Archive-name: music/queensryche-faq Alt-rock-n-roll-metal-progressive-name: queensryche-faq Last-modified: 1994/10/30 Version: 3.01 QUEENSRYCHE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Maintained by Dan Birchall Version 3.01, October 30, 1994 Welcome to the Queensryche FAQ. This document provides basic (and sometimes not-so-basic) information about the band, primarily for those unfamiliar with the band. The latest version of this FAQ is available in HTML format at the URL: http://130.219.44.141/queensryche/faq.html The most recent ASCII version is available from the on-line Queensryche archives (see below), and is posted monthly to the Usenet groups Alt.Rock-n-Roll, Alt.Rock-n-Roll.Metal and Alt.Rock-n-Roll.Metal.Progressive. Table of Contents General Information * What's Queensryche? * What's new with Queensryche? History * How did Queensryche begin? * What Queensryche releases are there? * What Queensryche tours have there been? People * Who is Michael Kamen? * Who were the cast of Operation: Mindcrime? * Who were the Moronic Monks of Morin Heights? * Who is Metal Sushi? Fan Organizations * How can I join the Queensryche Campaign? * How can I join the Pen-Mate club? * How can I participate in on-line fan activities? Informational Resources * How can I contact the Queensryche Archives? * How can I use the on-line archives? * What other informational resources are there? * What other bands might Queensryche fans like? _________________________________________________________________ General Information What's Queensryche? Queensryche is a five-member band from the Seattle, Washington area. Queensryche's music is commonly called "progressive metal," and blends the sounds of progressive rock bands like Pink Floyd and Yes with the sounds of heavy-metal bands such as Iron Maiden and Dio. What's new with Queensryche? The band spent most of late 1993 and early 1994 in a log cabin in northwest Washington, preparing their new album. That album, Promised Land, was released throughout Europe between October 8th and 10th, 1994, and in the US on October 18th. Full of brooding, introspective lyrics and experimental instrumentation, it may be Queensryche's most progressive release to date. In late 1994, a video, The Making of The Promised Land, will reportedly be released, documenting the creation of the album. In February of 1995, a CD-ROM for personal computers, containing biographical information about the band, along with multimedia material and interactive virtual worlds, will be released. A world tour will also begin in late 1994 or early 1995. _________________________________________________________________ History How did Queensryche begin? The five members of Queensryche, all from the Seattle area, were involved in local bands before coming together under the name The Mob and recording a 4-song EP, which became the Queensryche EP. The members are, in order of birth: Jan 14, 1959 : Geoff Tate, Vocals Jan 29, 1960 : Eddie Jackson, Bass Feb 23, 1962 : Michael Wilton, Guitar Jun 14, 1963 : Chris DeGarmo, Guitar Jun 15, 1963 : Scott Rockenfield, Drums After the band's first managers suggested that a better name be found, the band chose Queensreich, taken from the title of one of the songs on their EP, Queen of the Reich, but altered the spelling to Queensryche to avoid being mistaken for nazi sympathizers. Scott Rockenfield's brother, Todd designed a symbol, now known as the tri-ryche. What Queensryche releases are there? Since 1983, Queensryche have released an EP, 5 full-length studio albums, one studio videotape, two live videotapes, a live album and video boxed set, a limited-edition boxed set, and numerous singles and promotional items. 1983 Queensryche (EP) 1984 The Warning (Album) 1985 Live in Tokyo (Live Video) 1986 Rage for Order (Album) 1988 Operation: Mindcrime (Album) 1989 Video: Mindcrime (Video) 1990 Empire (Album) 1991 Operation: Livecrime (Live Boxed Set) 1991 Operation: Empire (Limited Boxed Set) 1992 Building Empires (Video Retrospective) 1994 Promised Land (Album) What Queensryche tours have there been? Typically, each Queensryche release has been followed by a tour of some scale. Most recently, the Building Empires tour, in support of Empire, featured a complete live presentation of Operation: Mindcrime, along with songs from all Queensryche's other albums. Opening bands included Suicidal Tendencies and Warrior Soul. _________________________________________________________________ People Who is Michael Kamen? Michael Kamen is a composer known for his work on movie soundtracks. Although his involvement with Queensryche is not as well known, it is extensive. He arranged the orchestration for The Warning, Operation: Mindcrime, Silent Lucidity and Operation: Livecrime. He also co-wrote with Queensryche the song Real World, which can be found on the soundtrack of the movie Last Action Hero. Who were the cast of Operation: Mindcrime? The Operation: Mindcrime cast: Sister Mary: Pamela Moore Dr. X: Anthony Valentine Nurse: Debbie Wheeler Anchorman: Mike Snyder Preacher: Scott Mateer Who were the Moronic Monks of Morin Heights? An