Rivers of Nihil and Queensrÿche

Before the original members of Queensrÿche formed their band they were all in several different metal bands that were influenced by such artists as Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden. After some of the members’ bands started to dissolve, vocalist Geoff Tate, guitarists Chris DeGarmo and Michael Wilton, bassist Eddie Jackson, and drummer Scott Rockenfield formed a band called The Mob, but soon changed their name to Queensrÿche after their song “Queen of the Reich”, which was on the band’s demo tape. The band’s demo tape made it to “Kerrang!” magazine and received a great review from the publication. This review led to Queensrÿche releasing the demo as a self-titled EP in 1983. The EP sold significantly well for an independent release and received much airplay over the radios.

In the summer of 1983 the band signed a record contract with EMI and headed on several high profile tours with bands like Quiet Riot, Twisted Sister, and Dio. The band traveled to London, UK to record their first album “The Warning”, which came out in 1984. The producer James Guthrie, who has notably worked with Judas Priest and Pink Floyd, produced the album for the band. Their debut album did fairly well on the Billboard charts reaching the No. 61 position.

By the release of the band’s 1986 album “Rage for Order” they had undertaken a more glam rock appearance due to the suggestion from their record label, but their sound headed in a more progressive rock direction, which incorporated the use of synthesizers in their heavy metal mix. The lyrics in the album also conveyed themes about artificial intelligence and technological ideas.

In 1988 the band released one of their most critically and commercially successful albums to date, “Operation: Mindcrime”. The album is a concept album that is regarded as one of the best concept albums of all time, and has been ranked by “Kerrang!” as one of the best heavy metal albums of all time. The album reached the No. 50 position on the Billboard 200 chart and was later certified platinum by RIAA. The album contained the singles “Eyes of a Stranger/Queen of the Reich”, “Revolution Calling”, and “I Don’t Believe in Love/The Needle Lies”. The song “I Don’t Believe in Love” was nominated for a Grammy Award for “Best Metal Performance”. The band’s next album “Empire”, which came out in 1990 was even more successful than “Operation: Mindcrime”. The album reached the No. 7 position on the Billboard 200 chart and has become 3x platinum. The album contained the power ballad “Silent Lucidity” that was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Although the band has had a few lineup changes and has experimented with different genres such as grunge, the band still regularly releases quality albums. The lineup after the 2012 departure of lead singer Geoff Tate consists of the members: Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, Scott Rockenfield, Parker Lundgren, and Todd La Torre. Queensrÿche are avid performers and tour consistently. They have played notable venues like Madison Square Garden and have toured with the likes of Iron Maiden, Kiss, Metallica, and Def Leppard.