GEOFF TATE, Born January 14th, 1959When most musicians record solo albums, it's because they need an outlet for material that doesn't fit the scope of their band. That wasn't the case with Geoff Tate. While there's very little on his solo debut that couldn't fit within the ever-evolving musical scope of Queensrÿche, the difference for the vocalist lies in the expression of those songs, and how they actually came to fruition."The problem when you're in a creative environment is keeping things fresh and invigorating, and after working with the same people for twenty years, it gets very difficult—You walk into the room, and everybody knows what everybody is going to do," explains the frontman. "There's no spark of new blood, the chemistry is very tried and true, and you just keep coming up with the same ways of expressing yourself. What's nice about doing a side project with new people, is that it's a whole new breed, and a bunch of new ideas, musical backgrounds, emotional baggage, and whatever else it takes to create. It's a whole new set of parameters, so it's all new, everyone has ideas you haven't heard before, and everyone is throwing them against the wall. It takes on a whole new life."For Tate, that "whole new life" is a vibrant tapestry of human emotion and expression, the culmination being his eponymous 11-track offering on Sanctuary Records. "The songs are all about the strongest passion of life, which is love. It's all about the feelings that you have for somebody, how relationships work and don't work, the misunderstandings, and all that it takes to keep a relationship working. That said, it's also about stepping out on you're own and trying new stuff, and not being afraid to take that big step. That makes it kind of autobiographical, because I'm taking that step, moving out from where I've been and stepping into other areas, and that's important for people to do.""Ask me what I believe in, I'll say compromise…" rings the opening line of the album's first track, and in those vulnerable depths of "Flood" the mood is set. The music swirls in a textured wash of soothing guitar tones and gently cascading rhythms, and Tate's vocals shower the proceedings like the most welcome of spring rains, his words glistening like a morning dew. Fans of Queensrÿche will revel in the familiar, soothing warmth of one of music's most pure voices, while new fans will find themselves lost somewhere between the melancholy of "Forever" and the hopeful effervescence of "This Moment." Co-songwriter Scott Moughton paves a tantalizing trail of Spanish-flavored guitars into "Helpless," a piano lays the path through the peaceful calm of "In Other Words," drums propel "Passenger," and "Grain Of Faith" plays like the perfect culmination of Tate's lyrical harmony and Carrell’s guitar-based foundations."One of the most brilliant points of humanity is when you take a complex situation, and describe it in a sense that's simplistic enough for people to grasp it very easily. That's amazing, really, and that's what I try to do with songwriting—I try to take a big subject and condense it down into something very simple, maybe just a phrase, or a line, or a couple of lines that says everything. That's a tough challenge, and that's what keeps bringing me back to writing music. It's never easy, which means there's always a challenge to come up with something new and different."I've often had this problem of looking at the glass like it's half-empty, and I've been trying for all these years to figure out how to change that perspective. All of a sudden, I've done it, and I don't know how I did it—I think it's just sort of letting it all go, and knowing that it will change and get better. I'm definitely in a better place now than I've ever been in before, I've got a real positive outlook now," Tate offers, drawing a comparison between his solo release, and his prior body of work. "Queensrÿche seems to have angst about it, and I think that's just because of the dynamics of the members involved. This was much more of a peaceful vibe."While a "peaceful" vibe may seem a bit askew from the voice behind Queensrÿche's Operation: Mindcrime epic, there's not a rock band around that has had the bravado to take their music in as divergent directions as Tate's full-time outfit, and that fact isn't lost on the singer. "I never tried to have a box thrown around myself and be a 'heavy metal' singer," he explains. "If you listen to a lot of Queensrÿche records, especially since Empire, we've done many different types of music and vocals, all based around guitars. 'Silent Lucidity' and 'Jet City Woman' aren't heavy metal anthems, they're just good songs, and I think this new record of mine is a greater extension of where Queensrÿche went in those directions."