Transatlantic

1999
Transatlantic is a progressive rock band formed by Neal Morse (ex-vocalist/ex-keyboardist of Spock's Beard) and Mike Portnoy (drummer of Dream Theater). Originally intending to include Fates Warning guitarist Jim Matheos, Morse and Portnoy tapped Flower Kings guitarist/vocalist Roine Stolt when Matheos was unable to participate. The band completed their lineup by adding bassist and progressive rock veteran Pete Trewavas from the group Marillion.

The name of the group was originally planned to be "Second Nature", but was changed to Transatlantic on suggestion by the cover artist Per Nordin.

JUNE - JULY The debut album is recorded

2000
MAR [21] Their first album, SMPT:e (a play on words, as both a combination of the members' last initials, as well as a common machine time protocol used in high end recording studios) is released and received strong critical reviews, including "some of the best progressive rock music ever written" (Robert Taylor in Allmusic)).

JUNE [21] The upcoming live album is recorded at the Theater of the Living Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2001
JAN The second album is recorded

A subsequent tour of the United States led to a double live CD, Transatlantic Live in America, and a video of the same name. The band showed their musical heritage on the live CD, presenting covers of The Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever", as well as a medley of Genesis' epic "Watcher of the Skies" and "Firth of Fifth".

OCT [9] The band's second studio album, Bridge Across Forever is released. The CD contained just four tracks, the twenty-six minute "Duel With the Devil", the fourteen minute "Suite Charlotte Pike", and the twenty-six minute "Stranger in Your Soul" making up the bulk of the disc, with the title track coming in at a relatively scant five minutes.

NOV [21] A show by the band at the 013 Club, Tilburg, Netherlands is recorded and filmed and later released on DVD/CD as Live in Europe

2003
Transatlantic disbanded with Morse leaving the mainstream prog scene to launch a new career as a Christian musician, a move which included his leaving Spock's Beard as well.

Live in Europe, A live DVD of the band's last tour was released, featuring all aforementioned epics plus a rendition of the Abbey Road medley by the Beatles. The extended edition also contains a cover of Pink Floyd's "Shine on You Crazy Diamond".

Transatlantic Demos by Neal Morse

SMPTe: The Roine Stolt Mixes

2009
APR [16] It was officially announced that the band had reunited and begun work on a third studio album. The album is to be released in October 2009 and will consist of the single 77 minute title-track The Whirlwind. A special edition of the album will also be available, including a second disc with four additional original tracks and four cover tracks

OCT [23] The third album The Whirlwind is due to be released