April 20, 2022
The first quarter of 2022 has been a busy one for the original members of Queensryche. Here's the most recent news roundup of their activities so far this year. Former guitarist Chris DeGarmo has been busy helping his daughter Rylie with her project called Les Ailes. The group recently released a four-song EP, But I Love You, on April 1. The songs were written by Rylie and collaborators other than her father. But Chris was heavily involved, performing various instruments on the songs and producing/mixing some of the tracks. For those of you unaware, in addition to guitar, Chris can also play drums, bass, and synthesizers. Check it out here. Original vocalist Geoff Tate has been a road warrior to start 2022. The singer has been performing all over Europe celebrating the 30th anniversary of Queensryche's Empire... February 14, 2022
When Queensryche's Hear in the Now Frontier was released on March 25, 1997, the reception was decidedly mixed. Some music critics and fans hailed the album as a triumphant foray into alternative rock, while others said Queensryche jumped the shark and forgot what made the band's music distinct. A quarter-century later, not much has changed. Listeners are still largely split on Hear in the Now Frontier and its place in Queensryche's catalog. But Toby Wright, who engineered and mixed the album, considers it an artistic success and looks back fondly on the recording sessions. December 23, 2021
I never met the late Kim Harris. I wish I had. He was the unsung hero of Queensryche's early years, managing the band during its infancy. Through Kim's connections in the music industry (and those of his then-wife, Diana), Queensryche received the promotion needed to get on the radar of label executives, break free from the Pacific Northwest and land a major record deal. His initial guidance helped steer Queensryche down a path to eventual stardom. Kim's impact on the careers of Chris DeGarmo, Eddie Jackson, Scott Rockenfield, Geoff Tate and Michael Wilton should be obvious. The five of them went on to achieve worldwide acclaim and sell millions of albums. Mr. Harris was certainly proud of his work with Queensryche. But his tireless devotion to the band affected the course of so many other lives – including my own. As the clock winds down on 2021, I'd be remiss if I did not acknowledge how grateful I am to Kim Harris, and pay tribute to someone whose work left an indelible mark on my personal journey... October 25, 2021
When James Beach and Brian Naron initially approached me in March 2020 about co-writing Building An Empire: The Story of Queensryche with them, I wasn't ready to commit. To be pefectly honest, I was gun-shy to re-engage with the band and its fan base after years of just doing my own thing at AnybodyListening.net and rediscovering my enjoyment of their music. After a couple of phone calls explaining my reasons for not wanting to get overly involved, I reluctantly agreed to pen the book's Afterword. The plan was for me to write that piece and serve as a "historical consultant" on the book. Beach and Naron were disappointed, but from my perspective, I was happy with the plan, as it allowed me to contribute to the project without going overboard. But as Robert Burns once said, "the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry....." August 13, 2021
A short documentary on the original lineup of Queensryche has been released on YouTube. The Reign of Queensryche was created and narrated by Raz Ben Ari and edited by Simon Kopp. Based loosely on a historical essay on the band written by this author (which appears here on AnybodyListening.net), the documentary features interview footage, live performances and backstage video that helps tell Queensryche's story from 1983-1997... [ View More Entries ] |