Posted on 10/20/2004 3:44:54 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache
Metal men give dystopia a suitable soundtrack;Stick It To Bush
You can’t keep a good concept album down — especially when elements of its ominous story can be found lurking in current events. In 1988, Seattle quintet Queensrÿche released “Operation: Mindcrime,” a dark record that depicts a dystopian future society driven by charismatic — and sinister — demagogues. The central character is a street kid named Nikki who comes under the thrall of Dr. X and turns into his loyal assassin, eliminating anyone who poses a threat. It’s sort of “1984” meets “The Manchurian Candidate” with a dramatic metal soundtrack welded on. “It’s a story about a terrorist,” singer Geoff Tate explains. “It sort of fits in with what’s going on in the world right now.” The band began life in the early ’80s with a sound that owed quite a bit to Iron Maiden, with Tate’s operatic pipes wailing out front. Gradually, more progressive, arty influences found their way into the mix, earning Queensrÿche the tag “thinking man’s metal.” “Operation: Mindcrime” represents the band’s creative pinnacle, selling well over a million copies, though its follow-up record, “Empire” (1990) actually sold a bit better thanks to the top 10 single “Silent Lucidity.” Queensrÿche is revisiting “Mindcrime” on its current tour, with elaborate staging, surround-sound technology, orchestral backing and even actors portraying characters from the album. Careful, guys, remember what happened to Styx on the “Mr. Roboto” tour.
There’s a story to tell
“I’ve always been interested in dramatic productions,” says Tate, 45. “I’ve always thought of Queensrÿche as a very dramatic musical organization, and our music lends itself to that sort of treatment. Especially ‘Mindcrime,’ because it’s a story. “We started on this route because I was writing a screenplay based on the album,” Tate says. “And I noticed there are a lot of holes on the album that you can’t cover musically. … So in true Queensrÿche fashion we started brainstorming and came up with some angles that would make it interesting for us to play it and interesting for an audience to see it.” Tate says that going back to the old album inspired the band members to work on a sequel, titled (what else?) “Operation: Mindcrime II.” And, he says, there’s definite interest in a “Mindcrime” movie from the Hollywood community. “Over the years we’ve been approached by various companies about making a movie, but we never felt quite right about it,” Tate says. “Whether it was the people they wanted to use, the screenwriter or the director, it just didn’t feel right.” Directors Luc Besson, Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino are on Tate’s wish list to take the project’s helm.
Sticking it to Bush
“Mindcrime” is an album about devious individuals gaining control over the hearts and minds of impressionable people, and it’s a theme that never strays too far from Tate’s observational eye. “The situation in our country is perfect fodder for an album,” Tate says. “I’m fascinated by marketing, by the commercials the government makes and the ideology they sell us and that we buy so readily. We’re really just a nation of consumers; that seems to be our culture. “They can tell us we need to go to war with Iraq, and we buy it. We don’t question it. We don’t say, ‘Wait a minute, Iraq didn’t have anything to do with the terrorist attacks. Why are we going to war with this country?’ “I’ve come into contact with a lot of people who say they want to vote for George Bush. And I ask them, ‘Why are you voting for someone who has failed on every level as a leader?’ I don’t understand why people who don’t have two nickels to rub together support an administration that has no concern for them.” Queensrÿche’s political stance apparently has ruffled the feathers of some fans who were under the impression that their favorite band was a horse of a different color. “We’ve gotten some flak from fans who say they’re going to burn our records,” Tate says. “We recently played a benefit show … which gathers funds for the Democrats. “People have said to us, ‘How can you do this? How can you get behind this?’ And I say to them, ‘Listen to the records. We’ve always been on this platform.’ ”
I saw that they were portraying Bush as Hitler on the video screens on their last tour and I totally lost all respect for them. I am however seeing them this Sunday in Orlando to cover their show at the House of Blues for my paper which I write for, so the tickets are comped.
I will never spend a dime on them again.
I always thought they sucked. Big, bloated, quasi-intellectual, posturing crap. "Silent Lucidity," puh-leez. This just confirms my previous opinion.
Fossils for Kerry.
down load, bootleg & freely distribute their stuff. hit them in the pocket.
Yet another group of has-been musicians whose music is officially less relevant than their absurd political points of view.
Let's see that makes Sting, Bruce Springsteen, The Dixie Chicks, and about two dozen or so "punk" bands that have collectively sold fewer albums than the re-release of Traffic's "Low Spark of high heeled boys".
Geez, what's next? Is mid 90's one hit wonder white boy rapper Snow going to come out against Bush? Gee that would be devastating. I hope Boy George doesn't voice his opinion. A harsh word from Flock of Seagulls an W is doomed! (sarcasm)
It seems they lost their "silent lucidity".
Did the band Queen and Queensryche ever do a concert together? hmmm...Me, if I ever learned to play the guitar instead of move these color TV`s, I would call my band "Kings ultimate rulers of the universe of both space time and dimesion!!" CHAAA!!!!
I remember their album "Empire" but I didn't know they still existed.
Despite the Bush bash, that would be a hell of a show. Got any extra tickets?
Why do people think Clinton 'cares' for them, or even that Kerry does? George Bush has shown an incredible amount of affection for all people as President and Governor. I can't see how anyone can't see that, or that Kerry somehow care MORE.
There ya go.Another dumba$$ed bunch of sheep that decided to follow the loser flock,and now they will be boycotted too....And,since their stuff sucks and their fan base can probably be counted on one hand nowadays,the loss of a single dollar could throw them into bankruptcy.
Queensryche. Hmmmmm. Weren't they some halfassed garage band of some sort years ago?
someone needs to do an anti-Kerry parody of Queensryche's "Silent Lucidity"
"Nuanced Duplicity"
Cretins all.
"Let's see that makes Sting, Bruce Springsteen, The Dixie Chicks, and about two dozen or so "punk" bands that have collectively sold fewer albums than the re-release of Traffic's "Low Spark of high heeled boys".
Ok, ok I'm not really a fan of Sting and the Dixie's can kiss my ass. However, I've been a fan of Bruce for close to 25 years and although I have boycotted many of his shows over the past year because I couldn't be more ashamed of his ridiculous rants regarding Kerry and his ideas that a rock stars opinions are actually relevant in a political race, yours is a moronic comment regarding album sales.... come on, now!
Here here..... Make sure it is the official releases tht you download too.
I used to trust the media To tell me the truth, tell us the truth But now I've seen the payoffs Everywhere I look Who do you trust when everyone's a crook?
Unfortunately, Geoff had to open his mouth and ruin it for me.
I could enjoy some of their music about once every 8 or 10 months. I never bought any of their albums and needless to say I won't now.
Who?
What?
Another stupid obscure has-been whines in public?
Like I could possibly give a S__T!
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