Intro (Edit)

Queensrÿche is an American heavy metal band formed in 1981. The band has released ten studio albums and they continue to tour and record. The band has been successful in the progressive metal scene. They have sold over 20 million albums worldwide.

In the early 1980s, the foundations of the band were set. Guitarist Michael Wilton and drummer Scott Rockenfield were in a heavy metal cover band called “Cross+Fire.” Their sets cover music from Iron Maiden to Judas Priest. Cross+Fire added guitarist Chris DeGarmo and bassist Eddie Jackson to their line-up. After this the band changed their name to “The Mob.” The band was without a singer, so they tried recruiting Geoff Tate. At the time, Tate was in another band, but later joined The Mob. But after a few gigs, Tate left the band stating that he was not interested in performing heavy metal.

The Mob finally gathered enough money to record a demo tape. Tate was enlisted to help again. He and the group recorded four songs. The band then started shopping the demo around to record labels and were rejected by all of them.

During this time the band hired a new manager. The Mob had changed their name to “Queensrÿche.” The name was inspired by the first song on their demo tape, “Queen of the Reich.”

The tape was gaining success for the band. On the strength of the demo, the band released the demo tape as a self-titled EP on their own label in 1983. Due to the success of the EP, Geoff Tate left his current band, Myth, and was now permanently the lead singer of Queensrÿche.

Later on in 1983, the band signed to EMI, who re-released the EP. The EP had moderate success. It peaked at number 81 on the US Billboard charts.

After the EP tour, the band traveled to London to record their first full length album. The finished product was “The Warning” in 1984. The album featured more progressive elements than the bands debut. The album peaked at number 61 on the US Billboard album chart. Following the release of the album, the band toured as the opening act for Kiss on their Animalize tour.

In 1986, the band released, “Rage For Order.” This album had more polished look and sound for the band. The album had keyboards and they looked more like a glam band. This album peaked at number 47 on the Billboard charts.

The year 1988 saw the release of “Operation: Mindcrime.” It is a concept album from the band. The album was a commercial success. The concept of the album is that a man who was in a coma, wakes up , and joins a plot to assassinate the corrupt leaders of American society. The album peaked at number 50 on the US Billboard charts. After the release of the album, the band toured throughout 1988-1989 with several bands. Some of these bands were Def Leppard, Guns N’ Roses, and Metallica.

In 1990, Queensrÿche were at the height of their commercial popularity. After the release of their album “Empire” in 1990, they embarked on their first headlining tour. The album peaked at number 7 and sold more copies than all the previous albums combined. The power ballad “Silent Lucidity” was the bands first Top 10 Single.

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History (Edit)

The band wouldn’t release another album until 1994. This was due to the 18 month tour’s burnout and personal issues. But when the band finally released “Promised Land” in 1994, it debuted at number 3. Eventually it went Platinum, but, the album did not have as much commercial success as their previous album. This was mainly due to the rise of the grunge music scene.

Queensrÿche released their next studio album in 1997. The album was “Hear In The Now Frontier.” It was met with mixed reviews and mixed fan reception as well. At first, the album debuted at number 19, but quickly after that, the album vanished completely from the charts.

During the end of the tour in support of the album, Chris DeGarmo, a founding member, decided the leave the band. It is stated that he left because of burnout and a desire to pursue interests outside of Queensrÿche.

DeGarmo was replaced by guitarist Kelly Gray. Gray was in the band Myth, Geoff Tate’s previous band.

The band’s first album with Gray was released in 1999, it was called “G2K.” It was also the band’s first album with their new label, Atlantic Records. The album was, again, more of a stripped down sound for the band. The album didn’t chart, as well.

The fans didn’t receive Gray too well. They felt that his bluesy-style didn’t suit the bands style of playing.

In 2003, the band recorded their eighth full-length album, Tribe. Chris DeGarmo, did co-write and play on four songs, but he didn’t officially rejoin the band. Kelly Gray was gone though, and Mike Stone filled in for him. He toured with the band on the Tribe tour, but was never officially a member of Queensrÿche. The album did not chart. The tour supporting the album was with Dream Theater. A live album and DVD were recorded during this tour as well, it was called “The Art of Live.”

On March 31, 2006, the band released a follow-up to 1988’s “Operation: Mindcrime.” This was was called “Operation: Mindcrime II.” Before the release, the band had stated that this album would answer some questions about the previous Mindcrime album. This album was the first album for their new label, Rhino Entertainment. The album debuted at number 14 on the US Charts. A show was recorded for another Queensrÿche live DVD, it was called “Mindcrime At The Moore.”

On August 28, 2007, the band released a new greatest hits compilation called, “Sign of the Times.” There was a special collectors edition and it included another disc with various demos and a new song called “Justified.” The new song featured Chris DeGarmo on guitar.

A few months later, on November 13, 2007, the band released a cover album called “Take Cover.” The album features covers of bands such as Pink Floyd, Queen, Black Sabbath, The Police and more.

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Update (Edit)

In March of 2009, the band released another concept album. It was called “American Soldier.” The concept tells a story of war from a firsthand perspective. Geoff Tate got his inspiration from interviewing veterans from all the conflicts America has been involved in from World War II up the Iraq War.

February 3, 2009 saw the end of Mike Stone being a part of Queensrÿche. He left the band to put his focus on his side-project “Speed-X.” Michael Wilton recorded all the guitar parts on American Soldier, but Parker Lundgren will replace Stone for the 2009 tour.

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