Cited by many as the catalyst of the 80's Power Metal movement QUEENSRŸCHE delivered a majestic form of Heavy Metal laden with a unique melodic bent and topped by the quite awesome vocal abilities of Geoff Tate. After a run of 'trial and error' albums which hinted at great promise the band broke the floodgates with the seminal 'Operation: Mindcrime' concept album. This single work would not only break the band internationally and set the standard for a legion of imitators. Although the band sustained this dynamic with the subsequent 'Empire' opus they have struggled since, oddly seeming to eschew the grandiose that so typified the band in favour of simpler, and less commercially viable, themes.

Pre-QUEENSRŸCHE, guitarists Michael Wilton and Chris DeGarmo had been members of a Bellevue, Washington, Interlake High School Heavy Metal covers band entitled JOKER. This act also included singer Paul Passarelli, later of Glamsters LIPSTICK. The origins of QUEENSRŸCHE began with THE MOB in 1981. The band found their singer with GEOFF TATE, vocalist with MYTH a Seattle Metal band that supported the likes of CULPRIT and WILD DOGS and coincidently featured drummer Jimmy Parsons, another LIPSTICK member. Tate split away from his act MYTH in late 1982 as THE MOB became QUEENSRŸCH (without the now more familiar 'E' ending).

The individual members had all trod the boards with fledgling Seattle Metal bands. Tate had debuted with the ADAM BOMB led, late seventies teen covers act TYRANT, then BABYLON before MYTH. Guitarists Chris DeGarmo and Michael Wilton had stuck together through JOKER and CROSSFIRE, the latter act including drummer SCOTT ROCKENFIELD. DeGarmo had also had a stint with TEMPEST.

QUEENSRŸCHE's June 1982 four track demo recorded in drummer Scott Rockenfield's parent's basement that featured 'The Lady Wore Black', 'Queen Of The Reich', 'Blinded' and 'Nightrider'. The band soon created waves on the underground tape trading circuit with many comparing the band to prime time British Metal with comparisons being drawn with Geoff Tate's operatic and the precise riffing of guitarists Michael Wilton and Chris DeGarmo.

A local record store owned by the husband and wife team of Kim And Diana Harris were impressed enough to press up the demo on their 206 record label. The subsequent EP released in May 1983 being known as 'Queen of the Reich'. With a commercial release QUEENSRŸCHE (now having added the 'E' to their title) undertook their first concert on June 29th 1983 opening for ZEBRA at Portland's Paramount Theater. The band was now garnering ecstatic worldwide press and were soon snapped up by EMI America Records. The major duly rush re-released the EP, which scored a number 81 placing on the US charts. On the tour front, the group was put out on the road backing DIO throughout October before jumping onboard TWISTED SISTER's dates.

The debut album 'The Warning', issued in September 1984, produced by James Guthrie and recorded at the world famous Abbey Road Studios in London, proved to be an over ambitious effort marred by spreading good ideas too thinly. Notably, the album artwork was executed by Matt Bazemore, drummer for one of Tate's antecedent acts BABYLON. The band toured Japan as headliners in August that year before heading out across the USA again for a series of dates with DIO and KISS. As 1985 opened the schedule was maintained with a run of headline gigs segueing into further KISS supports.

Second attempt 'Rage For Order', produced by Neil Kernon across M.D.H. Studios in Bellevue and Le Mobile Remote Sound Studio and Mushroom Studios in Vancouver, Canada, was a major statement of intent justifying their early promise. The first single from 'Rage For Order', 'Gonna Get Close To You', was a spirited cover of the song penned by Canadian artist LISA DAL BELLO. The original had appeared on her 'Whomanfoursays' album. The singer played the female interest in QUEENSRŸCHE's video of the track.

Despite 'Rage For Order', which arrived in July 1986 and attained a number 47 placing on Billboard, seeing an obvious maturing of lyrical and musical content the band were universally vilified for their decision to wear garish eye-liner and lipstick on the sleeve photographs. Learning their lesson quickly the band got back to basics with haste and set out on a mammoth American tour. August 1986 had the band as guests to AC/DC's mammoth arena shows and by September QUEENSRŸCHE was acting as warm up for OZZY OSBOURNE before hitting the UK with BON JOVI and Europe in November.

