Queensryche – Biography, Songs, Albums, Discography & Facts

Queensryche - Biography, Songs, Albums, Discography & Facts
Queensryche London Bridge Studios. Image source: Mikesavoia, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Queensryche Biography

Queensryche is an American heavy metal band. It arose from the local band the Mob in Bellevue, Washington, around 1980. The band continues to perform and record, having released 15 studio albums, one EP, and several DVDs. Guitarists Michael Wilton and Chris DeGarmo, drummer Scott Rockenfield, bassist Eddie Jackson, and lead vocalist Geoff Tate made up the initial lineup.

Over 20 million albums have been sold worldwide by Queensryche, including over 6 million in the United States. They are regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive metal scene in the mid-to-late 1980s, and are frequently referred to as one of the genre’s “Big Three,” alongside Dream Theater and Fates Warning. After the publication of their 1988 album Operation: Mindcrime, which is widely regarded as one of the finest heavy metal concept albums of all time, the band earned worldwide fame. Empire (1990), their following album, was likewise a big hit, including the hit track “Silent Lucidity.” The band has been nominated for three Grammy Awards for songs from both albums. Drummer John Rockenfield was nominated for a Grammy in 1998.

The band released Promised Land in October 1994 after taking time off to deal with burnout from the “Building Empires” tour and other personal concerns (a companion CD-ROM, featuring a Promised Land-themed game and other interactive features, was released in March 1996). It was a dark, very intimate album that reflected the band’s mental state at the time. Despite the fact that the album debuted at No. 3 and was eventually certified platinum, it was definitely not as commercially successful as Empire.

Chris DeGarmo, the band’s guitarist and key songwriter, quit for personal reasons in 1998, but returned temporarily in 2003 to create and record the Tribe album. Kelly Gray, Mike Stone, and Parker Lundgren have all taken his place throughout the years. Tate was sacked from the band in April 2012 after a widely publicized backstage brawl before a gig in So Paulo, Brazil, and was replaced by Todd La Torre of Crimson Glory. Tate and his wife Susan (who was the band’s manager from 2005 to 2012) filed a lawsuit in Washington state after being fired, claiming that he was unlawfully discharged. The preliminary injunction stated that both parties were allowed to use the name Queensryche until a court ruling or a settlement determined who would get to use the name. On April 17, 2014, a settlement was reached in which founding members Wilton, Rockenfield, and Jackson were awarded the rights to the band trademark, allowing them to continue performing with the current lineup, which includes lead vocalist La Torre and guitarist Lundgren.

During the time when both parties were allowed to use the Queensryche moniker, Tate formed his own band, which included former guitarist Gray and members of Blue Oyster Cult, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Dio, AC/DC, and Quiet Riot. The album Frequency Unknown was released by this version of Queensryche with Geoff Tate on April 23, 2013, whereas Queensryche (with La Torre replacing Tate) released their namesake album on June 24 and 25, 2013. (European and American release date, respectively). Both bands went on tour in 2013 and 2014, after which Tate renamed his Queensryche version Operation: Mindcrime. Queensryche, led by La Torre, has subsequently collaborated with him on three more albums: Condition Hüman (2015), The Verdict (2019), and the upcoming Digital Noise Alliance (2022).

Queensryche Discography

The VerdictSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Condition HümanSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
QueensrÿcheSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Dedicated to ChaosSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
American SoldierSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Take CoverSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Operation: Mindcrime IISpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
TribeSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Q2KSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Hear in the Now FrontierSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Promised LandSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
EmpireSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Operation: MindcrimeSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Rage for OrderSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
The WarningSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who Is The Original Singer Of Queensryche?

The original singer of Queensryche was Geoff Tate. He was the lead singer and songwriter for the band from their inception in 1981 until 2012, when he left the group amid acrimony. Tate is currently the frontman for Operation: Mindcrime, a band he formed in 2014.

What Is Queensryche Most Famous Song?

The band’s most famous song is “Silent Lucidity,” which was released in 1991. The song peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and won a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance. Queensryche has released 16 studio albums and sold over 30 million records worldwide.

Who Is The Lead Singer Of Queensrÿche Now?

The current lead singer of Queensrÿche is Todd La Torre. He joined the band in 2012 after the departure of former lead singer Geoff Tate. Under La Torre’s guidance, Queensrÿche has released two studio albums, 2013’s “Queensrÿche” and 2015’s “Condition Human”. Both albums were met with critical acclaim and charted well, with “Condition Human” reaching the top 10 in the US. La Torre is also a member of the metal supergroup Operation: Mindcrime, which released its debut album in 2014. Prior to joining Queensrÿche, he was the drummer for the bands Crimson Glory and Rigor Mortis.

How Many Original Members Are Still In Queensrÿche?

As of September 2014, there are only two original members remaining in Queensrÿche – lead vocalist Geoff Tate and guitarist Michael Wilton. The rest of the current lineup consists of bassist Eddie Jackson, drummer Scott Rockenfield, and guitarist Parker Lundgren. Queensrÿche has undergone a number of lineup changes over the years, with Tate and Wilton being the only constants in the band. They are currently working on a new album, which is set to be released in 2015.

What Was Queensryche First Album?

Queensryche’s first album was The Warning, released in 1984. The album was a success, reaching number 7 on the Billboard 200 chart and selling over 500,000 copies. The album’s single, “Queen of the Reich”, received heavy airplay on metal radio stations and is still one of the band’s most popular songs.

Most Searched For Queensryche Songs

Silent LuciditySpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Jet City WomanSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
I don’t believe in loveSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Eyes Of A strangerSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Walk In The ShadowsSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
EmpireSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Revolution CallingSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Queen Of The ReichSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Another Rainy Night (Without You)SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Best I canSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon