Queensryche Tickets

Heavy metal innovators Queensryche have been influencing the music industry with their sound since forming in 1981, and they have sold over 20 million albums since then, furthering the cause of heavy and progressive metal in the process.

The group had early influence from bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. Guitarist Michael Wilton and drummer Scott Rockenfield were members of Cross+Fire, and they eventually added guitarist Chris DeGarmo, bassist Eddie Jackson and singer Geoff Tate to form the new band.

The group released an EP and toured behind it, and released "The Warning" to the masses in 1984. "Take Hold of the Flame" was a successful single outside of the U.S., and the group opened for Kiss to gain attention in the U.S. When "Rage for Order" was released in 1986, the sound of the group changed to a more keyboard-oriented sound with more of a glam metal twinge than they had before.

The band released "Operation: Mindcrime" in 1988. The concept album was extremely successful, both critically and commercially. The collection was compared to great concept albums such as The Whos "Tommy" and Pink Floyds "The Wall." To support the album, they toured with rock greats such as Metallica, Def Leppard and Guns N Roses.

The 1990 release of "Empire" brought the band even more success - the ballad "Silent Lucidity" was their first Top 10 single. The album was certified platinum, as was their follow-up, "Promised Land," in 1994. After releasing "Hear in the Now Frontier" in 1997, band went through some financial difficulty due to a fledgling record label, and founder DeGarmo left the band and was replaced by Kelly Gray.

In 2000, Queensryche released a best-of album, and then released "Tribe," with a return from DeGarmo for some shows. Most recently, the group released "Operation: Mindcrime II," a follow-up to their breakthrough. The album was very successful. In November, the group released a collection of covers, "Take Cover."

Queensryche continues to record, tour, and influence up and coming metal acts around the world.