However, there were rumours that their financial affairs behind the scenes were on shaky ground. Road work to push 'Rage For Order' in the UK and Europe saw a lengthy support stint to DIO, lasting from early September into late October. Following the tour dates QUEENSRŸCHE ditched their previous management team, signing a new deal with the Q Prime organisation, responsible for careers of DEF LEPPARD and METALLICA.

Q Prime's declared first duty was to bankrupt the band due to an alleged $700'000 of touring debts. Nevertheless, from this nadir though the band were to rise, phoenix like, with their next effort 'Operation Mindcrime', a ground breaking Peter Collins produced album of such magnitude it was to set the band's career straight for good. Released in May 1988, 'Operation Mindcrime' was a brave move for a band at the crossroads between success and failure. Undaunted the band pulled out all the stops crafting a superb weave of metal, theatrics and sinister plot line. Orchestration was aided by the recruitment of Michael Kamen, noted for his movie scores.

QUEENSRŸCHE toured America in mid 1989 opening for Q Prime colleagues DEF LEPPARD before British shows as headliners then back to the states supporting METALLICA. The later shows utilized more of the theatrics to build the album scenario in the live situation, in particular bringing in the talents of Seattle born Pamela Moore to play the singing part of Sister Mary onstage.

'Operation: Mindcrime', in spite of massive global media adulation upon its release had been a relatively slow seller, at first finding it tough going to even equal sales of 'Rage For Order'. The relentless grind of taking the music to the people via the live format had paid off though and the record was to be set on a path of steady sales that would last for many years. This creeping enthusiasm for the band would see their next album 'Empire' benefit from a huge underground fan base that would see it break the multi-platinum sales barrier with consummate ease. 'Empire' held no less than three hit singles with the ballad 'Silent Lucidity' hitting the American top ten and being nominated for a Grammy award.

The 'Building Empires' American tour would see the group on the road for nearly a year and a half. Kicking off in Europe, QUEENSRŸCHE took along LYNCH MOB as support. Notably their concert on November 20th at Ichtegen's Sporthal Keiberg in Belgium was cut short when an audience member was stabbed. QUEENSRŸCHE also slotted in a showing at the Brazilian 'Rock in Rio' festival at the Meracana Soccer Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on 23rd January 1991, alongside GUNS N' ROSES, JUDAS PRIEST, MEGADETH and SEPULTURA, prior to Japanese dates and shows in America commencing April had SUICIDAL TENDENCIES as support. An appearance at the European run of 'Monsters of Rock' festivals was headed up by AC/DC and METALLICA.

A high profile showing on October 12th found QUEENSRŸCHE once again rubbing shoulders with METALLICA, as well as SOUNDGARDEN and FAITH NO MORE, at the 'Day On The Green' festival in San Francisco. This concert provided the launch pad for a whole new trek across the USA in alliance with WARRIOR SOUL. The 'Building Empires' journey came to a close on January 3rd 1992 with a special homecoming at the Spokane Coliseum. During this concert the group filmed a promotional video for the track 'Anybody Listening?' A final gasp came with QUEENSRŸCHE performing 'Silent Lucidity' along with an orchestra conductor Michael Kamen at the Grammy Awards on 24th February.

The musicians took time out from writing sessions to perform a special one off concert set for the 'Rock The Environment' benefit concert, organised by Ann and Nancy Wilson of HEART. Taking place on June 6th 1992 at the Gorge natural bowl in George, Washington, QUEENSRŸCHE put on a show which not only included rarely performed originals, but also jams through THE BEATLES 'Revolution' and ROLLING STONES 'Gimme Shelter'.

The band's previous album 'Operation: Mindcrime' was being pulled along by the success of 'Empire' and, still featuring heavily in the live set, was fast becoming the band's all time classic. Meantime, 'Empire' racked up a monumental three million album sales in the USA.

To keep the fire burning on the concept album QUEENSRŸCHE recorded and videoed two shows at Madison, Milwaukee and La Crosse, Wisconsin that featured 'Operation: Mindcrime' in it's entirety and subsequently released as 'Operation: Livecrime'. The lull in QUEENSRŸCHE activity was broken by the release of the 1993 'Real World' single, a track recorded for the soundtrack to the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie 'Last Action Hero'.