—Paul Gargano, 04/02You can also find Geoff Tate featured on the following albums & side projects: GEOFF TATE (SOLO CAREER) :: On June 25th, 2002 Geoff Tate released his first ever solo CD. Self-titled, the album was a huge departure from the work he has previously done with Queensrÿche. For more information, please visit http://www.geofftate.com STONE COLD QUEEN :: On September 25th, 2001 Geoff was featured on the Queen tribute CD, Stone Cold Queen, singing lead vocals on the track "Somebody To Love" HEAR 'N AID :: On May 20th and 21st, 1985, 40 artists from various hard rock bands got together at A&M Records Studios to record a song called Stars. An idea originally coming from Jimmy Bain and Vivian Campbell on raising money for the famine relief in Africa and other parts of the world. Geoff Tate appeared, courtesy of EMI Records singing the line, "But singers and songs will never change it alone... we are calling you, calling you" and "We are forever you and I" in the second verse. MICHAEL WILTON, Born February 23, 1962 in San Francisco, California.At the age of 8, I inherited a bass from my uncle, who died tragically in a motorcycle accident in San Leandro, CA. My parents then relocated to Bellevue, Washington where I acquired a nylon acoustic from an aunt and began listening to my father's vast record collection. My early influences were The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Mountain, The Allman Brothers, Bob Dylan, Lou Reed and the San Francisco scene. Having a love for the bass I learned the notes and a few scales and began emulating some of my favorite tunes. I figured out how to hook into my father's receiver and get a really distorted fuzzy sound. I began to learn some Mountain songs and played until I blew up my father's speakers; he was not amused. So I convinced my parents to UPS my uncle's Fender Bassman and speaker cabinet. That became my amp all the way through high school.While in junior high school I sent away for a mail order Les Paul copy and a fuzz box. I also bought a guitar book and began learning the basics. I began playing bass in some garage bands and soon took over the guitar position because I could play Zeppelin tunes. In high school, I started to listen to hard rock; bands like Judas Priest, UFO, Iron Maiden, and Van Halen and began practicing a minimum of 2 hours a day. Then, I met Chris DeGarmo and the two of us played in several garage bands, most notably Joker and Crossfire.After high school, I attended the Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle where my studies included jazz and classical music, and where I learned to appreciate ethnic and improvisational music. Chris and I then met Scott Rockenfield and Eddie Jackson, and began collaborating on original music as well as some heavy cover tunes. We played some parties and roller rinks with different singers calling ourselves The Mob, but was not satisfied with that direction. We then met Geoff Tate, and asked if he would be interested in recording a demo of some original tunes. In the late summer of 1982 we recorded four songs during the graveyard hours at Triad Studios in Redmond, WA. We played the tape for the owner of Easy Street Records and agreed to have the tape sent to various sources. A magazine in the UK called Kerrang! gave us a great review and the phone calls started coming. We decided to press a small amount of EPs on our own label, called 206 Records. We then signed a deal with Harris management, quit our day jobs and changed the name of the band to Queensrÿche. The rest is just a work in progress....Pleaes visit http://www.michaelwilton.comYou can also find Michael Wilton featured on the following albums & side projects: SOULBENDER :: On June 24th, 2002 Michael Wilton along with Nick Pollock, Dave Groves & Wes Hallam played their first ever Soulbender gig, opening for Geoff Tate. For more information, please visit http://www.soulbender.com or http://www.michaelwilton.com SCOTT ROCKENFIELD, Born June 15th, 1963I was born in Seattle, WA on June 15th 1963 and I have lived in the Seattle area ever since. It was during the sixth grade that I attended a drum and percussion seminar and, from that day forward, my destiny became obvious. Soon after the seminar, I acquired my first snare drum and played it at every opportunity. Lessons didn't interest me so I decided to follow what my heart told me and just played what I wanted to hear. However, I'm not saying that taking lessons is wrong, it just wasn't something I felt comfortable with. I suppose I've always had a hard time being told what to do!I continued playing that same snare drum until I turned 14. At that time, I received what was to become the most important Christmas gift that I would ever get... my first drum kit! From then on, I was obsessed with drumming and I would spend as much time as possible playing my drums and dreaming about making music.After my graduation from high school in 1981, an urge overtook me and playing my drums in a rock band was all I could think about. That same year, with some friends and classmates, I helped to found "Queensryche." With money saved from working part time jobs, we booked time in a studio and made our first record, a self-titled