Tag: Queensryche
1 M3 Rock Festival – Saturday Review – Part 2
I knew when I saw the announcement for the lineup at M3 in 2014, it was going to be an awesome show. As Friday night, and the first half of Saturday had already proved at M3, this was the Festival show to be at this year.
One of the acts that I was most anxious to see at M3 was Red Dragon Cartel. This return of Jake E. Lee to the big stage is something that I could not miss, and judging from the capacity crowd at the second stage, Jake E. Lee’s fans were in full force. Red Dragon Cartel did a great selection of tunes including music from Ozzy Osbourne, Badlands and of course Red Dragon Cartel. Darren Lewis did a fine job on vocals, and Jake E. Lee was freakin’ amazing, just as I had expected. As great as Red Dragon Cartel was, the evening was only going to get better from there.
Next up on the main stage was Queensryche. This was Queensryche with Todd La Torre on vocals in case you were wondering which version. I have not seen Todd LaTorre with Queensryche before, but I recall Queensryche’s last appearance at M3. It was obvious there was tension in the band at the time, and it ended up being one of the band’s last shows with their former singer Geoff Tate. With that being said, this was a different Queensryche than the one I saw previously, and I gotta say, I was impressed as hell. Queensryche was on fire at M3. They came out with all guns blazing, and Mr. LaTorre was absolutely incredible. As soon as I heard the opening riffs of “Nightrider” I was hooked. I haven’t heard Queensryche do this song in years. I was also super excited to hear “Queen of the Reich”. Man…oh Man, Queensryche practically stole the show, and I am pretty sure Todd LaTorre made about 10,000 new believers at the M3 Rock Festival. They were fantastic! A couple of days after M3, it was announced that Geoff Tate will and Queensryche have come to an agreement, and that Tate will no longer use the Queensryche name. This is good news, and I look forward to supporting both Queensryche and Geoff Tate in the future.
Our day was super packed, and I am sad to say that I missed Autograph. This was due to a conflicting schedule for an interview that we had lined up with Brad Gillis and Kelly Keagy from Night Ranger. (coming to HRH soon).
Next band up was Sebastian Bach and his solo band. As much as I love Sebastian, his performance at M3 this year was not my favorite. He kept going on and on about how his new album was # 1 on iTunes, and while I think that is great, and a hell of a hard accomplishment for any hard rock / musician from the 80’s, it came across kind of douchey. Sebastian seemed upset that folks still want to hear Skid Row songs, and while he did them and sound great, it kind of set the mood for his show. He was good, but he could have been so much better. He was amazing at the 2012 M3.
L.A. Guns was up next on the second stage. Aside from Kix, L.A. Guns has probably played more M3 Rock Festival’s than any other band, and always enjoy their shows. This year the band has a new guitarist, former Endeverafter frontman and guitarist Michael Grant. I have been fortunate enough to see Michael play with his former band, and I already knew that he is one bad ass dude. Grant does a great job as the band’s latest Axe slinger, and of course Phil Lewis and company were great. I can’t understand why they were on the second stage, but I digress.
I am embarrassed to say that the first time I saw Night Ranger live was at the 2012 M3 Rock Festival. Since then, I have made up for lost time and have seen them play live several times. The reason why I have gone, and will continue to go to Night Ranger concerts is that the band puts on an incredible live show. Brad Gillis and Joel Hoekstra really tear it up on stage, and are a blast to watch play. Jack Blades and Kelly Keagy still deliver some of the best rock vocals on the planet. Night Ranger’s set was far too short, but their condensed set was damn impressive, and I thought they were easily the best band of the day. The joy of music always comes out on the faces of Night Ranger. They always seem to enjoy playing as much as I do hearing and seeing them. Night Ranger also debuted their new song “High Road”, and I gotta say the new song is pretty good. I look forward to hearing the rest of the new album soon.
I didn’t make it over the hill again for Slaughter as the sky had opened up and turned what was an awesome weather day, into a rather soggy evening. I chose to protect my gear from the rain, and hung near the main stage for Tesla.
Tesla has been one of my favorite bands for a long time, and it has been a couple of years since I have seen them play (ironically Night Ranger opened up for them then too!) Night Ranger is always a tough act to follow in my opinion, but Tesla lived up to the challenge. Not only did Tesla debut a new song “MP3” off of their soon to be released album Simplicity, they also played killer set of tunes that covered the majority of their discography. I was a little disappointed that I didn’t hear “Song and Emotion” (one of my personal favorites) or Cumin’ Atcha Live, but it was still a great show. The Merriweather Post Pavilion was jam packed to one of the biggest crowds that I have ever seen for M3, and Tesla kept them all standing. This was a true testament to one great band.
Of all of the M3 Rock Festival’s I have been to, this one was by far my favorite. It was a great time with my good friend Ryo Vie, packed with awesome music and memories that I will never forget. I am already counting the days until M3 Rock Festival # 7 in 2015. I don’t know how they will top this lineup next year, but I have a feeling the next M3 Rock Festival is going to be even better!
2 The Sixth Annual M3 Rock Festival Begins Next Friday Night
The Sixth Annual M3 Rock Festival starts next Friday, and the 2014 lineup is stronger than ever. Each year, the fine folks at the Merriweather Post Pavillion bring in some of the finest classic rock acts in the U.S This year’s festival includes some first time acts at M3 including Autograph, Heaven’s Edge, Jake E. Lee’s Red Dragon Cartel, Femme Fatale, and John Corabi. (Corabi has been at M3 before with RATT, but never as a solo artist).
Friday Night’s headliner is Kix, and Saturday Night’s is Tesla. If you haven’t had a chance to check out Queensryche with Todd La Torre, or Jack Russell’s Great White, look no further. If you haven’t seen Extreme, Night Ranger or Stryper live, don’t miss this excellent opportunity to see them perform.
Overall, it is seventeen bands for a reasonable price, and tickets are STILL available. Don’t miss your chance to check out one of the coolest music festivals of the year.
You can buy tickets at this link!
Check out clips from Heaven’s Edge, Femme Fatale and Autograph below.
Heaven’s Edge – Skin to Skin
Femme Fatale – Falling In And Out of Love
Autograph – Turn up the Radio
0 New Video – Queensryche – Redemption
QUEENSRYCHE premiere new video for “Redemption” and kick off European tour on October 12
After the release of their self-titled album in June, legendary Seattle rockers Queensryche will be back on tour in Europe presenting the latest addition to the band’s multi-platinum musical catalog and their new front man Todd La Torre live to their European fans. “Queensryche” was mixed and mastered by famed Queensryche producer James “Jimbo” Barton who is known for working on the band’s classics “Operation: Mindcrime” and “Empire”. The album marks the debut of the lineup comprised of Todd La Torre (Vocals), Michael Wilton (Guitars), Parker Lundgren (Guitars), Eddie Jackson (Bass) and Scott Rockenfield (Drums).
As a special teaser for the upcoming European tour the band just finished a video for the album track “Redemption” with scenes from the studio recordings and first US shows with Todd.
Check it out below!
As previously announced, the band also recently filmed a ‘mini movie’ to the tracks, “Spore” “MidnightLullaby”, “A World Without” and “X2.” The four tracks will provide the score to a 10-plus minute story, dubbed “Queensryche: Ad Lucem”. The film was created by Veva Entertainment Co. with director Daniel Andres Gomez Bagby and producer Marco De Molina and was filmed last month on location at Central City Stages in Los Angeles. It will be released later this year.
The upcoming European tour dates are as follows:
12.10.2013 O2 Academy – London, United Kingdom
13.10.2013 Wulfrum Hall – Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
15.10.2013 The Garage – Glasgow, United Kingdom
16.10.2013 HMV Ritz – Manchester, United Kingdom
17.10.2013 Rock City – Nottingham, United Kingdom
18.10.2013 Button Factory – Dublin, Ireland
20.10.2013 Turbohalle – Bucharest, Romania
21.10.2013 Retro Music Hall – Prague, Czech Republic
22.10.2013 Orpheum – Graz, Austria
23.10.2013 Club 202 – Budapest, Hungary
25.10.2013 Theaterfabrik – Munich, Germany
26.10.2013 Burgerhaus – Quadrath-Itchendorf Bergheim, Germany
27.10.2013 Rockfabrik – Ludwigsburg, Germany
29.10.2013 Moonwalker – Aarburg, Switzerland
30.10.2013 Stadthalle – Langen, Germany
31.10.2013 Brielpoort – Deinze, Belgium
01.11.2013 Effennaar – Eindhoven, Netherlands
The upcoming American tour dates:
| 11/15/2013 | Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom | Hampton Beach | NH |
| 11/16/2013 | The Asylum | Portland | ME |
| 1/3/2014 | Snoqualmie Casino | Snoqualmie | WA |
| 4/17/2014 | Bergen Performing Arts Center | Englewood | NJ |
| 4/19/2014 | Mohegan Sun Casino | Uncasville | CT |
Tickets for all shows are available here: http://www.queensrycheofficial.com/tour
QUEENSRYCHE online:
2 New Video – Queensryche – Fallout
Queensryche (with Todd La Torre) has released a brand new clip “Fallout”. “Fallout” is on Queensryche’s new self titled album, available now!