QUEENSRŸCHE's standing was elevated to such a position that their next outing, October 1994's 'Promised Land', entered the US charts at a lofty number three. The record had been crafted at the musicians own home studios, The Dungeon, Triad and Big Log with the band co-producing in collaboration with James Barton. Keeping the final mixing process a local affair, Barton mixed 'Promised Land' down at Seattle's Bad Animals studios, owned by the Wilson sisters of HEART.

Significantly, although 'Promised Land' had debuted impressively, the first rumblings of discontent began to seep through from fans and critics. Expecting a continuation of the epic predecessors, 'Promised Land' was actually a far more stripped down, basic affair. Three attempts were made to crack the singles market, with 'I Am I', 'Bridge' and 'Disconnected', but all these failed to hit home.

To market the record the group took the unusual step of playing two one off European concerts in October 1994, at the Astoria Theatre in London on the 20th and in Cologne, Germany the following day. A European tour proper was launched in February 1995. Alarmingly, Geoff Tate had forsaken any form traditional metal uniform and now stalked the stages with only sunglasses and 'stubbie' shorts. The band hit Japan in March then forged a union with TYPE O NEGATIVE for an exhaustive US expedition in April running through into July.

This trend towards simplicity continued with 'Hear In The Now Frontier', put together at Sixteenth Avenue Sound, Nashville, Tennessee and Studio Litho, Seattle and launched in May 1997. A wary, yet still loyal fan base, put the album into the US charts at number 19. This slump impacted hard as the group found itself searching for a new record label.

Undaunted, July of 1997 had the band looking into another awning vista of tour dates, commencing proceedings this time in North America. There would be consistent support band for this leg, QUEENSRŸCHE picking up local bands as they went, but before the end of the month the group was cancelling shows and cutting sets short due to ill health on Geoff Tate's part. In December QUEENSRŸCHE travelled to South America with MEGADETH and WHITESNAKE for shows in Brazil and Argentina. On December 13th QUEENSRŸCHE played the Ferro Carril Oeste Stadium in Buenos Aires, as it transpired, their final concert with the existing line-up.

For a band for whom line-up problems had been non existent throughout their career to date it came as somewhat of a shock to fans when DeGarmo announced he was to quit in January 1998. The guitarist soon busied himself recording with INFLATABLE SOULE frontman Peter Cornell, brother of SOUNDGARDEN's Chris Cornell yet surprisingly was unveiled in June 1998 as a member of ALICE IN CHAINS guitarist JERRY CANTRELL's solo touring band. De Garmo would later demo material with other ex ALICE IN CHAINS men bassist Mike Inez and drummer Sean Kinney. This union, together with SPONGE and CRUD singer Vinnie Dombroski, would transpire as SPYS 4 DARWIN and eventually resulted in an album 'Microfish'.

Having found a new home with Atlantic Records, QUEENSRŸCHE offered up 'Q2K' in September 1999. Unfortunately the creative direction had not been reversed and by now media reaction from the Metal press was almost hostile. Exacerbating these perceptions would be Geoff Tate's defiance and remarks which many fans took to be at best disparaging of Heavy Metal. 'Q2K', produced by Kelly Gray, only just scraped into the top 50 album rankings.

QUEENSRŸCHE, with Kelly Gray officially bowing in as new guitarist, toured America in October 1999 upfront of continental European concerts with Canadian act THE TEA PARTY to open 2000. Further solo shows in the USA would witness the band including the unexpected cover of U2's 'Bullet The Blue Sky'. The band picked up momentum as a triple billing flanking HALFORD and IRON MAIDEN that August. Obviously stung by the lacklustre reaction to 'Q2K', the band noticeably placed renewed emphasis on archive material, resurrecting 'Queen Of The Reich' for the occasion. These concerts also fostered a rumour that Tate, Rob Halford and IRON MAIDEN's Bruce Dickinson were to record a project billed as "The Three Tremors". Regrettably, this never transpired.

Two tribute albums to QUEENSRŸCHE would be released the same year. It would also be learned that frontman Geoff Tate had convened a solo project.