EP that we released on our own label, 206 Records. The response from the public was overwhelming and soon we had a bidding war between seven major labels! We decided to sign with EMI America and since then, have released seven full length recordings, including our cult classic "Operation: Mindcrime," and our mega-hit "Empire." The group has been honored with several gold and platinum albums, Grammy nominations, and many other awards throughout the years. A real high point was receiving the MTV Viewers Choice Award in 1991. After the demise of EMI America in the late 1990's, Queensryche signed with Atlantic Records and released the album "Q2K," in the fall of 1999.I have always been a fan of progressive instrumental music and was intrigued with the work that local Seattle musician Paul Speer was doing with David Lanz. They had done some really great videos to accompany their albums and writing music for film and video had been a strong interest of mine for a long time. So when Tom Hall (a mutual friend and engineer on many Queensryche records) introduced us in 1993, we discovered lots of common ground and it turned out he was a big Queensryche fan as well.Paul and I began exploring musical ideas and soon hooked up with director Mike Boydstun on the TeleVoid music video and album. I was finally able to flex my muscles as a soundtrack composer and we were rewarded with a Grammy nomination for TeleVoid in Long Form Music Video.Our second project as Rockenfield/Speer is an impressionistic journey into the deepest canyon in North America, Hells Canyon of Idaho. Expanding our musical and creative boundaries is what the work I do with Paul is all about and I look forward to the journeys ahead.In 1996, on the personal side of things, my life was blessed with the marriage to my best friend, Misty. And now, with three beautiful children, I have found a whole new form of inspiration. Love is a truly wonderful thing!!!To those of you that have followed my career past and present, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. It is the greatest reward for me to know that others have been touched by the music I make and it's inspiration.................Peace.............Srock.You can also find Scott Rockenfield featured on the following albums & side projects: SCOTT ROCKENFIELD (SOLO CAREER) :: On December 11th, 2002 Scott Rockenfield released his first ever solo CD. The -X- Chapter is a beautiful voyage fused with intensity and brilliance; something fans have come to expect from the rock mastermind. From beginning to end, The -X- Chapters is pure ear candy,. For more information, please visit http://www.rockenfieldmusic.com SLAVE TO THE SYSTEM :: Scott Rockenfield and Kelly Gray (ex-Queensrÿche guitarist), Damon Johnson and Roman Glick (Brother Cane) and Scotty Heard (Sweaty Nipples) combined their exceptional talents in the fall of 2000. From this dynamic band of friends and rare musical chemistry emerged Slave to the System. For more information, please visit http://www.slavetothesystem.com ROCKENFIELD / SPEER :: Introduced by Tom Hall (engineer on various Queensrÿche albums), Scott's relationship with Paul was an instant hit. Look more new material from this exceptional Grammy nominated duo in the coming months. For more information, please visit http://www.paulspeer.com/rockspeer.html HELLS CANYON :: This progressive instrumental rock opus is a musical impression of places and historical events in the deepest gorge in North America, Hells Canyon. From the hard hitting fusion rock of "Seven Devils" to the melancholy strains of "China's Last Stand", which echo the tragic massacre at Deep Creek, Scott and Paul take you on a sonic journey through a powerful creation of nature. For more information, please visit http://www.paulspeer.com/products/hellscan.html TELEVOID :: Released in 1999, this highly acclaimed first outing from Rockenfield/Speer is a computer animation thrill ride that received a Grammy nomination in 1998 for Long Form Music Video. The soundtrack punches each scene with a vengeance. It was directed and edited by Michael Boydstun, who also worked on the Mind's Eye series of music videos. For more information, please visit http://www.paulspeer.com/products/televoid.html EDDIE JACKSON, Born January 29th, 1961Confidentially Speaking With Eddie Jackson From QueensrycheHey man, I'm curious about the string sections you've got on this tour. How easy is it to get that all together? You're using a different section in each city, right? It can't be easy. It isn't easy. It's been kinda tough and not every city is fortunate enough to experience the string sections. It's because of space limitations or availability. Half of the shows have had strings accompany us. We take a good half hour to an hour with 'em every time we work with them on show days. They'll go through the songs like three or four times apiece. They've got it all charted out so it's just a matter of them getting a feel of the song. They've been pulling it off every