0 Rockitt Rant – Queensryche vs. Queensryche
The long and continuing saga of the two Queensryche’s came to a bit of head on Tuesday morning with the release of the second Queensryche album in 2013. Queensryche’s new self titled album, with Todd La Torre on vocals is now available for the world to hear. In April, Geoff Tate released his own Queensryche album, Frequency Unknown. This may be the first time in music history, where two different bands released new music only weeks apart, using the same band moniker.
I have been an avid supporter of Queensryche since the 80’s. I have seen them live more times that I care to recollect. I have held Geoff Tate in the same regard as I have Bruce Dickinson, and Rob Halford. I have a lot of respect for the music on the first few albums of Queensryche’s career.
With that being said, after Queensryche’s 1994 album Promised Land, I thought the band started to go downhill. Their albums were not as consistent or as enjoyable as their earlier works. It took nearly two decades after the release of Promised Land for the band to implode, and the reasons are many. (Check out the HRH podcast on this topic).
So moving forward, we have two different Queensryche’s with new releases this year. I decided to purchase both albums at the same time, and listen to them both together. I wanted to decide on my own which of the two Queensryche’s was worth listening to.
It almost seemed that after Geoff Tate’s former band mates announced they were going release a new album with Todd La Torre at the helm, that Tate quickly rushed out his 
own Queensryche album. Geoff certainly pulled out all of the stops, with a new album that includes guitar work from KK Downing, Brad Gillis, Chris Poland, Dave Meniketti and many others. I truly believe that Tate’s new CD Frequency Unknown was meant as a big FU to his former band mates, and the fist on the cover would seemingly indicate. Even with all the talent on Frequency Unknown, nothing can save me from thinking that this album is a festering fondue of feces. This is a solo Geoff Tate album at best. The fact that he is trying to pass this off as a Queensryche album is a total disappointment. This album is practically a painful listen from beginning to end, and while it is Tate on vocals, his vocals are the only thing semi-familiar to Queensryche’s sound. Tate’s voice has definitely lost some range since the 90’s, and it is clearly evident on Frequency Unknown. His vocals aren’t bad, but just aren’t up to par with his early works. This is clearly evident on the re-recorded classic Queensryche songs on this album. They do not compare to the originals, and why anyone would choose these over the original bodies of work is beyond me. Some of these sound like they were recorded in a garage. Blech! On the good note, some of the solos on this CD are actually pretty good. Listen to the solos from Brad Gillis and Chris Poland, and I think you might enjoy those, even if the songs are subpar. Overall, Frequency Unknown is a below average release and is not one I will give a lot of replays.
In the other corner, is the new self titled CD from Queensryche with Todd La Torre. This album has been getting a little more hype that Tateryche’s CD, so I was hoping that it would be awesome. It isn’t, but it isn’t a bad start for a band starting over with a new singer. The first thing I noticed on this album is just how uncannily Todd La Torre sounds like Geoff Tate in his prime. His voice is so similar I did a double take on some songs on this album. One of the things that the other members of Queensryche wanted to do was head into a heavier direction with their music. This is something that the band was seemingly moving away from with Geoff Tate on the microphone. This album honestly feels more like a true Queensryche album to me. The guitar sound is there, and the vocals are way above average.
On a bad note, this album is severely lacking in great songs. It isn’t that the songs are bad, but they are missing something, and I can’t put my finger on it. At times they can be a little on the boring side. There are far too many mid-tempo numbers which is disappointing. I truly thought the band would blast off with La Torre on vocals. It is almost like the band is in the fast lane with the car stuck in third gear. They are grinding the gears trying to get the car up to speed. Whey they do get it gear, they shine, but they just don’t do it enough on this album. Geoff Tate may have written the majority of Queensryche’s songs over the years, and it seems that this version of Queensryche could still use some of his song writing talent. (Although, after listening to Frequency Unknown, I may have to retract that statement.)
The songs “Where Dreams Go To Die”, “Redemption”, “Don’t Look Back” and “Fallout” definitely merit several replays. On a good note, La Torre’s vocals do sound amazing, and judging from Michael Wilton’s guitar work, it sounds like he has been give a new lease on life with Tate being out of “this” Queensryche. This album could be the beginning of many great years of Queensryche with La Torre on vocals. I can’t wait to see what comes after this. La Torre can definitely get it done on the classic Queensryche tracks, as shown by the three live bonus tracks included on this CD “Queen of the Reich”, “En Force” and “Prophecy”.
So in conclusion, after listening to the two Queensryche albums I am extremely let down by Geoff Tate’s Queensryche. This is a very sub par album from one of the biggest Metal vocalists of the late 80’s and early 90’s. I feel like Queensryche with Todd La Torre could be better, but it is heading in the right direction. Queensryche may be a band where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The parts with Todd La Torre on vocals is the clear winner in this round. Two Queensryche’s is clearly two too many.
Geoff Tate, I understand your passion in keeping the Queensryche name, but if you continue to release albums as bad as Frequency Unknown, you won’t have to worry about what you are going to call your band. When you sing “Is There Anybody Listening”, you may hear crickets next time. It is time to move on, and build your solo career.
Queensryche – Frequency Unknown – Rating 
Out of 10
Queensryche – S/T – Rating: 
Out of 10
3 New Queensryche & Airbourne Songs Are Online Now
2013 is shaping up to be another solid year for hard rock. With great new rock from Saxon, Krokus and Buckcherry already here, and up and coming albums from Queensryche, Airbourne & Pop Evil on the way, I can’t wait to see what else is in store for the hard rocking music fans.
Check out the brand new song “Redemption” from Queensryche featuring Todd La Torre on vocals.
Check out the new song “Live It Up” from Airbourne!
0 QUEENSRYCHE ink new record deal with Century Media
New album slated for release June 11
Band comprised Of Todd La Torre, Michael Wilton, Parker Lundgren, Eddie Jackson and Scott Rockenfield heading out on “Return To History World Tour”
Legendary Seattle rockers QUEENSRYCHE are poised to regain their place as hard rock/heavy metal royalty in 2013. The band has just signed a new label deal with Century Media for the release of their latest studio album. The album is slated for release on June 11 and marks the debut album from the lineup comprised of Todd La Torre (Vocals), Michael Wilton (Guitars), Parker Lundgren (Guitars), Eddie Jackson (Bass) and Scott Rockenfield (Drums). The band premiered a snippet from a new song called “Redemption” from the upcoming release on Eddie Trunk’s radio show on February 22. The 90-second snippet can be viewed below!
QUEENSRYCHE join Century Media’s diverse roster comprised of some of music’s most recognizable talent, including IN FLAMES, IN THIS MOMENT, LACUNA COIL and ARCH ENEMY to name a few.
“QUEENSRYCHE is excited to begin writing this next chapter of our career with Century Media. Their passion and love for music has been apparent since early discussions and we are pleased to call them partners on this journey,” states bassist Eddie Jackson. “We are also thankful for all of the fans who have supported us from day one and helped us get to where we are today. Todd, Scott, Parker, Michael and I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for each and every one of you.”
QUEENSRYCHE will also be heading out on their “Return To History World Tour” this March and April. The tour kicks off on March 5th in Dubuque, IA and makes stops in 9 different countries wrapping up on April 26th in the Netherlands. The band will also be taking to the high seas on this year’s “Monsters Of Rock Cruise” and “Sweden Rock Cruise.” The 23 date trek will make stops in New York, Tennessee and Florida as well as in Canada, United Kingdom and Germany amongst others. Tickets for all shows are currently on sale.
QUEENSRYCHE first burst onto the music scene in 1982 with the release of their self-titled 4 song EP Queensrÿche. They very quickly gained international recognition and performed to sold-out audiences around the world. With the follow up first full-length album The Warning in 1984, and the ground breaking 1986 release of Rage For Order, QUEENSRYCHE continued to prove their worldwide dominance as one of the most respected and creative bands of the 80’s. In 1988 the band turned out yet another monumental album Operation: Mindcrime, which would go on to become one of the TOP 10 best selling concepts records of all time, and set the stage for continued sold out performances around the world. With the release of the critically acclaimed and commercially successful Empire in 1991, the band earned multiple Grammy Award nominations and won the MTV “viewers choice” award for the #1 chart topping hit “Silent Lucidity”. During the next ten years, the band continued to release albums and tour the world to sold-out audiences. QUEENSRYCHE has sold over 30 million albums worldwide and have continued to break new ground and push their creative process.
