Shortly after the tune's release (the tune was just recently re- released with nine other cuts on 10" vinyl by Sundazed Records) , the government felt that Neal would be more useful playing the M-60 machine gun in the Southeast Asian war games. Being the only bass player in the Saigon/Cholon/Tan Son Nhut area, Neal kept busy playing Country Western, Blues, Rock and Folk music between gigs on the M-60. Shortly after his return to the U.S. in 1969, the political climate in the country inspired Howard to "get the old squad back together" to play the soundtrack for the Revolution. In 1970, Howard, and Neal along with Al Goldberg on drums, Karen Tafejian on keyboard, and Louis Favors on percussion, formed "The Euphoria Blimpworks Band" and played People's Revolutionary  music all over Chicago. They recorded the "Up From the Sewers" album featuring Howard's original material and, it too, has become a cult classic.
A surprise birthday present of a Gibson Fretless Ripper bass guitar several years ago inspired Neal to get back into music and he began wood shedding in earnest. "Being used to short scale fretted basses, the long scale fretless was quite a challenge, but I wanted to play jazz and fretless seemed the way to go to get the true jazz sound. I thought to shorten the learning curve by taking lessons from the valley's leading upright player, Mark Gray."
Late in 2002, Neal began looking for musicians with similar musical tastes to get out and play all these great tunes. "Not being the brightest bulb on the musical tree caused me to have second thoughts, but I decided that one didn't necessarily have to be a virtuoso to do a good job of performing. I felt that a group of enthusiastic, competent musicians, playing tight arrangements of great tunes could put on a very polished, professional show. I feel extremely fortunate to be playing with the outstanding crew I've assembled."
Mark's great instruction and the band's constant nagging to get an upright bass convinced Neal to compromise and get an Aria electric upright. "Going from a 30" scale fretted bass guitar to a 41.5" upright is quite a stretch, but you can't beat the sound and I haven't looked back."

For you bass players, a family photo of the basses is here. 
Neal, having been a hyperactive child, is into several other fields of endeavor:

 

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