time we've used 'em.Did you try some things early on in the tour that you eventually scrapped - be it a song or a prop? You're gonna experience things like that every time you go out on tour. Whether we take songs out or just rearrange them, that's how that usually works. With the props, yeah we started off with a certain visual look. As you go throughout the tour you're gonna change things a bit to kinda simplify it all.How is it you're incorporating a preview of Operation:Mindcrime II? Is it a live preview, audio samples, video... What we've put together is a video with a song that's potentially going to be on the next release. As of right now we're really looking for a sequel to Operation:Mindcrime. As soon as we're off stage - the last song is "Eyes Of A Stranger" - as soon as we walk off the video comes on with the new music. It's almost like a pseudo-encore. It's not really us performing but it's us giving them an audio track of a song that could be on the next release with a video behind it. We don't know if something like that has ever been done before. You'll see Operation:Mindcrime with the roman numeral II on the monitors. The fans get a kick outta that. There's a lot of anticipation for a sequel. I have a lot of mixed emotions with this because there is something magical and spiritual. There is integrity and the whole chemistry we had when we created the first Mindcrime. To do a follow-up for that is like, do we wanna mess with the mojo, ya know? You're gonna hear that throughout the course of the tour. Some fans will say it takes a lot of guts to do something like that, especially with the success of the first one. There's other fans that are saying they can't wait for the sequel. Some fans have been waiting for the sequel ever since the first one was released 16 years ago. It's a tough pill to swallow. All you can do is write the best you can. We really have no control over what it's going to do when it's released, how it's going to perform sales-wise. Hopefully it will connect.It really sounds like you have some hesitations to do a sequel. Did the whole band question even doing the sequel? We've been talking about that throughout the years. That's why it's never happened. We all tried to figure out if that was something we wanted to do. Fans are still wondering what happened to Mary and what happened to Nikki and Dr. X. Were they related? It's amazing how the fans are just reaching for these answers. Do we even want to miss with that? There's the hesitation you were talking about. Do we really wanna approach this? Maybe it is time. It's hard to say. We all have some mixed emotions about that. It can only help, ya know?Was the original Mindcrime written with every intention of doing a sequel? Did you have the answers to questions like the ones you just brought up or are you having to think up a new story with the answers? It's definitely like Operation:Mindcrime in the new millennium. Sonically it could sound different. Stylistically it could sound different. We're still trying to capture that same sort of sequel feel like they do in movies. Some characters are gone but you'll maybe create new characters to keep the story going. We never really anticipated doing a sequel, let alone still doing this 20 years later! Since this is happening, Mindcrime is definitely a lot more popular now that it was when it was first released. That's interesting because there's a whole new generation of fans being exposed to it. You've got to "Speak the word," ya know?I saw you guys in '90 when you had Suicidal Tendencies opening. You did a version of Mindcrime then. What are you doing differently this time out? Without giving too much away we have arranged some of the songs a little differently. There are some props and live actors. You're gonna get your video accompanying the music, too.Since you're obviously working on Mindcrime II, how hard is it to write a song that can be delivered to radio when you know upfront that you have to write songs that follow a very strict story line? It can't be easy to write a song that follows a script and make it vague enough to where you can dig the song and not really know the story of Operation:Mindcrime. Good question. I don't know if we've ever written songs exclusively for radio. Perhaps it might sound like I'm full of shit! Honestly, we write what we feel. If it connects, it connects. "Silent Lucidity" wasn't even going to be on Empire. We just didn't feel it was gonna fit. Our producer encouraged us to put it on there and look what it did. We had no anticipation it was gonna take off and be in the Top 5. This time around, writing a sequel, the pressure is on. There's more pressure now because we've created something and now we're trying to expand on it. Before we were just writing what we felt. I don't know what to expect but I hope our fans are open-minded. I think we've been very fortunate to have a fan base like that so we can evolve and experiment with our music. They allow us to do