QUEENSRYCHE online:
“Return To History World Tour 2013”
Mar 5–Dubuque, IA–Diamond Jo Casino
Mar 7–Toronto, ON–Phoenix Concert Theatre
Mar 8–Englewood, NJ–Bergen Performing Arts Center
Mar 9–Jim Thorpe, PA–Penn’s Peak
Mar 10–Patchogue, NY–The Emporium
Mar 12–Nashville, TN–Wildhorse Saloon
Mar 14–Biloxi, MS–Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Mar 15–Tampa, FL–Ritz Ybor
Mar 16–Fort Lauderdale, FL–Monsters Of Rock Cruise
Mar 22–Orlando, FL–House Of Blues
Mar 23–Raleigh, NC–Longbranch
Mar 30–Uncasville, CT–Mohegan Sun Casino
Apr 6–Regina, SK–Casino Regina Show Lounge
Apr 11–Stockholm, SWE–Sweden Rock Cruise
Apr 13–Oulu, FIN–Club Teatria
Apr 14–Mons, BEL–Power Prog & Metal Festival @ Lotto Mons Expo
Apr 15–London, UK–O2 Academy
Apr 17–Nottingham, UK–Rock City
Apr 18–Manchester, UK–The Ritz
Apr 19–Dublin, IRE–The Academy Dublin
Apr 20–Duisburg, GER–Gluckaufhalle
Apr 21–Ludwigsburg, GER–Rockfabrik
Apr 23–Aaburg, SWI–Moonwalker
Apr 24–Munchen, GER–Theaterfabrik
Apr 26–Eindhoven, NET–Effennar
Other confirmed 2013 tour dates:
Jul 18–Oshkosh, WI–Rock USA Festival
Jul 19–Springville, IN–ABATE of Indiana “Boogie”
Jul 20–Erie, PA–Roar on the Shore Biker Rally
Aug 2–Sturgis, SD–The Sturgis Buffalo Chip
0 Geoff Tate Leaves Queensryche; Todd La Torre is Queensryche’s New Singer
Rock band Queensryche is continuing forward without vocalist Geoff Tate, who will be replaced by Crimson Glory singer Todd La Torre, Billboard has exclusively learned.
“Over the past few months, there have been growing creative differences within Queensryche. We want our fans to know that we hoped to find a common resolution, but in the end parting ways with Geoff was the best way for everyone to move forward in a positive direction,” drummer Scott Rockenfield said in a statement. “We wish him the best of luck with all of his future endeavors. We can’t wait to bring Queensryche to our fans with Todd behind the microphone.”
The statement also said that scheduled Queensryche performances “are on hold at [the] present time and revised routing is being worked on. Fans can check the band’s website for all of the latest tour information as it [becomes] available.”
Billboard requested a comment from Tate through Jeff Albright of the Albright Entertainment Group, but it wasn’t received by press time.
Queensryche also includes guitarists Michael Wilton and Parker Lundgren and bassist Eddie Jackson. Rockenfield, Wilton and Jackson are among the group’s original members. Tate joined the band after it formed in 1981. Guitarist and founding member Chris DeGarmo left Queensryche in 1997 and briefly rejoined in 2003 for Queensryche’s “Tribe” album. Kelly Gray originally filled DeGarmo’s slot, followed by Mike Stone, until Lundgren joined in 2009.
La Torre said in a statement a few weeks ago, and reiterated during an interview on Ron Keel’s “Streets of Rock & Roll” radio show that was posted online on June 14, that he still remains a member of Crimson Glory.
Fans and media have speculated about the state of Queensryche, which marked its 30th anniversary last year, for weeks due to rumors of internal conflict. They were sparked by an unconfirmed posting on MetalSludge.tv that Tate allegedly became violent toward other bandmates prior to an April show in Brazil after allegedly being fired. Then, during the Rocklahoma fest during Memorial Day weekend, Tate told the crowd “you guys suck” as he tried to get the audience to respond more enthusiastically.
On May 29 the other members of Queensryche announced it was forming a project called Rising West with La Torre. Rising West posted June 5 on its Facebook page that it was “being denied access to our own Facebook page and website (meaning Queensryche),” which promoted other side projects, such as Tate’s wine business and Rockenfield’s recording endeavors. In response, Tate’s step-daughter, Miranda, posted June 7 on Facebook that “it’s about time to get some truth on the table” and denied that other members couldn’t access the site, among other alleged problems. Rising West played Queensryche’s older material at two sold-out shows June 8-9 at Seattle’s Hard Rock Cafe.
In subsequent interviews, Rising West and Tate deflected questions about the situation. When Rising West appeared June 7 on KISM Seattle radio show “The Men’s Room,” Rockenfield said it was “a day-to-day” process as Queensryche determined its next move, but the band would definitely continue. Blabbermouth.net reported that during a June 15 interview on KISW, Tate said, “Just hang in there. Everything’s moving along and everything’s looking good” regarding the group.
Queensryche was scheduled to perform June 11 to open for the Scorpions in West Valley City, Utah, but only Tate appeared, backed by his solo band. NRToday.com reported June 18 that Queensryche had canceled its Aug. 10 appearance at the Douglas County Fair in Oregon, with Eddie Money replacing the act. It stated that fairgrounds director Harold Phillips attributed the cancellation to a falling out between Tate and the band. Tate has continued playing dates on his solo tour, which coincided with Queensryche’s dates for its current tour.
Queensryche is a Grammy Award-nominated band that broke into the mainstream with the 1988 concept album “Operation: Mindcrime.” The group has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, according to the statement. It’s biggest U.S. radio hit was 1991’s “Silent Lucidity,” which reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.
11 From The Ashes of Queensryche Comes Rising West!
I knew there were issues in the Queensryche camp, but this news comes as a bit of a surprise. Thanks to @NickinDallas for the tip!
On Friday June 8th and Saturday June 9th, the core members of Queensryche will debut their new band “Rising West” at the Hard Rock Café in Seattle WA. Rising West features Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, Scott Rockenfield, and Parker Lundgren of Queensryche, with powerhouse vocalist Todd La Torre of Crimson Glory. The band will be performing rare and classic hits from the first 5 Queensryche albums and plan on hitting the studio sometime early summer to begin recording their first release.
So what does Todd La Torre sound like? Check out this clip!
0 Video – Queensryche – “If I Were King”
After watching Queensryche’s performance from the Rocklahoma Music Festival last night (via HDnet), I couldn’t help but think that this might be one of the last Queensryche live shows. Much like the M3 performance, Geoff Tate left the stage before the end of the last song, and didn’t return. While I thought the band sounded good, I thought their performance was flat, and lacking chemistry. I hope I am wrong, as I have always loved Queensryche, and I would be disappointed if they didn’t continue as a band after this.
Queensryche’s song “If I Were King” seems very well suited for Memorial Day and deserves another look.
Hard Rock Hideout would like to thank all of the men and women of the military for their sacrifice and service to our country!
1 Don’t Forget – Rocklahoma is Being Televised Live on HDNet Today!!
Rock out this Memorial Day weekend and experience an epic LIVE Rock ‘n Roll event featuring an electrifying lineup of classic hair metal and hard rock bands.
On Sunday, May 27, HDNet takes fans to the Heartland for seven hours of exclusive LIVE coverage from the sixth annual Rocklahoma Music Festival in Pryor, Oklahoma.
This year’s lineup features the best of classic rock bands from the 80s, 90s and today including local Oklahoma City band Aranda, plus Rains, Charm City Devils, Puddle of Mudd, Jackyl, Chickenfoot, Queensyrche and more.
0 Vie’s Verses – Reflections on M3 2012 – Part One: The Highs
Another M3 Festival has come and gone leaving behind only the memories. 2012 was once again a great year for the M3 festival, and although Saturday’s portion of the show had a few hiccups and missed cues, overall, the festival was fantastic. A fun filled day of hard rocking, hair metal music, after a fun filled night of the same. As usual both days of the festival flew by and before I knew it, I was on my way home with a music hangover.
As with any major music production, there were plenty of highs, a few lows, and some pleasant surprises. Let’s look at each of these in a little more detail, shall we? Welcome to this very special 3-part edition of Vie’s Verses.
The Highs
WOMEN
Let’s start with the good stuff. There were a lot of great things to see at the 2012 M3 Festival, but one of the most immediately noticeable was all of the beautiful women. It’s great to know that hair metal still has women who love the music and look terrific. It’s also great to know that there are younger women who love hair metal and look terrific! Now granted, I am a happily married man, but if I wasn’t, the M3 festival is where I would go to find the next love of my life. These beauties were absolutely stunning! As Steve Whiteman said from the stage, “There are no ugly women here!” Well stated, Steve.
KIX
For the second year in a row, KIX headlined night one (dubbed the Kix-Off Party) and once again produced an amazing performance. I am always in awe of the energy that Steve Whiteman and Kix bring to the stage each time they perform live. This latest performance was no exception. Whiteman and company brought the goods in both the songs they played and the energy they performed them with. Classic Kix hits were all done to perfection, including surprises like “Lie Like A Rug.” And while Whiteman stated that Night Ranger should have headlined the show, there is no replacement for Kix. They were the true headliners of the evening.
STRYPER
One of the best performances at this year’s M3 was also one of the shortest (see Part Two: The Lows). Stryper came on during the early part of Saturday and after having to do a quick live sound check, they kick-started their 6-song performance with passion. Reach Out, Free, Calling On You, To Hell With The Devil, Soldiers Under Command, and Sing-Along Song were all performed during the condensed set. Each song was performed note perfect and Michael Sweet still has the range to hit all of the notes on every song. And while I would have loved to hear him sing Honestly (to truly test his range), the M3 guffaw to start the Saturday show prevented that from happening. All in all though, Stryper was the best performance of day two. I hope that they return next year as headliners.
QUEENSRYCHE
Wow! Geoff Tate not only looks great, but the man can still sing too! Queensryche absolutely blew me away during their performance. I had never been a huge Queensryche fan, I only own two albums and one of them is Hear In The Now Frontier, so I did not know a lot of the songs they performed. However, that didn’t matter. Their performance was so mesmerizing and intense, that I was mystified by all of the songs. And while I may not run out and buy their entire back catalog, if Queensryche were to schedule a future show near me, I would certainly have to check it out. Having never seen Queensryche before, my first experience was a grand one.