2001 found QUEENSRŸCHE signing up to Sanctuary Records. The band recorded two shows on the July 27th and 28th at Seattle's Moore Theater for their first release with the new partnership, a lavishly packaged double live CD 'Live Evolution'. Although the album would rekindle the media and fan enthusiasm afforded to early works there would be a minor hiccup when it was revealed the first 75'000 pressings came with incorrectly labelled track orders and other mis-prints.

Drummer Scott Rockenfield revealed his outside venture with partner Paul Speer. Suitably titled ROCKENFIELD / SPEER the duo would release the album 'Hell's Canyon'. Yet another QUEENSRŸCHE offshoot would be SLAVES TO THE SYSTEM which found both Rockenfield and Gray in league with Damon Johnson and Roman Glick of BROTHER CANE along with Scotty Heard of SWEATY NIPPLES. Rockenfield's new outfit debuted live in October at the Nashville New Music Conference.

Michael Wilton was not to be left out, emerging with his SOULBLENDER project in league with MY SISTERS MACHINE vocalist and former ALICE IN CHAINS member Nick Pollock, guitarist Dave Groves and drummer Wes Hallam. SOULBENDER would lay down a seven track EP exclusively for industry promotion purposes.

GEOFF TATE too would hit the solo trail, announcing an album project originally billed as 'Old World Order' for June 2002. Tate's recording band for this venture comprised of guitarists Jeff Carrell and Scott Moughton, bassist Cris Fox, keyboard player Howard Chillcott and SADHAPPY drummer Evan Schiller.

During mid May 2002 QUEENSRŸCHE announced that guitarist Kelly Gray was no longer with the band, fuelling immediate speculation that Chris DeGarmo was set to make a return. This latest conjecture was soon denied officially by the band as wishful thinking. GEOFF TATE meantime announced details of his debut solo tour, commencing June 22nd at the Sky Church venue in Seattle. In promotion for his solo venture Tate stunned long standing fans when he reportedly admitted that he had never been a "Metalhead" and cited Electronic Pop acts as his main inspiration. SCOTT ROCKENFIELD struck out solo too, delivering the album 'The X Chapters'.

QUEENSRŸCHE announced a projected album title of 'Tribe' for a 2003 studio album release. The band employed a stand-in second guitarist Mike Stone, previously credited with EDEN, KLOVER, the PETER CRISS band, CRAIG GOLDIE'S RITUAL and the JONAS HANSSON BAND, for their New Year's Eve headlining performance in Anchorage, Alaska but much to fans relief subsequently re-instated Chris DeGarmo. Back up to full strength QUEENSRŸCHE headed up a US ProgMetal touring extravaganza in June packaged with DREAM THEATER and FATES WARNING. Strangely an official press statement revealed DeGarmo was not to accompany the band for a round of European dates. With 'Tribe' signalling renewed support for the band longstanding fans would intrigued by comments by Geoff Tate in November that the band was seriously considering recording an up to date version of their magnum opus 'Operation: Mindcrime'. An in concert DVD, 'The Art Of Live', released in March of 2004 preceded April North American gigs with SYMPHONY X as support. Further tour dates saw the band in Europe throughout the Summer.

Finally bowing to unceasing fan pressure that had lasted many years QUEENSRŸCHE not only announced their intention to perform 'Operation: Mindcrime' in its entirety on their Autumn tour but also revealed they intended to cut a sequel album for new label Rhino Records. The shows would close with 'Silent Lucidity', featuring orchestra string sections. In addition, Pamela Moore returned as the character 'Sister Mary' and Michael Igor Delassandra, formerly an official composer for the Vatican, would accompany the band on keyboards and conducting of a string section. In interviews, Geoff Tate made it apparent the prospect of working with guitarist Chris DeGarmo once more was an option. However, it would be Mike Stone occupying the second guitar position by the time the tour kicked off.

During recording of 'Mindcrime II' in January 2005, Geoff Tate confirmed Chris DeGarmo was not involved but that he was welcome to return. By May it transpired that SNAKE RIVER CONSPIRACY mainman Jason Slater was aiding the band on the production front. North American arena gigs commenced in June supporting JUDAS PRIEST. The band revealed the set list for these shows would concentrate on mainly early material. Upon completion of this tour QUEENSRŸCHE embarked upon headliners through into October. However, three Mexican concerts would be cancelled due to "recording deadlines".