what we want to do. I hope this time around they appreciate that as well. We not only have to create a new story line but we've got to create the music to work alongside it. We're all up for the challenge.So how far along are you with the songwriting process? It's hard to say. We have quite a bit of material written. Half the material has lyrics that we feel could be complete songs. As it always happens you'll start to rearrange songs before you go into the studio. That's inevitable. Ever since we've been recording it's been very rare if we've written a song that's complete and not had to tamper with it.Not many people take on the job of writing a concept record. I'm sure you want to make sure the music flows well while also keeping the story in order. Do you write the music first and piece the songs together or do you write the lyrics first? I could be a dumbass and it doesn't even work that way! Don't flatter yourself! I think in the past we've written music before lyrics. Geoff might have a lyrical idea that we might have written music to. I'd say 80-90% of the time you're gonna get the music first. Since we're recording the sequel they're gonna have to go hand-in-hand. This is an exception to what we normally do.Are you recording any of your current shows for a possible live DVD? There has been talk. We were trying to organize and get everything up to speed before this leg of the tour started but we were a little behind on pre-production. We were trying to focus on making sure the show was gonna run smooth. There is that possibility in January or February that we may record this whole Operation:Mindcrime live thing. Maybe like we did before, but this will have actors and different visuals.There is a big difference in the band from the original Mindcrime - Chris DeGarmo is gone. Has he been asked or is he interested in contributing to the Mindcrime sequel? There has been talk. Nothing has developed. It's hard to say because he stepped out in '97. He did help write on the Tribe record. There was always that possibility of him coming back and writing with us for the sequel. Whether it will or not remains to be seen. I think it'd be great to bring him back because he was part of the first Mindcrime. Stylistically it would definitely have that cohesiveness. Mike Stone's a very talented guitar player. He's got a little different style from what Chris had. That's not a bad thing. Maybe that's good. Do we want to create the same style like we did in the past? It has to have it's intensity and it's dynamics because it's 16 years later. Maybe it's not a bad idea to write the sequel with a different guitar player.I'm a real sucker for guitar tones. Do you think the guitar tones will be similar to the first Mindcrime or is that the wrong thing to wish for? For cohesiveness and to have it sound similar to the first one would be great. You're talking about a different engineer, a different producer. It's hard to say whether it's going to have the same sort of feel. We're doing what we can to make that happen. I thought there was a certain style to Operation:Mindcrime. To have that same style 16 years later...will it fit with the new styles of music out there? Radio has changed so drastically it's a whole different world now. It's a whole different industry now. I guess change is inevitable.What would you like to say to your fans and the readers? Thanks for listening. We've been around quite a few years. The fans have been so good to us. To give us the ability to evolve, to experiment with music, has been very amazing. We're like this band who's trying to come up with different styles each time we release a record. That's giving us the freedom to do what we wanna do and our fans have allowed us to do that. You can't ask for a better group than that. Thanks for listening throughout the years.By: Jesse Capps Chapter One: A Stone is born (by Mike Stone) Born: November 30th, 1969At the age of five I remember dabbling with my father’s guitar on a daily basis and falling to sleep at night with the sounds of The Easy Rider soundtrack dancing in my head…..If Six Was Nine….Born To Be Wild…The Pusher….But I realized that the life of a musician is one of constant rejection and struggle. I decided to become a lawyer.On my 8th Birthday my Aunt Lynda, an attorney, told me to go out and look in the back seat of her cool 68’ Camaro. Lying there was a brand new acoustic guitar with my name on it. I brought the guitar inside per my aunt’s instructions. She then sat me down and said “Whatever you do….Don’t become a lawyer.