 2008), Nick D'Virgilio Difference Machine sessions , retrieved September 26, 2023
  24. ↑ "The Difference Machine". Big Big Train. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  25. ↑ "The Underfall Yard". Big Big Train. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  26. ↑ MetalTalk (July 1, 2020). "Nick D'Virgilio / on drumming with Genesis and his new album 'Invisible' | MetalTalk - Heavy Metal News, Reviews and Interviews". www.metaltalk.net. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  27. ↑ Hewitt, Alan; Pound, Simon (August 22, 1997). ""An Alien Afternoon with Tony Banks" – Tony talks to TWR about the new Genesis album at The Farm". The Waiting Room Online. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  28. ↑ "Mike Keneally Band". The Official Mike Keneally Website. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Mike Keneally Band Dog". The Official Mike Keneally Website. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Mike Keneally Band Guitar Therapy Live". The Official Mike Keneally Website. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  31. ↑ "bryanbellerdotcom". www.bryanbeller.com. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  32. ↑ Blabbermouth (April 18, 2004). "Drummer MARK ZONDER To Leave FATES WARNING?". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  33. ↑ Live in Athens (liner notes). Inside Out Music. 2005. IOMDVD 012.
  34. ↑ The Road Home (liner notes). Magna Carta. 2007. MA-9092-2.
  35. ↑ The Lie Of The Beholder (liner notes). 10T Records. 2014. 10T10075.
  36. ↑ "The Fringe". The Fringe. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  37. ↑ The Fringe (liner notes). Sweetwater Studios. 2016. 00002-2.
  38. ↑ "Cruise to the Edge 2017". Facebook. January 5, 2017. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  39. ↑ "Dave Meros". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  40. ↑ Barrios, Joel (June 13, 2018). ""SPOCK'S BEARD And Roine Stolt's THE FLOWER KINGS REVISITED To Embark In European Tour, SPOCK'S Confirms New Drummer"". Sonic Perspectives. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  41. ↑ "Invisible Album" . Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  42. ↑ "Invisible Review". June 22, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  43. ↑ Rapp, Allison (March 6, 2023). "Mr. Big Announces Farewell Tour, 'The Big Finish'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  44. ↑ "Nick D'Virgilio Facebook Profile". www.facebook.com. Retrieved September 26, 2023. Lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana
  45. ↑ Nick D'Virgilio [@ndvirgilio] (March 14, 2019). "Happy Birthday to my wife of 25 years! Tiffany D'Virgilio you are more beautiful then ever! I love you to the moon and back! Happy Birthday baby!" – via Instagram.
  46. ↑ "Nick D'Virgilio – Home of the American drummer, singer, multi-instrumentalist and voice-over artist Nick D'Virgilio" . Retrieved September 26, 2023. I married my wife Tiffany in 1994 and we have two amazing kids, Sophia and Anthony.

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