anonymous choral group (really the staff of Le Studio in Canada), the Moronic Monks provided the chorus vocals used on Operation: Mindcrime and Operation: Livecrime. Their work is especially prominent in the song Suite Sister Mary. Who is Metal Sushi? Metal Sushi is a female close to the band. Her real identity is known to only a few, who guard it carefully. For many years, she was the head of the Queensryche Campaign, and editor of 'Ryche & Roll Times, the Campaign's quarterly newsletter. In early 1994, she turned over that position to a new editor, Tina, whose real identity is also unknown. _________________________________________________________________ Fan Organizations How can I join the Queensryche Campaign? The Queensryche Campaign (the official fanclub of Queensryche) has over 8,000 members worldwide. For information on how to join, send a stamped return envelope to: Queensryche P.O. Box 70503 Bellevue WA 98007-0503 USA Membership costs $15 - possibly more outside the US - and includes quarterly newsletters, an 8x10 autographed photo of the band, a certificate of membership, a bumper sticker, window decals, and stickers. The Campaign also offers a variety of clothing and other merchandise. How can I join the Pen-Mate club? For information on how to join the Pen-Mate Club, send a stamped return envelope to: Tane Pruett P.O. Box 26862 San Diego CA 92196 How can I participate in on-line fan activities? The primary on-line activity for Queensryche fans is Screaming in Digital, the Queensryche Net-Digest. Founded in 1991, it presently reaches over 1,600 subscribers worldwide every week. Subscriptions are free. To subscribe to Screaming in Digital, e-mail queensryche-request@pilot.njin.net. Please specify whether you want the complete digest containing both news and discussion, or only news. Queensryche fans can also occasionally be found on the #QRyche channel of Internet Relay Chat (IRC). Fans who use IRC are encouraged to populate the channel as frequently as possible. _________________________________________________________________ Informational Resources How can I contact the Queensryche Archives? The Queensryche Campaign's archivist, Joyce Filmer, has assembled Operation: Archyves, a fifty-page booklet covering all of Queensryche's official releases, interviews, reviews, television appearances, magazine articles, ad infinitum. The only two exceptions are information on past tour dates and bootlegs. For a copy, send $5 US to: Joyce Filmer The Queensryche Archives P.O. Box 020265 Staten Island NY 10302-0003 USA How can I use the on-line archives? The primary online archives for back-issues of Screaming in Digital and all manner of other data about Queensryche are accessible via FTP (the File Transfer Protocol used on Internet) on the machine Arginine.UMDNJ.Edu (130.219.44.141), in the directory /pub/queensryche. A 'mirror' of this archive is included in Dave Datta's Music FTP Site, on ftp.uwp.edu, in the directory /pub/music/lists/q/queensryche. These archives include lyrics, discographical information, transcriptions of articles and interviews, digital soundbites and images, and other material. What other informational resources are there? Nick Kramer at Carnegie Mellon University (cmu.edu) has created a Queensryche Home Page on the WorldWide Web. It includes much of the information, images and digitized sound samples found on the FTP site, and is far more visually appealing than this page! What other bands might Queensryche fans like? Queensryche fans have very diverse tastes, but almost all of us like at least one or two other bands in the categories known as progressive rock and progressive metal. Here is a list of many such bands. You have probably heard of at least some of them, but there are probably also some you have not encountered. Some of these bands also have their own digests, Usenet newsgroups or mailing lists, and participation in these forums is certainly encouraged. Some even have their own WorldWide Web pages, and links to them have been provided where possible. Crimson Glory Dream Theater (List: Ytsejam) Echolyn (Management: Bridge) Early Warning (Vocalist : Chris Singer) Fates Warning Genesis (List: Paperlate) Heir Apparent Helloween Iron Maiden King's X Marillion (List : Freaks) Mercyful Fate Mercury Rising (Guitarist : Gary Goldsmith) Pink Floyd (List : Echoes) Rush (List : National Midnight Star) Sacred Warrior Savatage Yes _________________________________________________________________ Credits Much of this information came from back issues of the Queensryche e-mail digest, Screaming in Digital. Many thanks are extended to the hundreds of readers who have contributed information to the digest since 1991. Special thanks also go to Joyce Filmer of the Queensryche Archives, Vinnie Vera and Chris Ferraro at EMI Records Group, and Sushi and Tina at the Queensryche fan club. Technical credits go to Dave Beck and Dave Datta for FTP space, the Coriell Institute and UMDNJ for connectivity, and Nick Kramer for his pioneering Queensryche page. _________________________________________________________________ Dan Birchall