†It was settled…..Rock and Roll here I come!By the age of ten I was gigging regularly covering vocals and electric guitar in the band Ace high with my brother Dave on drums. I was hooked. I formed other bands and started exploring many styles of music. I learned to play as many instruments as I could get my hands on including bass guitar, upright bass, mandolin, ukulele, flute, harmonica and banjo.At the age of nineteen having played in jazz, Dixieland, country, rock and plenty of metal bands, I decided to take it to the next level. I bought a one-way plane ticket to Los Angeles. CHRIS DEGARMO, Born June 14th, 1963Although they were initially grouped in with the legions of pop/metal bands that dominated the American heavy metal scene of the '80s, Queensrÿche was one of the most distinctive bands of the era. Where their contemporaries built on the legacy of Van Halen, Aerosmith, and Kiss, Queensrÿche constructed a progressive form of heavy metal that drew equally from the guitar pyrotechnics of post-Van Halen metal and '70s art rock, most notably Pink Floyd and Queen. After releasing a handful of ignored albums, the band began to break into the mainstream with the acclaimed 1988 album Operation: Mindcrime. Its follow-up, Empire, was the group's biggest success, selling over two million copies due to the hit single "Silent Lucidity." Queensrÿche never sustained that widespread popularity -- like most late-'80s metal bands, their audience disappeared after the emergence of grunge. Nevetheless, they retained a large cult following well into the '90s.Guitarists Chris DeGarmo and Michael Wilton formed Queensrÿche in 1981 in the Seattle, WA, suburb of Bellevue. Both guitarists had been playing in heavy metal cover bands and had decided to form a group that would play original material. The duo recruited their high school friends Geoff Tate (vocals) and bassist Eddie Jackson (bass), as well as drummer Scott Rockenfield. Instead of hitting the club circuit, the group rehearsed for two years, eventually recording and releasing a four-song demo tape. The cassette came to the attention of local record store owners Kim and Diana Harris, who offered to manage Queensrÿche. Wih the help of the Harrises, the tape circulated throughout the Northwest. In May of 1983, Queensrÿche released the EP Queen of the Reich on their own record label 206 Records. Queen of the Reich sold 20,000 copies and, in the process, earned the band major-label attention. By the end of the year, the band signed to EMI, which released an expanded version of the EP as the Queensrÿche LP later in the year; the record peaked at number 81.At this stage, Queensrÿche sounded closer to the British heavy metal bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. Over the next few years, the group continued to refine their sound, as they opened for hard rock acts as diverse as Bon Jovi and Metallica. Their next two albums -- 1984's The Warning and 1986's Rage for Order -- each sold respectably, with the latter reaching number 47 on the U.S. charts. Rage for Order also demonstrated a flowering of progressive rock influences, an idea which would reach its fruition with 1988's Operation: Mindcrime. Boasting orchestral arrangements from Michael Kamen, the album was Queensrÿche's most ambitious and focused effort to date, earning both positive reviews and strong sales. Operation: Mindcrime stayed on the American charts for a year, selling over a million copies during its run.Queensrÿche returned in the fall of 1990 with the equally ambitious Empire. The album proved to be their commercial high watermark, peaking at number seven on the U.S. charts and going double platinum in America; in the U.K., the album also cracked the Top Ten. Empire's success was instigated by the stately art rock ballad "Silent Lucidity," which received heavy airplay from MTV and album rock radio. All the exposure eventually sent "Silent Lucidity" to number five on the U.S. singles charts.Following the long Empire tour -- which included a spot on the 1991 Monsters of Rock tour -- Queensrÿche released the live Operation: Livecrime in the fall of 1991. Recorded on the Operation: Mindcrime tour, the album replicated the group's live performance of the rock opera that comprised their 1988 artistic breakthrough; the package also included a video and a thick book. In the three years following the release of Operation: Livecrime, the band rested and leisurely worked on the follow-up to Empire.Occasionally, they contributed a song to a soundtrack, such as "Real World" for Arnold Schwarzenegger's 1993 movie Last Action Hero. Queensrÿche finally delivered their sixth studio album, Promised Land, in 1994. Though the heavy metal audience had changed drastically since Empire, with many fairweather metal fans switching their allegiance to grunge and alternative rock, the group retained a strong following, as evidenced by Promised Land debuting at number three on the U.S. charts. Promised Land would eventually go platinum and spawn two album rock hits, "I Am I" and "Bridge."With 1997's Hear in the New Frontier, Queensrÿche stripped back their sound to the bare bones, leaving behind the prog rock influences that made them distinctive. Although the album debuted at 19, it received mixed reviews and quickly fell down the charts, leading shortly thereafter to founding guitarist Chris DeGarmo's exit from the band. (DeGarmo would soon resurface as part of former Alice in Chains' guitarist Jerry Cantrell's touring band.) Q2K followed in 1999, as new guitarist Kelly Gray took DeGarmo's place. 