It would be revealed in December that the character of 'Dr X' on 'Operation Mindcrime II' would be portrayed by none other than the RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH and DIO legend Ronnie James Dio. Pamela Moore also reprised her role. The record would be slated for March 2006 release. Also on the cards would be a movie interpretation of the saga as Geoff Tate revealed in January 2006 that he had been commissioned to oversee a script based on the story of the two albums. 'Operation: Mindcrime II' shifted over 44,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at number 14 on the Billboard charts.

Mike Stone sessioned on the debut 'Almah' solo album project of ANGRA lead singer EDU FALASCHI in early 2006. Another QUEENSRŸCHE related product arrived in July, PAMELA MOORE's latest solo opus 'Stories From A Blue Room' featuring a guesting Michael Wilton.

Ronnie James Dio appeared on stage with QUEENSRŸCHE on October 5th at the Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles to sing his part of Dr. X on 'Operation Mindcrime II'.

Both Geoff Tate and Michael Wilton featured on a metalized version of THE BEATLES 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds' for the Restless Records tribute album 'Butchering The Beatles' released in October, this track also involving DIO band members guitarist Craig Goldy, bassist Rudy Sarzo, drummer Simon Wright and keyboard player Scott Warren.

In November 2006 Sanctuary Records combined material from the 'Geoff Tate' solo album with QUEENSRŸCHE tracks for the 'Face To Face' album. A stripped down acoustic version of 'The Killing words' was contributed to the 'VH1 Metal Mania Stripped Volume 3' compilation album issued through Sidewinder Music in March 2007.

QUEENSRŸCHE performed with an orchestra, dubbed the "Empire Orchestra", for the first time ever on August 23rd 2008 at the White River Amphitheatre in Auburn, Washington as part of the KISW 99.9 FM's 'Pain In The Grass' event, also featuring SEETHER, SHINEDOWN, SEVENDUST, DROWNING POOL, JET BLACK STARE and EARSHOT.

The group spent nine months crafting the concept album 'American Soldier'. In February 2009 Parker Lundgren, a member of Geoff Tate's solo band and Punk outfit SLEDGEBACK, was announced as the new QUEENSRYCHE guitarist.

Released in March 2009 through Rhino Records, the album was based on Geoff Tate's interview with veteran military personnel from the Korea and Vietnam conflicts, including his own father, described as "unflinching musical examination of the life of a solider and the consequences of war". Dialogue from these discussions was mixed into several of tracks. The band also brought soldiers into the studio with them to record vocals. The verses of the track 'Unafraid' featured the voice of Chris Devine, a Vietnam veteran, and Sean Lenahan, a veteran of Somalia. Also making a guest vocal appearance was Tate's 10-year-old daughter Emily on the duet 'Home Again'.

'American Soldier' sold 21,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at no. 25 on The Billboard 200 chart.In April QUEENSRŸCHE played a private acoustic concert for the students of the Paul Green School of Rock.

QUEENSRŸCHE took the 'American Soldier' tour online by broadcasting an entire show, held on 19th May at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida, live in high definition through cdpulse.tv. A high-definition stream of the performance was broadcast live as it happened worldwide in high-definition clarity to over 43,000 servers in 17 different countries.

Australian dates were conducted in August. The band, alongside TIGERTAILZ, SONATA ARCTICA, THE QUIREBOYS, W.A.S.P., TERRORVISION, GIRLSCHOOL, ROCK GODDESS and NEW YORK DOLLS, played the 'Hard Rock Hell' festival in December 2009 at Pontins holiday resort in Prestatyn Sands, North Wales.

Taking a diversion from the regular touring circuit, the band was included alongside performers such as BROKEN TEETH, ENDEVERAFTER, LYNAM, RATT, SKID ROW, STEREOSIDE, STONERIDER and TESLA for the 'ShipRocked' event, described an "unparalleled five-day rock and roll music cruise". Departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on 15th November 2009, ShipRocked aboard the Poesia cruise ship sailed to Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Georgetown, Grand Cayman, before returning on 20th November. 

Garry Sharpe-Young