WARRANT
Once again, Warrant with Robert Mason made me a believer and renewed my membership in the Warrant fan club. This is the best that Warrant has sounded since Cherry Pie. Warrant not only performed all of their massive hits, they also took the time to play new material from their latest release, Rockaholic. The new songs sounded as fantastic as the classic material and if you’re a Warrant fan, I hope that you have a copy of Rockaholic. If not, you need to purchase it. Robert Mason looked as buff and beautiful as ever and his voice and energy has not shortened one bit. The rest of the band seemed rejuvenated by Mason’s lead and they all brought the energy of the early 90s with them. By watching Warrant perform, you would have sworn they were headlining a huge arena, not serving as a middle act for the M3 Festival. In a perfect world, Warrant would be one of the top bands on next year’s bill, perhaps co-headlining with Stryper. Hmmmm, maybe these two bands should get together for a summer tour? I know that I would go see that.
Be sure to check back tomorrow for part two…The Lows.
Follow RyoVie on Twitter at Twitter.com/RyoVie
1 Set Times Announced for the M3 Rock Festival
The set times have been announced for the 4th Annual M3 Rock Festival in Columbia, MD. Check below for bands and start times. Good Tickets are still available for the M3 Rock Festival at this link.
0 Rocklahoma Announces 2012 Lineup!
ROCKLAHOMA 2012
BRINGS TOP ROCK BANDS TO OKLAHOMA MAY 25-27
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND EVENT FEATURES
ROB ZOMBIE, CHICKENFOOT, CREED, MEGADETH,
SLASH, QUEENSRYCHE, CHEVELLE,
THEORY OF A DEADMAN, JACKYL AND MORE
TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24
Rocklahoma has announced the 2012 lineup for the three-day camp & rock festival that features the top current active rock artists and classic bands. America’s biggest Memorial Day Weekend party—May 25-27 at “Catch the Fever” Festival Grounds in Pryor, OK–is proud to be presented by Budweiser.
The initial Rocklahoma lineup includes: Rob Zombie, Chickenfoot featuringJoe Satriani, Kenny Aronoff (sitting in for Chad Smith), Michael Anthony & Sammy Hagar, Creed, Megadeth, Slash, Queensrÿche, Chevelle, Theory of a Deadman, Jackyl, Puddle Of Mudd, Hellyeah, P.O.D., Volbeat, 10 Years, Cavo, Adelitas Way, Black Stone Cherry, Pop Evil, Red, The Darkness, Art of Dying, Trivium, Aranda, Redlight King, James Durbin, Janus, New Medicine, Rival Sons, Anti Mortem, Gypsy Pistoleros, Wildstreet, Firstryke, Black Tora, Sunset Riot, The Glitter Boys, Fist of Rage, Switchblade Scarlett, Krank and more. Bands will perform on the Main Stage, Second Stage and the Retrospect Records Stage.
“Rocklahoma has quickly become the rock n’ roll party of Memorial Day Weekend, and 2012 is going to take the party to a whole new level,” commented Joe Litvag, co-executive producer of the festival for AEG Live. “We’ve got a great balance of talent this year with some amazing classic artists covering the last three decades along with plenty of today’s rock. But the most unique part of this festival is definitely the campground experience…Three days and nights of craziness and chaos that only Rocklahoma can deliver!”
General Admission and VIP packages for Rocklahoma go on sale Friday, February 24 at 10am CST at all Ticketmaster outlets and www.rocklahoma.com. To get access to the Rocklahoma internet pre-sale, which will be held from Wednesday, February 22 at 10am CST through Thursday, February 23 at 10pm CST, go to www.rocklahoma.com and sign up to receive the Rocklahoma newsletter. Fans can save by buying early, as ticket prices will increase in the coming weeks.
Camping tickets may be purchased by calling the Rocklahoma Camping Office at (866) 310-2288 or emailing [email protected]. Campgrounds open on Sunday, May 20 and will remain open though Tuesday, May 29.
The Axis Entertainment Campground Stage returns in 2012 to enhance the Rocklahoma camping experience. Anyone holding festival and camping tickets will be able to check out some of the finest new rock bands performing on this stage, located next to the General Store in the main campgrounds.
Rocklahoma’s VIP packages have expanded due to popular demand. Some of this year’s weekend VIP packages include:
Groupie Package (One Person)
– VIP Reserved Ticket
– Access to VIP Catering Tent
– Private Backstage Lounge Tent Access *
– Weekend Pit Access
– Package Inclusive of all taxes and fees
* This year, the Groupies will have their own Backstage Lounge, which is conveniently located between the Main and Second Stages.
Roadie Package (One Person)
– VIP Reserved Ticket
– Access to VIP Catering Tent
– Private Backstage Lounge Tent Access **
– Private Restroom Access
– Weekend Pit Access
– One Event Poster, T-Shirt and Festival Mug
– One Commemorative Laminate
– VIP Deck Access
– Package Inclusive of all taxes and fees
**Exclusive for Roadies and Rockstars is the Backstage Lounge, which is conveniently located between VIP Catering and the Main Stage.
Rockstar Package (Two Person)
– Roadie Package for Two
– Three Night stay at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa (room & tax only)
– Shuttle Service
– Best Seats in the House
– Package Inclusive of all taxes and fees
**Exclusive for Roadies and Rockstars is the Backstage Lounge, which is conveniently located between VIP Catering and the Main Stage.
For a detailed list of 2012 Rocklahoma VIP ticket options, packages and amenities, please visit www.rocklahoma.com.
Rocklahomais located just 45 minutes northeast of Tulsa, in Pryor, OK. The “Catch the Fever” Festival Grounds is a premier destination for a multi-day festival and includes on-site camping with access to restrooms and shower house, a general store for campers, VIP reserved seating, hospitality areas and much more.
Established in 2007 as a classic rock destination festival with the motto “life, liberty and the pursuit of rock,” Rocklahoma was revamped in 2010 as organizers teamed with AEG Live to create an event encompassing a much broader mix of classic, current and up-and-coming rock artists. In 2011, a record-breaking crowd of over 35,000 fans turned out for the festival, which raised over $10,000 for the American Red Cross as part of their tornado relief efforts in nearby Joplin, MO. The festival celebrates its 6th year in 2012.
ROCKLAHOMA – Life, Liberty & The Pursuit Of Rock!
0 Queensryche To Perform Operation: Mindcrime Onboard ShipRocked
ShipRocked guests are in for a very special treat next month, when Queensrcyhe takes the stage onboard the cruise to perform their epic concept album, Operation: Mindcrime, in its entirety!
This performance of Mindcrime — which will feature Maria Brink of In This Moment on vocals as “Sister Mary” — will be the band’s first of the album since the Rocklahoma festival in the 
summer of 2008.
“We’ve always enjoyed performing for our fans in intimate settings and the forthcoming ShipRocked cruise will certainly be one of those occasions,” states Queensryche lead singer Geoff Tate, who returns with the band for their second ShipRocked cruise. “We’re calling this one, ‘Mutiny on the Mindcrime.'”
The special performance of Operation: Mindcrime, covering all fifteen songs from the album including such fan favorites as “Revolution Calling,” “Operation: Mindcrime,” “I Don’t Believe In Love” and the closing track “Eyes Of A Stranger,” will be in addition to a greatest hits performance that will take place on another night of the cruise, which sets sail towards the Mayan Riviera on Monday, November 14th.
Maria Brink is ecstatic about joining Queensryche for the ten-minute song, “Suite Sister Mary.” “I am so excited and grateful for this amazing opportunity to sing with Queensryche on the upcoming ShipRocked cruise! All of us in the band are huge Queensryche fans, and Geoff Tate is one of the best lead singers in the business. Getting to sing ‘Suite Sister Mary’ off the original Mindcrime album is a huge honor. This is going to be a cruise to remember!”
Check out GetShiprocked.com for more info, or to reserve your tickets.
0 Shiprocked Adds Another Animal
ShipRocked is very pleased to announce that the amazing rock supergroup Another Animal will be joining us onboard the cruise this November!
Incorporating elements of hard rock, metal, punk and grunge, Another Animal features three members of Godsmack – guitarist Tony Rombola, bassist Robbie Merrill and drummerShannon Larkin, along with original Godsmack guitarist Lee Richards (ex-Dropbox) and ex-Ugly Kid Joe singer Whitfield Crane.
The seeds of Another Animal were planted in 2004 when Godsmack was on their tour with Metallica and flourished in 2006 during the Godsmack sessions for the IV album. The band released its self-titled debut album in 2007 and first single “Broken Again” reached #8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. 2011 marks the return of Another Animal with the release of a new single “Fall of Rome” due to impact radio this Fall. The band will follow up the single release with a full-length record slated for 2012.
Another Animal joins a stout lineup that includes Buckcherry, Broken Teeth, Queensryche, Sevendust, Hinder, Hell Yeah, Sick Puppies, Candlebox, Filter, Living Colour, In This Moment and Lynam.
To reserve your spot onboard the ultimate rock and roll cruise vacation with a backstage pass, just click “book now” or call us at 1-888-438-9509 to book over the phone!