2000 saw the release of Queensrÿche's first best-of set, Greatest Hits, which the band supported with an opening slot on one of the year's hottest metal concert tickets -- Iron Maiden's Brave New World reunion tour, which also included former Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford (upon the tour's completion, Tate, Halford, and Maiden's Bruce Dickinson formed a metal supergroup, dubbed Trinity). In 2001, the band issued the double CD and DVD Evolution Live. Former member DeGarmo is also gearing up to form a new band, said to include former Alice in Chains' drummer Sean Kinney and bassist Mike Inez. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine & Greg Prato, All Music GuideYou can also find Chris DeGarmo featured on the following albums & side projects: JERRY CANTRELL :: On June 18th, 2002 Jerry Cantrell's 2nd solo effort, Degradation Trip hit store shelves. On the third track CD, "Anger Rising", Chris DeGarmo made a guest appearance playing slide guitar. Previous to this, Chris also joined Jerry supporting him on his Boggy Depot tour. For more information, please visit http://www.jerrycantrell.com SPYS4DARWIN :: Chris DeGarmo, former guitarist of Queensrÿche, Vin Dombroski, lead singer of Sponge, and Mike Inez & Sean Kinney, the rhythm section of Alice In Chains, came to be in the dark confines of a Seattle rehearsal space in late 1999. The seeds were planted in 1998, when Kinney’s Alice In Chains band mate Jerry Cantrell was putting together a touring band to promote his first solo album. DeGarmo and Kinney were part of that band. Their friendship and chemistry would evolve throughout the rehearsals and subsequent tour that followed, paving the way to a studio partnership (Binge) where most of the “microfish†EP would later be recorded. For more information, please visit http://spys4darwin.com PAMELA MOORE“My mother introduced me to theater at a young age…and it instantly became a passion, a dream waiting to be fulfilled.†Pamela Moore was so taken by the whole performing thing she immersed herself into anything (and everything) that would keep her on stage. She studied with the Music Program in High School (and college) and enlisted into Thespians. The combination of the two helped her gain the instruction she craved, however, coming from a big family with limited resources, any further instruction would need to come from within, thus being self taught on acoustic guitar and piano as well.Pamela was given the opportunity to record her first album with a now defunct Seattle based record label, “First American Recordsâ€. Her first release “Take A Look†did very well regionally and was one of the stepping-stones that lead her down the path she finds herself now. A second release, “You Won’t Find Me There†was recorded a year later but never had a chance to surface as the company folded just after its release. “It was a disappointing time but in retrospect, the experience was great for me.†Grooming her to become (as Billboard Magazine penned) “…an AOR, Blue-eyed soul artist, destined for success.†A far cry from what was to be her most memorable endeavor…Queensryche.At the time Pamela was contacted by Queensryche, she was in Seattle hired to sing on many radio commercials and working with a popular club band. “I had done a television commercial for a local music store which was getting a lot of air play at the time.†This caught the attention of Geoff Tate and Chris DeGarmo which led to a phone call and a flight to Montreal to “take a stab†at a duet with Geoff. That night at dinner Chris and Geoff explained the concept of Operation Mindcrime and the role they wanted her to perform. Not hearing the song until that night…she had until the next morning to learn it. As Pamela remembers; “I was so nervous, I didn’t want to disappoint them. The next morning I found myself in the studio, the tape began to roll, the song began to play and after the first two phrases into the song I saw smiles creep across their faces. I knew then, everything was going to be alright…the rest is history!†Pamela adds to say; “Having the chance to work with Queensryche was incredible, and I am very grateful for that opportunity.â€Aside from live performances and solo recording projects, Pamela did some work with a band from New York, Radar. She moved to New York, living there for 2 years to work on her craft before returning home to Seattle. Radar made there debut release in Europe two summers ago.Pamela is currently involved in several projects; finishing work with Brian Johnson of AC/DC on a “top secret†project. She was recently hired to sing backup on a few selected concerts with Paul Rodgers of Bad Company, and made a “cameo stage appearance†with her cousin, Terri Nunn of Berlin.What next? Well, acclaimed producer, songwriter Paul Spear and Pamela collaborated on a song Pamela wrote called, “Reminds Me†which was placed on an independent film called, “Minimal Knowledge†staring Christian De La Fuente, Izabella Miko and Henry Marshall. The film is highly acclaimed around the independent film industry and has taken several honors since it’s release. As a result of this collaboration come talks of Paul Spear producing Pamela’s next solo project. Of which Pamela says; “I am honored and excited to get going on this next faze of my life…Dreams really can come true.