Queensrÿche

Queensrÿche is a heavy metal band from Bellevue, Washington founded in 1981. The classic line-up of the band consisted of guitarists Michael Wilton and Chris DeGarmo, bassist Eddie Jackson, drummer Scott Rockenfield and vocalist Geoff Tate.

The bands first two releases, Queensrÿche EP (1983) and The Warning (1984) were rather straight-forward, though well-crafted heavy metal with some progressive edge. Their second LP Rage for Order (1986) added plenty of keyboards and more varied songwriting in the mix.

Operation: Mindcrime (1988) is often seen as their magnum opus; a concept album about junkie Nikki, who joins an underground revolutionist movement led by mysterious Dr. X. The album is often considered among the best heavy metal albums of all time.

Empire (1990) featured more commercial hard rock sound and the band enjoyed some mainstream success. Silent Lucidity, a power ballad with string orchestration by Michael Kamen, hit the top 10 of Billboard 100.

Promised Land (1994) was another change in direction, it being a dark, somber and more introspective album, featuring many ballads. It is the band’s highest charted album, hitting no. 3 on Billboard albums chart.

After the alternative rock-tinged Hear in the Now Frontier (1997), Chris DeGarmo left the band and the band’s success gradually faded. Following records – including Operation: Mindcrime II (2006), a sequel to the classic album – gathered little attention and lukewarm reviews. Tate’s firm control of the band’s direction and diminishing singing ability drew the ire of several fans.

In 2012, the band fired Geoff Tate. A lawsuit followed, where Tate tried to claim rights to the name Queensrÿche. The case was settled in 2014 in favor of the band. Tate was replaced by Todd LaTorre and the band has returned to their heavy metal roots with albums Queensrÿche (2013) and Condition: Hüman (2015).