4 Queensrÿche – Concert Review: Live At The Crocodile Rock Cafe, August 2nd, 2011
Queensrÿche – When I received the assignment from Rob Rockitt to cover the Queensryche show at The Crocodile Rock Cafe, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, I was swirling with many emotions. Queensryche has been a core favorite of mine since I first heard their Metal classic “Queen of the Reich”, on a late night FM show called Metal Shop, way back around 1983. The last time I saw Queensryche in concert was back in 1986. 1986! They opened for Ozzy Osbourne on his “The Ultimate Sin” tour, while they were supporting their own eventual classic: “Rage For Order”. The venue back then was the Springfield Civic Center in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Fast forward twenty five years later and I’m still the ever loyal Queensryche fan. Or am I? You see, I still did not pick up their new album “Dedicated To Chaos” going into this concert and believe me, I felt really out-of-place for this. I figured all along: Old School Queensryche rules anyways. Truth be told, on this Tuesday evening, on August 2nd of 2011… “live” Old School Queensryche DID rule. I will touch more on this “Old School” topic as you read along. To make up for my slacking of loyalty, I did purchase an autographed CD of “Dedicated To Chaos” at the merch table. I fulfilled my Metal duty after all.
As I sat at the front bar at the Croc Rock, with staff photographer Tom Coderre, we both realized the atmosphere around us getting a bit more crowded. A hell of a lot more crowded. As soon as 6 pm hit, the line of Queensryche fans began to stretch from the venue door, through the bar and pouring out onto Hamilton Boulevard. This was not a short line. This was a very long line of Old School Queensryche fans. Immediately, from checking the faces of the fans and the sea of Queensryche concert t’s of past tours, within this growing line, I felt the electricity in the air. Tom and I were about to witness an amazing night of live Queensryche… a night of Old School Metal.
Any Rock, Hard Rock or Metal fan knows that feeling right before a core band of theirs takes the stage. The anticipation and the dragonflies in my stomach seemed to overwhelm me. I was getting psyched-out and Queensryche had not even taken the stage yet! I gave Tom the nod to take his position at the reserved area for photographers, he looked back at me and smiled with Metal glee. I studied the guitar tech at work, the artificial fog that enveloped the venue, the security guards (or public relations as their called on their t-shirts) as they began to make hand gestures to each other that only meant it was all about to go down… then… Queensryche took the stage!
The exhilaration was on overdrive now as Queensryche fired up the opening track from “Dedicated To Chaos”: “Get Started”. Metal be thy name did this “new” Queensryche song sound unreal great to my Old School ears! As the rhythmic thunder of this song was raging through my veins, I’m thinking to myself, “Get Started” couldn’t be a better song to open this night with! So much for my Old School mentality. Yes, I did get schooled on some new Queensryche this particular night.
Onstage Geoff Tate did frequently acknowledge the voluminous crowd of fans, making us all feel like we were one big Queensryche family. The entire band looked and played not only like seasoned pros, they commanded the stage as a unified force of their legendary songs. Never once could I not realize I was witnessing a Metal band of immense influence, a band that deserves more recognition for their contributions to Rock. From Progressive Metal to a chart topping ballad the likes of “Silent Lucidity”, Queensryche has played it all… and they played it with pride, class and skill for me to witness on that memorable night.
The Old School fever meter began its climb once the first beat of “I Don’t Believe In Love” hit the amps. This was early in the set and the song that told all of us in attendance that Queensryche will Rock our faces off tonight… and they did just that. Geoff introduced “The Lady Wore Black” as where “it all began for us”. The fans went nuts. I went nuts. Queensryche ripped into this legendary song with probably the same enthusiasm as they held for it 30 years ago. As I sang out loud to “The Lady Wore Black” and pumped my fists and Metal horns to the air, I also
found the time to high-five my fellow Old School fans around me, both young and old. The excitement was all too much to not share. It’s nights like these where Metal fans unite as one.
“Walk In The Shadows” rocked the place down! If there ever was a song that sounds ten times better when played live by Queensryche, then this is the one. This Queensryche classic sounds intense on album, I’ll never deny that, only hearing and experiencing it live with a throng of frenzied fans singing along was unquestionable Metal bliss for me. This was a point during the night when I realized just how powerful Geoff Tate’s vocals are. What a song… what a band… what a Metal moment.
To say I was moved and psyched-out beyond my wildest Metal dreams is an understatement, when describing how I felt when Queensryche played their encore. “Jet City Woman” had every fan squeezed into this hot and sticky Croc Rock belting out each
syllable, to each word, of this song’s amazing lyrics. This was a Metal high that money can’t buy. Without warning, “Empire” was next, without a hesitation from the band. Metal as my witness, my circulatory system was running on pure adrenaline now… there was nothing that was going to separate the energy that we the fans were sharing with Queensryche, on this glorious August night. Then, my god almighty it only got more insane… the final song of the night kicked in: “Eyes Of A Stranger”.
To summarize this Queensryche encore is to say: After 30 years of Queensryche, this band specifically saved the best for last. Geoff Tate sounded ridiculously amazing on vocals, from “Get Started” all the way to the shows close. The band sounded prolific at every turn and it was as if these three encore songs were meant to be played for just the fans in attendance that night and never be played again. 19 songs were played live by Queensryche, a lengthy set that usually fans can only wish for. Only this night of live Queensryche songs were very real.
I witnessed for myself many, many club shows during my lifetime, only I’ve never witnessed the embracing of Old School like this before, among the fans and band. Queensryche wanted to be there. The fans wanted to be there. I wish I could go back there again and relive that night over… and over again. Metal be thy name.
As side notes: I lost Tom Coderre for the entire show, yet I did make a couple of new friends. Upon Tom and I reuniting after the show, we were both fortunate enough to meet each member of Queensryche. I will tell the world this: Queensryche are Metal legends, professionals… and Metal gentlemen. Thank you Queensryche for this everlasting Metal moment in time.
Set List:
Get Started
Damaged
I Don’t Believe In Love
Hit the Black
The Hands
A Dead Man’s Words
At 30,000 Ft
Rhythm of Hope
Real World
NM 156
Screaming In Digital
The Lady Wore Black
Walk In The Shadows
The Right Side Of My Mind
Around the World
Silent Lucidity
Encore:
Jet City Woman
Empire
Eyes Of A Stranger
LONG LIVE QUEENSRYCHE.
Stone.
2 New Video – Queensryche – Get Started
Queensryche’s new album, Dedicated to Chaos is in stores now. Check out the new clip, “Get Started” below.
0 Queensryche’s “Dedicated to Chaos” Coming in June!
TO CELEBRATE THEIR 30th ANNIVERSARY IN ROCK BY RELEASING NEW ALBUM DEDICATED TO CHAOS THIS SUMMER
BAND TO TOUR THIS SUMMER IN SUPPORT OF NEW ALBUM
Queensrÿche announced hat their new album will be called Dedicated to Chaos and will be released on June 28th in North America. Other territories will be announced soon.
It’s the band’s first effort for its new label, Roadrunner Records/Loud & Proud. The band – featuring Geoff Tate, Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, Scott Rockenfield and Parker Lundgren — is currently planning a tour in support of the new opus, which was recorded in its native Seattle. Tour dates and information will be released when available.
“Modern life moves fast,” commented frontman Geoff Tate about the album. “Plug into the rhythm of the now with our 12th studio album, Dedicated to Chaos. It’s a clash and slash of musical experimentation anchored by the pulse of digital code.” He did issue one suggestion to listeners as well, saying: “Enjoy – headphones are a must.”
Queensrÿche’s 1988-issued album Operation: Mindcrime is universally respected as a classic concept release about rock, revenge and redemption, which is ultimately regarded as one of the most important and essential hard rock records in the genre’s expansive canon. 1990’s follow-up, Empire, yielded a #1 single, the Grammy-nominated ballad “Silent Lucidity,” which the band performed at the 1992 Grammy Awards accompanied by a supporting orchestra.
In 2006, the band released Operation: Mindcrime II, a scorching sequel to their original. The band then hit the road performing both albums Operation: Mindcrime and Operation: Mindcrime II back-to-back in their entirety in an incredible theatrical presentation throughout the year. The final performance was recorded at The Moore Theatre in Seattle that October and the Mindcrime at the Moore double CD/DVD release debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Music DVD Chart and eventually reached Gold status.
The band is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and Dedicated to Chaos marks a new and riveting chapter in Queensrÿche’s already impressive history that fans will not want to miss.
And the chaos has just begun.
Track Listing:
- Get Started
- Hot Spot Junkie
- Got It Bad
- Around The World
- Higher
- Retail Therapy
- At The Edge
- Broken
- Hard Times
- Drive
- I Believe
- Luvnu
- Wot We Do
- I Take You
- The Lie
- Big Noize
0 Shiprocked Adds Queensryche & Living Colour!
Shiprocked has added Queensryche & Living Color to its ultimate rock and roll cruise vacation!
Shiprocked will feature live performances by Buckcherry, Queensryche, Hinder, Hellyeah, Sevendust, Living Colour, In This Moment and many more!
Cabins are on-sale now at getshiprocked.com, or by calling 1-888-438-9509! Book yours today!
5 Geoff Tate Of Queensrÿche – The Hard Rock Hideout Interview!
GEOFF TATE – When you delve your eardrums back into the eighties decade, midway through the nineties, Heavy Metal had it’s fair share of flamboyant front men. What set any front man from the pack then, as it does to this very moment, are the vocals. Smoke and mirrors will only take you so far in the vast world of Heavy Metal and Hard Rock. Geoff Tate has never tricked anyone with his vocals, instead he has left a generation or two in pure awe from his falsetto and vocal range. Of course, there is the entire Queensryche band behind Geoff Tate, a band which has distinguished themselves as innovators within the progressive realm of Heavy Music for three decades strong.
