“Get Behind Me Satan” says Ted Leonard as Neal Morse reveal prog rock musical about “Jesus Christ – The Exorcist”

Hot on the heels releasing ‘The Great Adventure’ by The Neal Morse Band on January 25th (as reported here at Stargazed Magazine), Neal Morse is now planning yet another project based in his religious conviction. The former frontman of progressive rock band Spock’s Beard has now announced the release of “Jesus Christ – The Exorcist”. This is a Progressive Rock Opera 10 years in the making, written and produced by Morse. It includes performances by Neal and an all-star cast of vocalists and musicians that includes Ted Leonard, Eric Gillette, Nick D’Virgilio, Randy George, Bill Hubauer, Matt Smith and Jake Livgren, nephew of Kansas’ Kerry Livgren.

“Jesus Christ the Exorcist” will be released on June 14, 2019 on a double album set featuring about two hours of music that will encompass all the spectrums and genres Neal Morse is known for and will, of course, tell the Story of Stories.

Today, the first song has been unveiled, “Get Behind Me Satan”, which can be heard in the video below.

“I don’t know why it came to me in quite this way, but definitely the influences on this song are Black Sabbath and Deep Purple primarily. I even asked Rich Mouser when he was mixing the song to listen to “Paranoid“ because I thought that vocal effect would be cool on Ted’s voice,” says Morse of the track which features Ted Leonard of Spock’s Beard and Enchant in the role of Jesus himself.

When asked about what fans can expect sound wise from the album, Morse explains, “Oh, it is completely diverse. There are touching ballads, rousing ensemble pieces, classical elements and dramatic Broadway musical type songs as well. It is really meant to be listened and experienced all the way through as you would a play or an opera. I hope that people will experience it in that way because I think that’s where they will really find the power in this piece of music.” He continues, “These songs and pieces of music were all written for this rock opera specifically. I wrote the first draft in 2008 and 2009, I believe. Then, last year in preparation for a performance at MorseFest I rewrote the whole musical again. I couldn’t be happier with the final outcome and I am thrilled that it is coming out on Frontiers this June.”

“Jesus Christ – The Exorcist”, had it’s live world premiere in 2018 and was performed by a Prog Rock all-star cast featuring Neal Morse (keys, guitar), Paul Bielatowicz (lead guitar), Bill Hubauer (keys), Randy George (bass), and Eric Gillette (drums). Featured vocalists included Ted Leonard (Spock’s Beard, Enchant), Nick D’Virgilio (Big, Big Train, Spock’s Beard), Jake Livgren (Protokaw), Matt Smith (Theocracy), Wil Morse and more. Also, John Schlitt (Petra) and Rick Florian (White Heart) were added to the performance as well.

Tracklist:

Jesus Christ – The Exorcist by Neal Morse

CD1
1. Introduction
2. Overture
3. Getaway
4. Gather The People
5. Jesus’ Baptism
6. Jesus’ Temptation
7. There’s A Highway
8. The Woman Of Seven Devils
9. Free At Last
10. The Madman Of The Gadarenes
11. Love Has Called My Name
12. Better Weather
13. The Keys To The Kingdom
14. Get Behind Me Satan

CD2
1. He Must Go To The Cross
2. Jerusalem
3. Hearts Full Of Holes
4. The Last Supper
5. Gethsemane
6. Jesus Before The Council And Peter’s Denial
7. Judas’ Death
8. Jesus Before Pilate And The Crucifixion
9. Mary At The Tomb
10. The Greatest Love Of All
11. Love Has Called My Name (Reprise)

Full cast:
Ted Leonard – Jesus
Talon David – Mary Magdalene
Nick D’Virgilio – Judas Iscariot
Rick Florian – The Devil
Matt Smith – John the Baptist
Jake Livgren – Peter and Caiaphas
Neal Morse – Pilate, Demon 1, Disciple 1
Mark Pogue – Israelite 1, the Madman of the Gadarenes, Pharisee 2
Wil Morse – Israelite 2, Demon 3, Pharisee 1
Gabe Klein – Demon 2, Pharisee 4
Gideon Klein – Demon 4
Julie Harrison – Servant Girl

The album can be pre-ordered as 2CD, 3xLP, or Digital versions. Signed albums, limited edition color vinyl, & more are available at the Neal Morse Store, Frontiers U.S. Store and Frontiers EU Store.