Rock and Roll PING! email Weegee to get on/off this list (or grab it yourself to PING the rest)
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.’ ”
AAAAUUUGH!! NOOOooooooo! I still love Rage for Order, but should've figured they were flaming leftists since they hail from wacko central.
Why can't these entertainers just STFU and sing??
Yes, it was. I have both Operation Mindcrime and Empire, and although I liked Silent Lucidity, I still think Mindcrime is the best overall. I also have the Mindcrime video compilation.
I just wish that musicians would do their fans a favor and just play their darned music.
Thinking man's metal? Now that's an oxymoron.
They had 1 decent song back in the day, then followed up with that utter sell-out piece of crap made-for-radio song Silent Lucidity. I can't believe they're still around. Does anybody even care anymore? If anybody still does, I would recommend downloading their stuff off Kazaa rather than lining the pockets of these Bush-hating nobodies.
Lowlife, subhuman, hate-Bush, hate-America garbage, MFH.
Burn your 'comp' tickets, trash them, and remember: rock 'n roll died in the mid-70s. Everything since is merely *noise looking for a category*.
I grew up in the 50s, 60s & early 70s, before I went to 'Nam; THAT was R&R. Disco, new age, punk etc etc etc are festering, fetid pigshit.
Many in your *group* need an *education* in reality, ie bitchslap. Wish we could take you to Woodstock, Aug '69, for an true epiphany, FRiend.
Rock and Roll PING! email Weegee to get on/off this list (or grab it yourself to PING the rest)
NUANCED DUPLICITY
"Hush now, don't you cry,
Help is on the way", said that Edwards guy
His lying face is red
It was all a bad scheme
Spinning his words again
Like that Clinton dude, "I feel your pain".
He was just "this close" to leaving the game of life
So here it is, another chance
Today I'll change my stance again
My campaign is over... or has it just begun?
There's a phrase I like to ride
"Wrong war, wrong place, at the wrong time"
The facts I've got for you are there
But you'll have to visit my site; See right there.
It's a place where you will learn
Bush played our fears, and wasted years
While I swept for land mines.
I'm commanding in another world (FRANCE)
Vote for me and you will see
My magic administration
I- will/won't be watching over you
I- am/am not gonna raise taxes for you
I- will/won't protect you in the night
I- am smiling next to you, in Nuanced Duplicity
-spoken during solo-
[Let's change the regime]
[Speak in the past tense]
[Put it into a erasable form]
[If you have surrogates send it to CBS]
[You can achieve media control]
[Media control]
[How's that then, better? I just changed my position.]
[Vote for Me!]
If you promise to vote for me
The blind will open their eyes to see
The chair you're stuck within
Comes tumbling down, as new nerve cells begin
Speaking twice at once you learn
You're safe from the pain with my dream campaign
If you'll believe the lies
of my little attorney friend
Master of illusion, yes let's globalize
My plan's alive, let me be your guide but...
I- If I don't win I will sue
My - wife help to see it through
I- won't be sleeping well that night
I'll - See you on November 2...
Silent stupidy...how sad.
Queensryche were "important" about 20 years ago and have to bash the President to sell (or give away comp) tickets in 2004.
I wonder what it takes to secure a back stage pass... Viagra?
These guys have sucked for 20 years. No need to stop sucking now.
It really is a shame, maybe its all that Seattle rain. I knew they were always left of center, they used to rip into Reagan as well if I remember correctly, just not this bad.
I was a big fan from the first time I heard Queen of the Reich & Lady Wore Black on the old Metal Shop radio show. Anyone remember that show? Man, I'm getting old.
Loved the EP & Warning (Take Hold of the Flame was awesome), Mindcrime was definitely thier peak (These pr*cks are still milking it, unbelievable!). All downhill after that, Empire was so so & everything after I thought was dreadful. But, at least Chris DeGarmo left these losers before they hit rock bottom.
Rage for Order! I forgot all about that one, it was their redheaded stepchild, good album though. Ughh, those outfits they wore for it too!
Oh my God, they are like SO right! Like, no one HAS been saying that the war in Iraq was like, a mistake! No one! Until now! Wow, they sure are smart!
I guess I was brainwashed, and when the president said we need to go to war, by golly, I believed him. Good thing this band guy is around to set things straight!
"Is mid 90's one hit wonder white boy rapper Snow going to come out against Bush?"
Oh, Geez. I just laughed so hard I'm nearly crying. It's been a while since I (*shudder*) heard of him.
BTW: How could you tell if he DID endorse Kerry with all that "Informer...blah...stopopey-leaho ...yada...leaky-boom-boom, now" or whatever.
Lars Ulrich has been campaigning for Kerry and is very anti-Bush...you might want to re-think that Metallica thing.
Oh, and I'm a pretty big fan of Queensryche's 1990 album "Empire" (especially the grandiose "Jet City Woman"), but how could anybody who's heard their music be surprised by their leftist politics. For God's Sake, there was a song called "Liberal Resistence" on the album, not to mention the quaking title tracks allegations...
It is a bit disappointing to hear them coming out against Bush so loudly and stupidly, however, just parading around the SAME EXACT DNC talking points as all of the other Lefties. Ha, I guess Queensryche isn't interested in being on the "cutting edge" anymore if they can't even use their imaginations to make up their OWN wild, anti-Bush nonsense.
Amen, bro. There's nothing like a little Sabbath to ready a man for intellectual battle. I cue up "Iron Man" for it's famously imposing riff and deadly vocals or "Supernaut", the sonic equivalant of a foot driving a skull into concrete.
I also like some of Black Flag's work (your tagline), though punk isn't really my thing (when I listen to "hard" music, I prefer Metal like Metallica, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Motorhead). "Damaged" was a pretty f***ing cool album, but I like The Misfits better when it comes to punk.
Still, different strokes...
Yikes, that pic looks like some sort of gang that does drive-by makeovers!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.