Whenever names of the greatest singers of the Heavy Metal era come up through conversations I have, with my peers or other musicians, Geoff Tate is at the top of the list. While interviewing Geoff, I realized he is focused on the present and not the past. Geoff is not only extremely polite, he is one to pause before answering a question, putting precise care into how he chooses his words. Geoff talks about the thirtieth anniversary of Queensryche, the twentieth anniversary of their “Empire” album, his thoughts about Grunge and his committed patriotism towards the U.S. Armed Forces. Here is what Geoff Tate had to say.
HRH: Queensryche are celebrating the twentieth anniversary of “Empire”. After two decades, what is it, that stands out the most about “Empire” for you?
GEOFF TATE: We never look back as a band. I never really listened to it again, maybe for reference purposes. It’s what we’re doing at the moment that I listen to. For the re-release, we found stuff sitting around in the closet to put on the record. “Empire” happened at a really good time in history, right after the “Mindcrime Tour”. “Empire” reflects us being home from a writing standpoint, how we felt towards relationships and the environments around us. I really like the record. It was a special time in Rock history, Rock music was everywhere, on MTV and radio. Now, Rock seems to be underground.
HRH: “Silent Lucidity” illuminates that “it” factor. This song became huge of course. How were you able to make “Silent Lucidity” coexist amongst the other songs on “Empire” so well?
GEOFF TATE: It was written like all our songs, as acoustic and voice. Our musical character went into it, there’s Classical and all different styles of music that makes up our signature sound. This song was written with the mentality of Queensryche in mind, usually a group has chemistry and Queensryche has always had that chemistry. The chord sequences and frequency patterns will emerge from a song, then you know it’s Queensryche, then you can identify the song to our band.
HRH: How is the next Queensryche album coming along?
GEOFF TATE: It’s coming along really good, we worked on it for the whole day today. We’re looking at a release for Spring of 2011, that’s our goal. We’re in the final stages of the album now, we need to do drum tracks on a few songs. After Thanksgiving we’ll get right back to it.
HRH: What young gun band or vocalist out there today, impresses you the most?
GEOFF TATE: Well, you know, being the age I am, the younger and newer bands just don’t speak to me artistically. Being an older guy, I’ve been through a lot. I’m pretty busy listening to the music that’s in my head.
HRH: The exemplary and patriotic “American Solider” album resonates your pride and respect for our U.S. Armed Forces. Would you ever consider a sequel to “American Soldier”?
GEOFF TATE: I could write a lot of albums based on that subject! I listened to so many wonderful stories and they were all amazing stories. So yes, I could write several albums on that subject.
HRH: Have you ever pondered making a documentary on “American Soldier”?
GEOFF TATE: On our Iraq and Kuwait trips, there was a lot of footage shot and I’m very pleased with how it came out. We did two weeks of shows for our troops over there in Iraq and Kuwait. It was inspirational and a great honor to play for our troops live.
HRH: It’s been reported that you will be performing along with Y&T and other Rock greats, at a New Years Eve benefit concert for Phil Kennemore. How far back do you go with Phil Kennemore?
GEOFF TATE: Let’s see, our first tour with Y&T goes back to the mid 80’s, around 1984 or something like that. I’m good friends with Mike Meniketti as well, my wife is friends with his wife too.
HARD ROCK HIDEOUT NOTE: Phil Kennemore has been the longtime bass guitarist for Y&T. Dave Meniketti is a founding member, vocalist and lead guitarist for Y&T. Phil Kennemore is currently and bravely battling metastatic cancer. This benefit concert for Phil Kennemore will take place on New Years Eve at The Avalon in Santa Clara, California.
HRH: The progressive style of Queensryche is what sets your band apart from ever being pigeonholed as just Heavy Metal. Do you agree that “Operation Mindcrime” set the standard for other Progressive Metal bands to follow?
GEOFF TATE: Well, I think it was a pivotal record for us. “Operation Mindcrime” broke new ground for us and other bands as well. That album was very inspirational to us and other bands. As musicians, we are inspired by other musicians, it affects the way we play.
HRH: What’s your most proud vocal performance, live and/or in studio?
GEOFF TATE: Probably what I’m working on now! This next Queensryche album is a personal journey. In terms of best or worst, it’s all about just getting the song out. We try to paint the best picture with the subject matter as musicians. We’re always experimenting musically. With me, it could be phrasing a song or experimenting with melody, experimenting with chord arrangements, playing around with different patterns and making it work.
HRH: Is there another solo album in the future for you?
GEOFF TATE: Yeah, I’ve been working on one. I have so many songs written, only I’ve been busy with Queensryche the last several years. Probably in the next couple of years I’ll have a new solo album out.
HRH: Do you stay in touch with Chris DeGarmo?
GEOFF TATE: Yeah, probably once every couple of months we have lunch together. We definitely stay in touch.
HARD ROCK HIDEOUT NOTE: Chris DeGarmo was a founding member for Queensryche. Chris was their lead and rhythm guitarist, as well as being a songwriter for the band. Back in 1997, Chris officially left Queensryche. In 2003, Chris did record on the Queensryche album “Tribe” and wrote and recorded on the song “Justified” for the 2007 Queensryche greatest hits album “Sign Of The Times”.
HRH: Having strong roots in Seattle, Washington, did you embrace Grunge, tolerate it or it never mattered?
GEOFF TATE: The term “Grunge” is not something the bands that get lumped into are very comfy with. They were and still are Rock bands to me. They were all right behind us. Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains and Soundgarden, they all played gigs with us, they all opened for us and I know these guys well. I’m very good friends with Mike McCready and Jerry Cantrell.
HRH: Growing up as a young singer, musician and songwriter, how much were you influenced by Ronnie James Dio?
GEOFF TATE: Quite a bit in a lot of ways. Ronnie was a mentor for me and the band. Our first tour to Europe was with DIO. Ronnie showed us what to do and what not to do. Ronnie was a true gentleman, a great man and very kind. He always explained things to us. Ronnie had open ears and would listen to what you had to say. I definitely miss him very much.
HRH: When you released the first Queensryche EP, back in 1983, did you envision your band to reach such legendary status?
GEOFF TATE: No. I never really think about that. I always thought of the present day and still do. Queensryche’s Thirtieth Anniversary is coming up, with a big tour to follow in the Spring and Summer of 2011. It’s been thirty years already, it’s very sobering!
1 Queensryche Empire 20th Anniversary CD Giveaway!
Deluxe 2CD and Digital Packages Feature Remastered Original Album Plus 13 Bonus Tracks, Including 10 Previously Unreleased Live Recordings
Hard Rock Hideout has one copy of the new 20th Anniversary Remastered Edition of Queensryche’s Empire to give away to one lucky fan! Check below for more details!
Queensrÿche has partnered with Capitol/EMI for the November 9 release of an expanded 20th Anniversary Edition of the band’s triple platinum-certified breakout album, Empire. The new 2-CD and digital packages both include the remastered album, featuring six hit singles, including the #1 smash “Silent Lucidity,” as well as 13 bonus tracks, among them 10 previously unreleased live performances recorded in 1990 at London’s Hammersmith Odeon. The 2-CD package is presented in a lift-top box with five postcards, a fold-out poster and a booklet featuring photos from the band’s personal archive.
Empire also features the Billboard Top 10 Modern Rock hits “Jet City Woman” and “Another Rainy Night,” the Top 20 single, “Anybody Listening?,” and the Top 30 singles “Best I Can” and Empire.” In addition to the aforementioned live recordings, Empire (20th Anniversary Edition)’s bonus tracks include “Last Time in Paris” from the Ford Forlaine soundtrack, “Dirty Lil’ Secret,” and the band’s cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Scarborough Fair.”
QUEENSRŸCHE
EMPIRE
(20th Anniversary Edition)
[2CD, digital]
DISC 1
1. Best I Can
2. The Thin Line
3. Jet City Woman
4. Della Brown
5. Another Rainy Night (Without You)
6. Empire
7. Resistance
8. Silent Lucidity
9. Hand On Heart
10. One And Only
11. Anybody Listening?
12. Last Time In Paris [Bonus Track]
13. Scarborough Fair [Bonus Track]
14. Dirty Lil’ Secret [Bonus Track]
DISC 2 (previously unreleased: all tracks recorded live 11/15/90 at London’s Hammersmith Odeon)
1. Resistance
2. Walk in the Shadows
3. Best I Can
4. Empire
5. The Thin Line
6. Jet City Woman
7. Roads To Madness
8. Silent Lucidity
9. Hand On Heart
10. Take Hold Of The Flame
Please Enter Your Name and Email address to Enter the Drawing!!
0 Queensryche’s “Resistance” Live Stream Available Now!
In celebration of the release of the 20th Anniversary Edition of QUEENSRŸCHE EMPIRE on November 9th (EMI/Capitol), check out the stream of RESISTANCE (recorded live at London’s Hammersmith Odeon on 11/15/90).
