Queensryche (3/12/2014)

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Operation: Mindcrime 25th Anniversary Tour Interview with Vocalist Geoff Tate
March 12, 2014 - Palace Theater - Syracuse, NY - With Special Guests: Hurricane

The first time I saw Queensrÿche was in 1985, in support of their album: The Warning, when they opened up for KISS on the Animalize Tour in Shreveport, Louisiana.
I really like The Warning. It was influenced by events of the time and George Orwell's book 1984. The song "N M 156" which is about a computer that becomes self-aware, is a great tune. (It was supposed to be the opening song of the release, but unbeknownst to the band, the record was re-mixed and the order of the songs re-arranged by order of EMI executives.)
I remember being very impressed with Queensrÿche's ability to sound as great live as they did recorded, which most bands just can't do.
Their next album: Rage For order was also excellent.
In 1988, Queensrÿche released what would become one of the band's most sucessful releases; the concept album Operation: Mindcrime. The story centers around Nikki, a junkie who is brainwashed into performing assassinations for an underground movement who is torn between his "loyalty" to the cause and his love of Mary, a reformed hooker-turned-nun who attempts to stop him.

Operation: Mindcrime, along with Pink Floyd's The Wall, and The Who's Tommy, is considered one of the greatest concept records of all time, and the song "I Don't Believe In Love" was nominated for a Grammy Award. Queensrÿche toured in support of the record through much of 1988 and 1989. I saw them play with Metallica on that tour, and they were incredible! Twenty-five years later, the material on Operation: Mindcrime has held up incredibly well, and turned out to be eerily prophetic in many ways.
The follow-up release, Empire, released in 1990, included the hit single "Silent Lucidity" which was nominated for two Grammy Awards, and won an MTV People's Choice Award for Best Video in 1991. The group went on to release eight more albums including Tribe in 2003. On that tour they came to the Turning Stone Casino in Verone, NY and I interviewed drummer Scott Rockenfield. (Click Here To Read) In 2006, Queensrÿche released Operation: Mindcrime II, which takes place 18 years later, when Nikki is released from prison and begins to plot his revenge against Dr. X, voiced by Metal legend Ronnie James Dio. In total, Queensrÿche released 12 albums with Geoff Tate as vocalist.
A Parting of The Ryche
Geoff Tate and the original line-up of Queensrÿche parted ways in 2012, after a and formed a new version of the band. The original members and Tate are still involved in a legal battle over the band's name. Both bands are currently using the name Queensrÿche. Geoff Tate's Queensrÿche released the album Frequency Unknown in 2013. The album included guest performances by K.K. Downing of Judas Priest, Chris Poland of Megadeth, and Brad Gillis of Night Ranger, among others. The album's cover featured a hand wearing a ring with the Tri-Ryche with the letters F & U on either side, which many took as a not-so-subtle comment to Tate's former bandmates, but in other interviews, he says it was just a random coincidence.
Personally, it was Geoff Tate's vocals that made the band for me. His style and power cannot be replaced. As far as I am concerned, Geoff Tate IS the Voice Of Queensrÿche. The crowd that braved the terrible blizzard, illogically named Vulcan, to come see the show OBVIOUSLY agree me. The approximately 600 people that braved the elements, and blatantly disregarded the "No Unnecessary Travel" advisory were treated to a fantastic evening of music featuring Queensrÿche's amazing all-star line-up.

Holding down the beat is Simon Wright, who played in AC/DC, as well as Dio. Kelly Gray, who played in Geoff Tate's band Myth before going on to become a producer that worked with Candlebox and many others, plays rythym guitar. Rudy Sarzo, who has worked with such legendary bands as Quiet Riot, Whitesnake, Blue Oyster Cult, and Dio, plays bass. Sass Jordan, who has released 8 albums over her career and worked with Carlos Santana, Tommy Shaw of STYX, Eddie & Alex Van Halen, and more, was brought in to sing the female part of Mary for the Operation: Mindcrime tour. Randy Gane, who was also in Myth, as well as recording with Sweaty Nipples and Candlebox, is the keyboardist. Robert Sarzo, Rudy's younger brother, who played in the 80's band Hurricane, and become a producer and movie music composer, handles the lead guitar duties. Robert Sarzo actually pulled double duty for the evening because his band Hurricane was the evening's opening band.	This photo was taken from the stage at the end of the show by the band's tour manager. You can see me & Chris Besaw watching the final few moments in the circle above Geoff Tate.

Formed in Los Angeles in 1984 by guitarist Robert Sarzo, and bassist Tony Cavazo. Cavazo, was introduced to Sarzo by the late Quiet Riot frontman, Kevin DuBrow in the early 80ʼs. DuBrow suggested that Sarzo and Cavazo put a band together, and with the addition of Kelly Hansen on vocals, and Jay Shellen, that is just what they did. The band gained world wide acclaim with the release of their first album, Take What You Want in 1985. The album and constant touring led to the band getting a major label deal with Enigma Records and the release of their chart topping album, Over The Edge in 1988.

Over the Edge was Hurricaneʼs most successful album and charted at #92 in the Top 100, driven by a cover of Alice Cooperʼs “Iʼm 18” as well as the title track, “Over the Edge,” and their most successful top 40 hit, "I'm on to You" which peaked at #33. Hurricane toured the world with Cheap Trick, Iron Maiden, Stryper, and The Michael Shenker Group. They released Slave to the Thrill in 1990. Hurricane disbanded in 1991. 10 years later, Shellen and Hansen recorded under the Hurricane moniker to release Liquifury in 2001, but without Sarzo and Cavazo.
In 2010, Cavazo and Sarzo reunited, and reformed Hurricane and are touring with new members Jason Ames, on vocals, and Mike Hansen on drums.

After Hurricane's rocking set, Chris Besaw and I stepped out into the lobby chatted with friends, and checked out the bads' merchandise. Soon, the lights flickered and we headed into the theater to see Queensrÿche do their thing. The lights went down and the opening chords of "I Remember Now" began, and the crowd came to its feet. As "Anarchy X" came to it conclusion, the Voice Of Queensrÿche, Geoff Tate took the stage and began the song "Revolution Calling." The crowd went wild! He was the man they were here to see, and his voice was as powerful as ever!

When the band got to "Suite Sister Mary," Sass Jordan came out and joined Geoff Tate. The interplay of their voices was amazing! And, again, the crowd roared. During the song "I Don't Believe In Love," Tate invited the crowd to sing along and they did not disappoint! They joined in, and it sounded great!
Queensrÿche ended the Operation: Mindcrime set with the final cut "Eyes of A Stranger" and the entire crowd came to their feet for a standing ovation. Geoff Tate and company left the stage, and returned moments later for a four song encore consisting of "Silent Lucidity," "Best I Can", "Jet City Woman", and "Empire." Again, the crowd gave them a standing ovation. In the interview video above, when the interview is done, you can watch the performance of "Silent Lucidity." It was fantastic. When they were finished, Geoff thanked the fans for braving the storm to share the evening with them, then encouraged everyone to raise their arms as the band's tour manager came out onto the stage to take a photo from the stage.
With that, Geoff thanked everyone again, and the band took a final bow, then left the stage. The lights came up and most of the crowd headed out into the cold for the ride home. Chris and I headed for the aftershow Meet & Greet, with about a dozen other people, including Syracuse radio legend Dave Frisina, host of Soundcheck. Chris and I chatted with Rudy Sarzo and his brother Robert, who photo bombed my picture with Sass Jordan. I got to spend a few moments talking with Simon Wright as well, who was a very nice guy. We posed for some phots, thanked Geoff for the interview and headed home.