thePULSEBy Len Sousa
Hard rock group Queensrÿche has been a fixture on the hard rock scene since the late ‘80s with the release of their chart-topping concept album (arguable one of the greatest ever) Operation: Mindcrime. Last year, the group released their long-awaited follow-up to the 1988 record and have been playing both albums live, back-to-back, in a stunning rock opera setting (captured in both CD and DVD releases of Mindcrime At The Moore). In anticipation of Queensrÿche’s appearance at this year’s Locobazooka, we caught up with frontman Geoff Tate to discuss the band’s newest album and the current state of rock.
How did the idea for a sequel to Operation: Mindcrime come about?
It’s been something that we’ve been planning on doing since the first album came out. It was written for a sequel in mind. For various reasons, we never got to it. It finally just seemed like the right time. I had just finished [writing] the story outline for the record and all the pieces fell into place.
Was it any different recording the new album versus the original?
Somewhat. We wanted the audience to feel like they were back in the story. We listened to the original quite a bit with a very critical ear and found the similarities in songs that we wanted to capitalize on. From there, we got a line on a bunch of old, vintage recording gear and we brought it to the studio and tried to recreate the soundscape from that time period.
With a single like “I’m American,” would you say you’re consciously writing songs with a political message?
Politics doesn’t necessarily interest me much. To me, politics is just a series of compromises put in place by people with lots of money to get their way and have the rest of us pay for it. What really interests me is social science. Why we do the things we do as a populace. The older I get, the more similarities I see within human personalities. I see certain ‘types’ of people that tend to mimic each other. It’s fascinating to watch and comment on. I do that quite a bit within the records.
How has the music industry changed since Queensrÿche started in the ‘80s?
The industry has changed dramatically in that period of time. It’s a completely different animal now. I think that in five years, you won’t even have any record companies—except perhaps iTunes. (Laughs.) All industries change. The trick is to remain on the cutting edge of the change, to watch the trends, and predict where it’s gonna go. Luckily, we’ve been able to do that and maintain our career within a very dismal industry.
Do you think hard rock can survive in an industry more focused on pop music?
Hard rock has gone through many different cycles. It went from the small, independent labels selling it without a lot of people knowing about it to arenas and major labels. Now it’s going back underground again which, in a way, is a really exciting time. It’s a healthy thing. It needs to go underground again and gain some intensity before it comes out again.
Any plans yet for another Queensrÿche album?
We’re actually working on a new album right now. It’s like nothing we’ve done before. I can’t really talk about it other than it’s a theme-based record and it’s very intense in a lot of different ways.
What other projects do you have in the works?
I’ve got a second solo record that’s nearing completion. And then I have another project that will probably come out first. It’s a concept piece based on my idea of war. It’s really cool music based around singing. There are lots of vocals ~ three and four-part harmonies. I wrote it with Jason Slater and Kelly Grey. It’s really unique and very touching.
How important are your stage show visuals to telling the Mindcrime story?
I look at visuals as a tool to help tell the story. You can use those tools in a number of different ways. You can subtly paint an abstract, Impressionistic view of what you’re trying to say or you can bash them over the head with the obvious. Both methods are really effective and, used in conjunction, it’s a very powerful one-two punch. So we put together visuals for the show based on that theory. Some things you want to present very subtly—religious references and things like that. A lot of people have deep-rooted, strong feelings about [religion]. So you have to be kind of careful that you get across your idea but do it in a respectful way that isn’t going to offend people too much. I’d rather not offend people. I’d rather inspire them to think about the situation in another way. All you do when you offend people is put them on the offensive and I don’t want to do that. I want open their minds to another point of view.
Are you looking forward to the upcoming tour with Alice Cooper and Heaven And Hell?
We’re real excited about the tour because it’s a fantastic bill. I’ve always wanted to play with Alice, and Ronnie Dio is singing with the Black Sabbath band [Heaven And Hell] which was my favorite lineup that they did.
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Queensryche plays Locobazooka Sun., Sept. 9 at the Tweeter Center in Mansfield along with Alice Cooper and the Heaven and Hell Tour.
Locobazooka organizer Dan Hartwell says, “I listened to Queensrÿche’s Operation: Mindcrime album as much as I listened to School’s Out by Alice Cooper and Mob Rules by Black Sabbath with Dio.” Adding, “When Queensrÿche takes the stage, the crowds will be blown away!”
Look for Sign Of The Times: The Best Of Queensrÿche (CD and Deluxe CD Collector’s Edition on Capitol/EMI) released on August 28.
Get Ready To Rock!
In addition to Queensryche, Locobazooka! 2007 will feature Heaven and Hell (with Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Vinny Appice), Alice Cooper, Shadows Fall, Bang Camaro, Roadsteamer, Adema, Godhead, Carmen and Camille, Storm Within, Firebrands, Lies Beneath, Kryterium, Borgo Pass, Half Past My Sin, Troll, Prospect Hill, Late For The Sky, Turning Point, Meliah Rage, Leaving Eden, Crash Midnight, Stereophile, Enemy Remains, Katet, Stone Crusher, The Morning, 10/31, Santagata, buRne, Sinister Trailerpark Magic, Bangladesh, 12 Step Program, The First Time and many more! Tix are on sale now at the Tweeter Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, and www.locobazooka.com and are also now available at all New England fye and Strawberries locations.
