Queensryche then and now

(And, yes, GT did look like Angelina Jolie.)

yeah if your idea of the "best singer in metal" is a euro sounding banshee that pierces eardrums with every note he hits. that guy sucks.

Art rock pioneers QUEENSRŸCHE will perform the classic album "Operation: Mindcrime" in its entirety on the upcoming fall 2004/winter 2005 tour, which is being presented by VH1 Classic. A "greatest hits" set will open each show, and at the end of the night there will be a preview of the upcoming Sanctuary Records release "Operation: Mindcrime II", the working title of the long-awaited, eagerly desired sequel to the groundbreaking concept album. Audiences will be blown away by the Surround Sound audio setup on the tour.

Vocalist Geoff Tate, guitarist Michael Wilton, guitarist Mike Stone, bassist Eddie Jackson and drummer Scott Rockenfield will open each show with a "greatest hits" set ending with the smash "Silent Lucidity". Local orchestra string sections will perform with the band in select cities. Michael Igor Delassandra, formerly an official composer for the Vatican, will accompany QUEENSRŸCHE and perform on keyboards.

“The band is so excited to be performing 'Operation: Mindcrime' in its entirety again after not having done this in 15 years," says Tate. "We are presenting it in a whole new way that finally does justice the intricacies of the story and the personalities of the characters.”

"Operation: Mindcrime" will be recreated in full with enhanced production. Live actors will embody the fascinating characters of this chilling tale — interacting both on stage and off. Vocalist Pamela Moore, who toured with QUEENSRŸCHE recently, will be back to provide the vocals of the album's pivotal character, "Sister Mary". New video footage will be incorporated as well. QUEENSRŸCHE also performed "Operation: Mindcrime" in its entirety in 1990-91, but this time around new and expanded video footage will be used. Fans who saw the show in 1990-91 will enjoy a more vivid experience this time.

One of the most exciting parts of each concert will certainly be the finale — the preview of "Operation: Mindcrime II". Fans have wanted a sequel ever since "Operation: Mindcrime" exploded and earned the band critical acclaim and commercial success. In particular, fans have always asked one burning question in relation to the "Operation: Mindcrime" plot: "Who killed Sister Mary?" The new album, scheduled for release in 2005, will address that question.

The next couple hours after this EP ends, I shall be tossing on, in order, Rage For Order and Operation: Mindcrime. These are two of my favorite discs. The former is a mostly denigrated disc, and I think that's unfair. The band looked like weirdos on the back and sonically, it is a departure from the Maidenesque earlier material (and it also was the disc to come out before a disc certified as *groundbreaking*) but I think I like it a lot BECAUSE it's a departure. That and the huge fucking drum sound; actually, the production as a whole is kinda interesting, unlike the metal of the time.

As for Mindcrime, I know when it plays I will remember the day I first got it: Driving in my 1970 Maverick to the headshop called Dragonsong in Manassas, VA (yes, I used to cut class and hang out by the train depot in the Stephen Stills disc) I picked it up on cassette. Popped it into the car stereo that was worth more than the car. Started it while driving home, only a ten minute trip. Getting home, looking at the lyrics as it played, and never getting into the house until I sat in my parking spot and finished the tape off. Then I listened to it with headphones, reading it all. Then I called a friend, Jennifer Miller, who was a HS punk rocker who was my best friend. I called her over, she came and I played it for the third time that day, this time with her reading the lyrics on my bed. And when it was over, she was like, "wow." Yeah, I have fond memories of this one.

The person sold some of the other, later material. I won't be playing it.

Yeah! She's comin' for you!

Jet City Woman is still one of my favorite Queensryche songs, but I always liked the bit between Another Rainy Night and Della Brown that went "sorry... it's starting to hit me like a um... um.. two ton... heavy thing."

there's a place i like to hide
a doorway that i run to in the night

The first 45 seconds of the first song on their first EP are awesome. After that, it's all shit.

I hear they're playing Rage For Order in its entirety on the current tour. Pretty darn exciting if you ask me.

They were crap then. They're crap now. They will always be crap.

CRAPRYCHE!

Your mind tricked you to feel the pain
Of someone close to you leaving the game (of life)

"Silent Lucidity" is eerily prescient of 9/11:

"The walls you built
Come tumbling down, and a new world will begin"

fall of the towers

"Living twice at once you learn
You're safe from pain in the dream domain"

safe from pain...after death

"A soul set free to fly
A round trip journey in your head"

flight references an obvious tipoff, plus a round-trip journey ONLY IN YOUR HEAD

[Visualize your dreams
write them into permanent form
if you consist in your efforts
you will achieve
dream control

control

how is that, better?

dream control
dream control
help me

Went to see the band at the Snoqualmie Casino a few weeks ago. Metal fans do not age well, particularly those who haven't changed their style since the '80s. Saw a lot of boofed hair and muffintops, both sexes.

That said, representing the ILM minority, I rate both O:M and O:M II highly. The new album has a lot of good moments, too, though I haven't shuffled it enough to know songs by name yet.

Geoff Tate looks like an unemployed genie

looking forward to seeing them again this weekend. the band cooks now with the current lineup.

listening to Rage for Order now, this album is positively ear-wormy. "The Killing Words" practically feels like it could be on my cheesy 80's power ballad Spotify playlist. \m/