QUEENSRŸCHE – RESISTANCE (Live in London):
http://emicat.edgeboss.net/qtime/emicat/queensryche/empire/queensryche-resistance_live-hint.mov
“Resistance” became the tour opener for the Queensrÿche shows of the 90s. Singer Geoff Tate and guitarist Michael “Whip” Wilton share their thoughts:
“The song Resistance was a song written about protecting the environment. This is a cause I felt connected to when we wrote the song and a cause I still feel strongly about today.” – GEOFF TATE
“Resistance was one of the last songs recorded for Empire. I had the parts ready and Chris (DeGarmo) and I pieced the music together for Geoff to sing this idea he had about the resistance in America at the time. The song recorded fast and my solo was a one taker. Kind of a whip jig.” – MICHAEL WILTON
1 QUEENSRŸCHE’S TRIPLE-PLATINUM ‘EMPIRE’ REMASTERED AND EXPANDED FOR 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION, TO BE RELEASED NOVEMBER 9 BY CAPITOL/EMI
Deluxe 2CD and Digital Packages Feature Remastered Original Album Plus 13 Bonus Tracks, Including 10 Previously Unreleased Live Recordings
Queensrÿche has partnered with Capitol/EMI for the November 9 release of an expanded 20th Anniversary Edition of the band’s triple platinum-certified breakout album, Empire. The new 2-CD and digital packages both include the remastered album, featuring six hit singles, including the #1 smash “Silent Lucidity,” as well as 13 bonus tracks, among them 10 previously unreleased live performances recorded in 1990 at London’s Hammersmith Odeon. The 2-CD package is presented in a lift-top box with five postcards, a fold-out poster and a booklet featuring photos from the band’s personal archive.
After building a devoted fan base with album and EP releases throughout the 1980s, including 1988’s critically acclaimed Operation: Mindcrime, Queensrÿche broke into the mainstream across North America and abroad with the 1990 release of Empire. In the U.S., the album peaked at #7 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and its hit ballad “Silent Lucidity” quickly became a heavy rotation staple at rock radio and on MTV, topping Billboard’s Modern Rock singles chart and earning Queensrÿche the coveted MTV Viewers Choice Award for the song’s music video. Empire also made the U.K.’s Top 10, and the album’s international success led to Queensrÿche’s 18-month headlining “Building Empires” world tour, the band’s longest trek to date.
Empire also features the Billboard Top 10 Modern Rock hits “Jet City Woman” and “Another Rainy Night,” the Top 20 single, “Anybody Listening?,” and the Top 30 singles “Best I Can” and Empire.” In addition to the aforementioned live recordings, Empire (20th Anniversary Edition)’s bonus tracks include “Last Time in Paris” from the Ford Forlaine soundtrack, “Dirty Lil’ Secret,” and the band’s cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Scarborough Fair.”
Since forming in Bellevue, Washington in 1981, Queensrÿche has sold more than twenty million albums around the world. For more information, visit Queensrÿche’s official web site: http://www.queensryche.com
QUEENSRŸCHE
EMPIRE
(20th Anniversary Edition)
[2CD, digital]
DISC 1
1. Best I Can
2. The Thin Line
3. Jet City Woman
4. Della Brown
5. Another Rainy Night (Without You)
6. Empire
7. Resistance
8. Silent Lucidity
9. Hand On Heart
10. One And Only
11. Anybody Listening?
12. Last Time In Paris [Bonus Track]
13. Scarborough Fair [Bonus Track]
14. Dirty Lil’ Secret [Bonus Track]
DISC 2 (previously unreleased: all tracks recorded live 11/15/90 at London’s Hammersmith Odeon)
1. Resistance
2. Walk in the Shadows
3. Best I Can
4. Empire
5. The Thin Line
6. Jet City Woman
7. Roads To Madness
8. Silent Lucidity
9. Hand On Heart
10. Take Hold Of The Flame
TOUR DATES:
The Queensrÿche Cabaret
Oct 28 VooDoo Lounge at Harrah’s Casino, Kansas City, MO
Oct 29 House of Blues, Chicago, IL
Oct 30 Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, Mount Pleasant, MI
The “Best of” Tour
Oct 31 Buffalo Wild Wings, Mesa, AZ
Nov 13 Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, NV
Dec 30 D&R Theatre, Aberdeen, WA
Jan 22 Peppermill Concert Hall, Wendover, NV
0 QUEENSRYCHE SIGNS TO ROADRUNNER/LOUD & PROUD RECORDS
Four-time Grammy nominees Queensryche have signed a multi-album, worldwide deal with Roadrunner/Loud & Proud Records. The band’s label debut –their twelfth studio album overall- is tentatively scheduled for a Spring 2011 release. Singer and founder Geoff Tate remains the creative nucleus of the band, which continues to make relevant, against-the-grain hard rock that entices fans, both new and diehard.Queensryche have been – and unquestionably remain- one of the most respected and innovative names in forward-thinking hard rock throughout the course of their nearly 30-year history. Since their inception over 25 years ago, Queensryche have sold over 20 million albums worldwide and have performed in over 22 countries. “We are very happy to be signing with Road Runner/Loud and Proud. This is the rock label and a place where they are as excited about our music as we and our fans are,” Tate said. “We are excited to welcome Queensryche to the label” stated Loud & Proud President Tom Lipsky. “They have earned global acclaim for their distinctive approach to music and we are confident of a successful partnership with them.” Queenryche’s 1988-issued album Operation: Mindcrime is universally respected as a classic concept release about rock, revenge and redemption. The album elicited comparisons to The Who’s Tommy and Pink Floyd’s The Wall and is ultimately regarded as one of the most important and essential hard rock records in the genre’s expansive canon. 1990’s follow-up, Empire, yielded a #1 single, the Grammy-nominated ballad “Silent Lucidity,” which the band performed at the 1992 Grammy Awards accompanied by a supporting orchestra.In 2006, the band released Operation: Mindcrime II, a scorching sequel to their original. The band then hit the road performing both albums Operation: Mindcrime and Operation: Mindcrime II back-to-back in their entirety in an incredible theatrical presentation throughout the year. The final performance was recorded at The Moore Theatre in Seattle that October and the Mindcrime at the Mooredouble CD/DVD release debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Music DVD Chart and eventually reached Gold status.Visit http://www.queensryche.com/ for more information.
0 20th Anniversary Edition of Queensryche’s Empire to be released Sept. 14
QUEENSRŸCHE’S TRIPLE-PLATINUM ‘EMPIRE’ REMASTERED AND EXPANDED FOR 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION, TO BE RELEASED SEPTEMBER 14 BY CAPITOL/EMI
Deluxe 2CD and Digital Packages Feature Remastered Original Album Plus 13 Bonus Tracks, Including 10 Previously Unreleased Live Recordings
Queensrÿche has partnered with Capitol/EMI for the September 14 release of an expanded 20th Anniversary Edition of the band’s triple platinum-certified breakout album, Empire. The new 2 CD and digital packages both include the remastered album, featuring six hit singles, including the #1 smash “Silent Lucidity,” as well as 13 bonus tracks, among them 10 previously unreleased live performances recorded in 1990 at London’s Hammersmith Odeon. The 2 CD package is presented in a lift-top box with five postcards, a fold-out poster and a booklet featuring rare photos from the band’s personal archive.
After building a devoted fan base with album and EP releases throughout the 1980s, including 1988’s critically acclaimed Operation: Mindcrime, Queensrÿche broke into the mainstream across ..North America.. and abroad with the 1990 release of Empire. In the U.S., the album peaked at #7 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and its hit ballad “Silent Lucidity” quickly became a heavy rotation staple at rock radio and on MTV, topping Billboard’s Modern Rock singles chart and earning Queensrÿche the coveted MTV Viewers Choice Award for the song’s music video. Empire also made the U.K.’s Top 10, and the album’s international success led to Queensrÿche’s 18-month headlining “Building Empires” world tour, the band’s longest trek to date.
Empire also features the Billboard Top 10 Modern Rock hits “Jet City Woman” and “Another Rainy Night,” the Top 20 single, “Anybody Listening?,” and the Top 30 singles “Best I Can” and Empire.” In addition to the aforementioned live recordings, Empire (20th Anniversary Edition)’s bonus tracks include “Last Time in Paris” from the Ford Forlaine soundtrack, “Dirty Lil’ Secret,” and the band’s cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Scarborough Fair.”
Since forming in Bellevue, Washington in 1981, Queensrÿche has sold more than 20 million albums around the world. The band continues to tour and record; American Soldier was released last year. For more information, visit Queensrÿche’s official Website: www.queensryche.com
Queensrÿche: Empire (20th Anniversary Edition) [2CD, digital]
DISC 1
1. Best I Can
2. The Thin Line
3. Jet City Woman
4. Della Brown
5. Another Rainy Night (Without You)
6. Empire
7. Resistance
8. Silent Lucidity
9. Hand On Heart
10. One And Only
11. Anybody Listening?
Bonus Tracks
12. Last Time In Paris
13. Scarborough Fair
14. Dirty Lil’ Secret
DISC 2 (previously unreleased: all tracks recorded live 11/15/90 at London’s Hammersmith Odeon)
1. Resistance
2. Walk in the Shadows
3. Best I Can
4. Empire
5. The Thin Line
6. Jet City Woman
7. Roads To Madness
8. Silent Lucidity
9. Hand On Heart
10. Take Hold Of The Flame
1 Lita Ford To Hit The Road With Queensryche
Lita Ford will be hitting the road this October, in support Queensryche on their American Soldier Tour!
Check below for Tour Dates!
