SPOCK'S BEARD frontman/drummer Nick D'Virgilio has issued the following update at his official website:

"Hello!!!

It's been a while but I have been very busy. Which is good. So here is what I have been up to lately.

In February, I was lucky enough to go to Montlucon France to participate in J.F. Miguel's drum weekend. It took place at this fabulous old chateau called Chateau St. Jean. Along with a whole bunch of other great French drummers, we ate (amazing food and wine, YEAH!! I love that part) and gave drum clinics-master classes. There was a big show on Saturday night when all of us drummers played for a very nice and patient crowd. They stayed up until 4am listening to us. So I need to give huge thank yous to J.F. for taking such good care of me and showing me a great time. J.F has built a nice drum school in France and his drum weekend is the biggest there. WELL DONE J.F.!!!!!

Just this past March I was in Italy to play at the DISMA Music Fair and to do a few other drum clinics. Big thank yous go out to all the people at M. Casale Bauer. What a great group of people to hang out with and work with. DISMA is a big music fair like NAMM or MUSIC MESSE just on little smaller scale. But still very crazy with all of the people looking at the gear and playing everything in site. Everyone at M. Casale Bauer made the show for me go so smoothly. I was having a lot of fun while they were all working like mad. I met and played with some amazing musicians. What a good time. And yes there was even more great food and wine. WOO HOO!!! Big thanks go to Andrea Ventura for driving me everywhere, translating, and just being a great guy.

Before I move on I also would like to thank Mapex Miles from Mapex in Taiwan. He worked hard getting these trips together for me and I am sure he has enough to do with his job already. So THANK YOU again Miles!!!!!

There are a couple of new CD/DVDs out now that I have the privilege to be a part of. The first is from TEARS FOR FEARS. It is called Secret World and is a combo CD and DVD. the DVD is the whole show we did at the Parc des Princes, Paris, 18 June 2005. It was a big festival in front of a big crowd. Those kinds of gigs are great fun. The CD has the same show live (although I must admit it doesn't sound nearly as good as the audio on the DVD and it is the same show - not sure what that is all about) plus it has three bonus tracks, one of which I am playing drums on. The song is called 'Floating Down The River'. With all of the playing for TFF I have done over the years that is my first official studio track for them. We recorded the drums at Rich Mouser's place. So check that out if you can. The DVD looks and sounds great. Order the DVD now from fnac.com in France or worldwide from eil.com.

The second CD is from THE RUBINOOS. The CD is called Twist Pop Sin on the Vivid Sound label from Japan. You can purchase that from all of the usual CD sites on the net. I have been playing and recording with Jon, Tommy and Al for a number of years now and it is good to see their music getting out there. So if you like fun old school pop music this is the stuff for you.

Last but definitely not least is Spock's Beard. We are getting ready for our first tour of the USA in what feels like forever. I am really looking forward to these shows. And then right after that we are in the studio to start our new CD. We were going to start the new CD before the tour but we are going to wait until right after so we will be nice and tight as a band before recording. I think that will be great, Usually we get together to learn the songs for a couple of days then go in and start. Never really having the chance to get really warmed up before recording. So this will be a nice change.

Oh wait, before I forget, I am going to be playing with FATES WARNING at the Rock Hard Festival in Germany on June 4th and to warm up for that there will be two shows in LA at the Galaxy Theater on May 31st. and at the Knitting Factory on June 1st. So if any of you are around any of those dates please come out and say hi.

OK that is it for this update. All the best!!"

NDV

The aforementioned Spock's Beard tour dates are as follows:

May

4 - Poughkeepsie, NY at The Chance Theater
5 - New York, NY at BB King Blues Club & Grill
6 - Springfield, VA at Jaxx
7 - Chicago, IL at House Of Blues
8 - Denver, CO at Bluebird Theatre
9 - Seattle, WA at Studio Seven
12 - W. Hollywood, CA at The Key Club
13 - Santa Ana, CA at Galaxy Theatre
14 - Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX at Ridglea Theater