Queensrÿche tickets and 2024 tour dates

Biography

Queensrÿche (pron.: /ˈkwiːnzraɪk/) is an American progressive metal band best known for their critically acclaimed albums 'Operation: Mindcrime' and 'Empire', from 1988 and 1990 respectively, which involve strong, detailed social and psychological themes. The band has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. It started as The Mob in 1981, which included guitarist Michael Wilton, drummer Scot Rockenfield, guitarist Chris Degarmo, and bassist Eddie Jackson. Lacking a vocalist, they recruited Geoff Tate to sing for them at a local rock festival.

At the time, Tate performed in Babylon, influenced by classic 70s hard rock vocalists. After Babylon broke up, Tate performed a few shows with The Mob but left. In 1981, the budding band put together sufficient funds to record a demo tape. Once again they asked Tate, then in in other outfit called Myth, to sing the vocals and otherwise collaborate. They recorded four songs: “Queen of the Reich”, “Nightrider”, “Blinded”, and “The Lady Wore Black”.

Because the name “The Mob” was not available, they decided to name the band Queensryche after the first song on their demo tape, “Queen of the Reich”. In 1983, Queensryche released their demo tape as a self-titled EP 'Queensryche' (often known today as 'Queensryche (EP)' or under similar names). After the EP garnered international praise, receiving much airplay and selling an unusual amount of copies for a small independent release as critics compared them to contemporaries such as Iron Maiden, Tate agreed to leave Myth and become Queensrÿche’s permanent lead singer.

The Early Years (1981-1988)

With the first full-length album, 1984's 'The Warning', and their follow-up album, 1986's 'Rage For Order', attracting critical adulation, Queensrÿche continued to prove their worldwide dominance as one of the most respected and creative metal bands of the 80s. It all took much work. After the EP tour, Queensrÿche already traveled to London to record their first full-length album. The band worked with producer James Guthrie, who had worked with iconic British groups Pink Floyd and Judas Priest.

Released in September 1984, 'The Warning' featured more progressive rock styled elements than the band's debut. It peaked at #61 on the Billboard album chart, a moderate commercial success. While none of the singles released from 'The Warning' charted domestically, "Take Hold of the Flame" was a hit for the band outside the U.S. (particularly in Japan). The band's first full-scale U.S. tour (in support of this album) was as the opening act for Kiss on their Animalize tour.