Oct 15 2009 8:00P Coyote’s – with Queensryche Louisville, Kentucky
Oct 16 2009 8:00P Montgomery Performing Arts Centre – with Queensryche Montgomery, Alabama
Oct 17 2009 8:00P Saenger Theatre -FL – with Queensryche Pensacola, Florida
Oct 18 2009 8:00P The Orange Peel – with Queensryche Asheville, North Carolina
Oct 20 2009 7:00P Fillmore – with Queensryche Charlotte, North Carolina
Oct 21 2009 7:00P Lincoln Theatre – LITA with Queensryche Raleigh, North Carolina
Oct 22 2009 7:00P Theater Of The Living Arts – LITA with Queensryche Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Oct 23 2009 7:00P Norva – LITA with Queensryche Norfolk, Virginia
Oct 24 2009 7:00P Bergen Performing Arts Center – LITA with Queensryche Englewood, New Jersey
Oct 25 2009 7:00P Capital One Bank Theatre – LITA with Queensryche Westbury, New York
Oct 27 2009 7:00P Madison Theatre – LITA with Queensryche Covington, Kentucky
Oct 28 2009 7:00P Newport Music Hall – LITA with Queensryche Columbus, Ohio
Oct 29 2009 7:00P The Vogue – LITA with Queensryche Indianapolis, Indiana
Oct 30 2009 7:00P Piere’s – LITA with Queensryche Fort Wayne, Indiana
Oct 31 2009 7:00P The Pageant – LITA with Queensryche St. Louis, Missouri
Nov 1 2009 7:00P Rialto Square Theatre – LITA with Queensryche Joliet, Illinois
Nov 2 2009 7:00P The Venue – LITA with Queensryche Fargo, North Dakota
Nov 4 2009 7:00P Wilma Theater – LITA with Queensryche Missoula, Montana
Nov 5 2009 7:00P Knitting Factory Spokane – LITA with Queensryche Spokane, Washington
Nov 6 2009 7:00P Knitting Factory Boise – LITA with Queensryche Boise, Idaho
Nov 7 2009 7:00P Harrah’s – LITA with Queensryche Stateline, Nevada
Nov 10 2009 7:00P The City Club – LITA with Queensryche Houma, Louisiana
Nov 11 2009 7:00P The Cannery – LITA with Queensryche Nashville, Tennessee
Nov 12 2009 7:00P Masquerade – LITA with Queensryche Atlanta, Georgia
Nov 13 2009 7:00P Plush – LITA with Queensryche Jacksonville, Florida
Nov 14 2009 7:00P Revolution – LITA with Queensryche Fort Lauderdale, Florida
0 QUEENSRŸCHE CONCERT FROM AMERICAN SOLDIER TOUR TO BE BROADCAST LIVE AT CDPULSE.TV
Fans Worldwide Can Access High Definition Live Stream Of Complete Concert From Clearwater, Florida On May 19
Band Will Play Suites From Rage For Order, American Soldier, and Empire During Two Hour Performance
Queensrÿche will take their acclaimed American Soldier Tour online by broadcasting an entire show live in high definition at cdpulse.tv. When the band takes the stage at the Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida on May 19 at 8PM ET, fans worldwide can watch a high definition stream of the performance live as it happens. Fans can gain access to the show by purchasing an e-ticket at cdpulse.tv for the cost $5.95 for an advance ticket or $7.95 for a ticket on the day of the show. The show can be viewed virtually worldwide in high definition clarity via premium content delivery access systems featuring 43,000 servers in 17 different countries. For more details and technical information, please visit cdpulse.tv.
As with all shows on the American Soldier Tour, Queensrÿche will be performing three separate suites during the two hour performance, each focusing on a different album. The show opens with a suite from the band’s 1986 gold album Rage For Order, including some tracks the band has not played live in over 20 years. The second suite focuses on the new epic concept album American Soldier, which was released on March 31 from Atco/Rhino. The Soldier suite features guest vocal performances by Navy rescue swimmer and Blue Angels crew chief A.J. Fratto on the intense set opener “Sliver” and lead singer Geoff Tate’s daughter Emily on the moving ballad “Home Again.” The final suite revisits 1990’s triple platinum opus Empire with performances of some of the band’s most beloved tracks including “Jet City Woman,” “Silent Lucidity,” and “Best I Can.”
For additional information and technical questions about the May 19 live stream, please contact David Gans at cdpulse.tv at (727) 470-9971 or [email protected].
0 School of (Ship)Rock
What do a group of musically inclined kids and Queensrÿche have in common? They are all about to get ShipRocked! More than a dozen students from The Paul Green School of Rock Music in Kansas City, Missouri will join Queensrÿche, Tesla, Skid Row and many more onboard ShipRocked: a five day rock and roll cruise to Jamaica and Grand Cayman, departing from Fort Lauderdale on November 15th. During the cruise, the kids will not only get to hang out with their musical mentors, but they will also get to perform onboard for them…twice!
The students from the School of Rock are singing for their supper and raising money to attend this special cruise. “American Idol” winner and Kansas City native David Cook recently lent his support by autographing a Les Paul guitar donated by Gibson for a special raffle – tickets are only $5 each, and can be purchased at any Kansas City School of Rock show or by calling (816) 842-ROCK. Not to be outdone, Queensrÿche recently dropped by the school for a quick photo-op and mini-concert to help raise awareness for the fundraiser, performing three songs before being joined by the school’s “house band” for an additional three tracks.
Paul Green founded the first School of Rock in Philadelphia in 1998. Since that time, satellite campuses have opened across America, helping students develop stage presence and musical skill. Students at the School of Rock take part in both private lessons and larger jams to prepare for a capstone performance. Students have performed at major concerts and festivals around the world and are proud to add Shiprocked to the list. For more information, visit http://www.schoolofrock.com, or the KC school’s fundraising site at http://www.schoolofrockkc.com.
For ShipRocked reservations or additional information about the cruise, visit www.getshiprocked.com, or call (877) 855-5502.
5 Queensryche – American Soldier (Release Year – 2009)
I have been a huge fan of Queensryche for years. In the 80’s and 90’s, I probably saw Queensryche play live five or six times. I have been disappointed with their last few CD’s although Mindcrime II gave me a glimmer of hope with this band. I just don’t think the band has been the same without their long time guitarist, Chris DeGarmo. With that being said, I had low expectations for the new Queensryche disc “American Soldier”.
“Sliver” starts this record off with a song that almost sounds like a classic Queensryche song, but there is a twist. Jason Ames is a guest vocalist on this song. His chants during this song almost gives this tune an almost rap metal slant. Tate sounds better than expected, but I am not sure if Ames parts on this song were really necessary. I did not think this was a very good opening track at all.
Queensryche has never been afraid to make a statement with their music, and they try it again with the song “Unafraid“. This song sounds like news clips mixed with a heavy Disturbed like riff. The chorus is very good, but the rest of the song is a hot mess. I am not sure who mixed this CD, but the audio clips mixed into this tune are quite distracting.
“Hundred Mile Stare” is the first song on American Soldier that I could truly get into. This song actually has some potential as a radio single. The guitar work is pretty good, and Tate’s voice is in fine form here. Once again, the mixing on this song is odd. This song would have been better served by an end fade instead of the end chant.
“At 30,000 ft” is another solid tune with some pretty good song writing. This song is written from the perspective of what I assume is a fighter jet pilot. You have to listen to the words to fully appreciate this song. This is pretty cool stuff.
“A Dead Man’s Words” is longest tune on this disc, clocking in at over six minutes. This song has a really cool, moody sounding guitar riff that blends well with Tate’s vocals. This is another song that grows on you with repeat listens.
“The Killer” is a mid tempo number that seems to get better with each listen. This song is quickly becoming one of my favorites on this disc.
“If I Were King” is the first song that I heard off of “American Soldier” when it debuted on the Eddie Trunk show a few weeks ago. I have heard this one a few times since then and I like it pretty well now.
On “Home Again” Geoff employs the help of his ten year old daughter Emily. Emily sings quite a bit of the vocals with her dear old dad on this song. I have to imagine that it is pretty hard for a child her age to sing in a key this low. I am sure that Geoff will have fond memories of recording this song, but I am not so sure that the end result is what he was looking for. It is an average tune at best.
Queensryche has released better CD’s than “American Soldier” in the past, but this easily the best they have done in quite some time. This CD doesn’t show the band trying to make an attempt at trying to recapture their past glory, but Michael Wilton did a pretty good job at trying to recapture that classic Queensryche guitar sound. The subject matter is interesting, and the song writing is pretty good for the most part. This disc could have used a couple of more catchy tunes to push it over the edge, but the music tends to grow on you which is a good thing. This probably isn’t that type of album that will generate a bunch of new fans for Queensryche, but it should keep their long time fans happy for quite a while.
You can listen to “American Soldier” at this link. For more information on Queensryche, please visit the band’s website.
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
1. Sliver
2. Unafraid
3. Hundred Mile Stare
4. At 30,000 ft
5. A Dead Man’s Words
6. The Killer
7. Middle Of Hell
8. If I Were King
9. Man Down!
10. Remember Me
11. Home Again
12. The Voice
Queensryche is:
Geoff Tate – lead vocals, horns
Michael Wilton – lead & rhythm guitars
Eddie Jackson – bass
Scott Rockenfield – drums
Hard Rock Hideout 