Despite being the home to such locals as Cattle Decapitation and P.O.D. as well as residence of choice for the likes of Rob Halford (Judas Priest) and Dave Mustaine, San Diego is not known for its hard rock scene.
With many major metal bands doing less than stellar box office and as touring becomes a more difficult proposition, some artists with an international reputation have chosen to skip the city altogether. One such vintage group that has managed to establish a local foothold is Queensryche.
The band have been no strangers to the city, playing venues from Balboa Park to the local casinos and even stopping in on The U.S.S. Nimitz to perform for our troops.
Currently touring to promote their 2006 release, “Operation: Mindcrime II,” they return to San Diego on May 26 for a concert at 4th & B.
Surprising even their biggest fans, despite a lack of airplay, the album debuted at number 14 on the Billboard Top 200, proving that after 24 years and 15 albums, the band still had the attention of music fans.
Queensryche still consists of original members Geoff Tate (vocals), Michael Wilton (lead guitar), Eddie Jackson (bass) and drummer Scott Rockenfield, who have been playing together since 1981, under such names as Cross+Fire and The Mob, as well as a more recent addition, Mike Stone (guitar).
It was the latter band’s demo of a song “Queen of the Reich” which gave the quintet their current name.
Following the release of an EP, the band signed with EMI America Records.
They released a series of acclaimed albums, but it wasn’t until 1988 that they made a significant chart impact.
Although many notable successes would follow, the band would find it hard to top their concept album, “Operation: Mindcrime.”
The tale of a drugged assassin for the underground brought the band comparisons to Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” and The Who’s “Tommy,” but this was a much more intense, far less subtle, listening experience.
The band continued its rise with 1990’s, “Empire.” Charting at number seven on Billboard’s Hot 100 listing, the band also managed a top ten single from the disc with the song “Silent Lucidity.”
Despite the band continuing to produce hit albums, including 1994’s No. 3 “Promised Land,” a decline had already set in.
By their next release, “Hear in the Now Frontier,” the band could barely manage a top 20 chart placement. It seemed the end was near when their label EMI America folded.
Where most bands would have thrown in the towel, Queensryche worked harder instead, releasing music on several different labels until it found the right fit.
In truth it’s not uncommon for major labels to be reluctant to issue music from an older band seemingly on the decline.
However, the group’s fan base is such that they’ve had two tribute albums devoted to their music and their songs have been included in movies such as “The Last Action Hero.”
The band jumped around from label to label for a few years, including stops at Atlantic Records and Sanctuary, but it was the group’s shift to Rhino Records in 2005 that put them back on top. The result has been the band’s biggest success in more than a decade.
When Queensryche first began performing it was the era of the hair-metal bands. In fact one local tour stop at the Starlight Bowl saw them perform alongside hair-metal band Warrant.
However, they always stood out, with dark overtones and songs about more than the usual ‘boy-girl’ lyrics that mark much of music.
While it’s been quite sometime since the band’s ’80s heyday, Queensryche has proven that not only have they stood the test of time; unlike most of their long-gone peers, they continue to deliver vital music.