Queensrÿche

Queensrÿche is an American progressive metal band formed in 1980 in Bellevue, Washington. The group initially performed under the names Cross+Fire and The Mob before adopting the name Queensrÿche in 1982. The early lineup consisted of guitarists Michael Wilton and Chris DeGarmo, bassist Eddie Jackson and drummer Scott Rockenfield, with vocalist Geoff Tate joining in 1982 to complete the formation. The band has released sixteen studio albums, one EP and several video releases, and continues to record and tour. Queensrÿche has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, including over six million in the United States. The band became prominent in the progressive metal scene in the mid to late 1980s and is often grouped with Dream Theater and Fates Warning as part of the genre's leading acts. It has received multiple Grammy Award nominations, including nominations for songs from its albums and a nomination for Rockenfield in 1998. In 2016, Loudwire ranked the band among the top 30 metal bands of all time. The band's first official release was the independently issued "Queensrÿche" EP in 1982, which attracted attention beyond Washington state and led to a contract with EMI Records, which reissued the EP in 1983. Their debut studio album, "The Warning" (1984), was followed by "Rage for Order" (1986) and "Operation: Mindcrime" (1988), the latter a concept album widely regarded as one of heavy metal's most significant narrative works. "Empire" (1990) expanded their commercial success and included the single "Silent Lucidity", which became their most commercially successful song. Following extensive touring and internal changes during the 1990s, DeGarmo left the band in 1998, later briefly returning to contribute to "Tribe" (2003). His position was filled at various times by Kelly Gray, Mike Stone and Parker Lundgren. After the release of "Empire", Queensrÿche continued with "Promised Land" (1994), a darker and more introspective album, followed by "Hear in the Now Frontier" (1997), which adopted a more stripped-down sound. The commercial performance of this period was weaker than earlier releases, and the band faced additional difficulties during touring, including illness within the group and changes in record label support. During this time, DeGarmo left the band permanently, later pursuing a career outside music. Kelly Gray joined as guitarist and appeared on "Q2K" (1999), released through Atlantic Records. The album reflected a shift away from the band's earlier progressive metal style. After touring, Rockenfield and Gray formed the side project Slave to the System. Queensrÿche later moved to Sanctuary Records and released the live album "Live Evolution" in 2001. Geoff Tate also released a solo album in 2002. Gray left the band in 2002 and was replaced by Mike Stone. In 2003, Queensrÿche released "Tribe", which included contributions from DeGarmo on several tracks, although he did not rejoin as a full member. Stone joined the supporting tour. Around this period, the band also toured with Dream Theater and released the live recording "The Art of Live". In 2006, Queensrÿche released "Operation: Mindcrime II", a sequel to their 1988 concept album. The album featured guest vocals from Ronnie James Dio and was supported by a tour in which both "Operation: Mindcrime" albums were performed in full. The band also released "Sign of the Times" in 2007 and a covers album, "Take Cover", later that year. Stone departed in 2009, and the band released "American Soldier" the same year, a concept album focused on the experiences of American military personnel. Parker Lundgren joined as touring guitarist following Stone's departure. In 2011, Queensrÿche released "Dedicated to Chaos", which marked a stylistic shift and received mixed critical response. In 2012, internal conflict within the band escalated following management changes and disagreements involving Geoff Tate and other members. After a confrontation during a tour in Brazil, Tate and the remaining members ceased working together, leading to his dismissal. A legal dispute followed regarding the use of the band's name, during which both parties continued to perform under the Queensrÿche name. The dispute was settled in 2014, with founding members Wilton, Rockenfield and Jackson retaining the rights to the Queensrÿche name. Tate formed his own lineup and released "Frequency Unknown" in 2013. The remaining members recruited vocalist Todd La Torre and guitarist Lundgren and released a self-titled album, "Queensrÿche", in 2013. In 2015, Queensrÿche released "Condition Hüman", followed by extensive touring in North America, Europe and other regions. In subsequent years, the band underwent further lineup changes, including the temporary replacement and later departure of Rockenfield, with touring drummer Casey Grillo participating in live performances. Mike Stone returned to the lineup in 2018. The band released "The Verdict" in 2019, which featured contributions from La Torre and reflected a continued emphasis on a modernised version of its earlier heavy metal and progressive style. In 2022, Queensrÿche released "Digital Noise Alliance", which charted in several European countries, including Germany and Switzerland, while performing less strongly in the United States compared to earlier releases. The band has continued to work on new material, with Michael Wilton stating that further recording sessions are planned following ongoing touring activity. Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensr%C3%BFche Studio albums The Warning (1984) Rage for Order (1986) Operation: Mindcrime (1988) Empire (1990) Promised Land (1994) Hear in the Now Frontier (1997) Q2K (1999) Tribe (2003) Operation: Mindcrime II (2006) Take Cover (2007) American Soldier (2009) Dedicated to Chaos (2011) Queensrÿche (2013) Condition Hüman (2015) The Verdict (2019) Digital Noise Alliance (2022) Geoff Tate's Queensrÿche Frequency Unknown (2013) Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.