â€Pamela has been featured on the following albums:Pamela Moore - Take A Look (1981)Pamela Moore - You Won't Find Me There (1982)Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime (1988)Queensryche - Operation: Livecrime (2001 / 1992)Radar - RPM (2000)Queensryche - Operation: Live Evolution (2002)Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime II (2006)Pamela Moore - Stories from a Blue Room (2006)STORIES FROM A BLUE ROOM :: While most songwriters cite “life experiences†as the influence behind their songs, for Pamela Moore, it’s an honest answer, not a public relations line. Her lyrics on Stories from a Blue Room are derived from a life spent in and out of the music business and provide a unique landscape of emotions. To purchase this spectacular album, please visit: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/pamelamoore2 OPERATION: MINDCRIME II :: Reprising her role for the voice of Sister Mary, Pamela Moore once again proves she's a voice to be reckoned with. Singing on tracks "Speed of Light", "If I Could Change It All", "An Intentional Confrontation" and "All The Promises" look for Pamela on the road again with Queensryche in the Fall of 2006, Spring 2007 and perhaps on LIVECrime II? RETROSPECTIVE :: World class singer Pamela Moore, best known for her vocal part as Sister Mary on the Queensryche highly acclaimed, multi-platinum album Operation Mindcrime, has put out a short collection of songs called: A Retrospective. For more information & ordering, please visit http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/pamelamoore RADAR :: This is really powerful rock at it's best, everything sounds just perfect! Radar is a five-member band featuring lead vocalist Pamela Moore. You may know Pam from her work as "Sister Mary" on QUEENSRYCHE's "Operation: Mindcrime" album. With RADAR, you can now enjoy Pam singing pure 80s Melodic Rock. For more information, please visit http://www.kivelrecords.com/pages/bands/Radar/bandframes.htm l OPERATION: LIVECRIME :: After appearing on the Operation: Mindcrime album, Queensrÿche fans longed to see Pamela Moore live performing the role that made her so famous; Sister Mary. Luckily, a few cities got to witness her talent while Queensryche was on their Building Empires Tour. One of their stops, Madison, Wisconsin. The show was recorded and later released as Operation: Livecrime. OPERATION: MINDCRIME :: Performing the voice for Sister Mary, Pamela Moore became an overnight hit among Queensrÿche fans around the world. Performing a duet with lead singer Geoff Tate, "Suite Sister Mary" is more than just a song, it's an opus in itself. Pamela would later return to reprise her role on stage at various shows in 1991 and 2001.You can visit Pamela Moore on the web @ http://www.pamelamoore.net TAKE COVER November 13th, 2007 :: Queensrÿche: Geoff Tate (vocals), Michael Wilton (guiar), Mike Stone (guitar, background vocals), Eddie Jackson (bass, background vocals), Scott Rockenfield (drums, percussion). Produced by Kenny Nemes & Karen Ahmed. SIGN OF THE TIMES: The Best of Queensryche August 28th, 2007 :: Queensrÿche: Geoff Tate (vocals), Michael Wilton (guiar), Mike Stone (guitar, background vocals), Kelly Gray (guitar), Chris DeGarmo (guitar), Eddie Jackson (bass, background vocals), Scott Rockenfield (drums, percussion). MINDCRIME AT THE MOORE July 3rd, 2007 :: Queensrÿche: Geoff Tate (vocals); Michael Wilton, Mike Stone (guitar, background vocals); Eddie Jackson (bass, background vocals); Scott Rockenfield (drums, percussion). Produced by Kenny Nemes & Karen Ahmed. OPERATION: MINDCRIME II April 4th, 2006 :: Queensrÿche: Geoff Tate (vocals); Michael Wilton, Mike Stone (guitar, background vocals); Eddie Jackson (bass, background vocals); Scott Rockenfield (drums, percussion). Produced by Queensryche & Jason Slater. THE ART OF LIVE June 8th, 2004 :: Queensrÿche: Geoff Tate (vocals); Michael Wilton (guitar); Eddie Jackson (bass); Scott Rockenfield (drums); Mike Stone (guitars). Engineer: Eric Janko. Produced by Queensryche. TRIBE July 22nd, 2003 :: Queensrÿche: Geoff Tate (vocals); Chris DeGarmo (guitar), Michael Wilton (guitar); Eddie Jackson (bass); Scott Rockenfield (drums). Engineer: Scott Olson. Produced by Queensryche. Mixed by Adam Kasper. CLASSIC MASTERS March 11th, 2003 :: Queensrÿche: Geoff Tate (vocals); Chris DeGarmo (guitar), Michael Wilton (guitar); Eddie Jackson (bass); Scott Rockenfield (drums). LIVE EVOLUTION September 25th, 2001 :: Queensrÿche: Geoff Tate, Michael Wilton, Kelly Gray, Eddie Jackson, Scott Rockenfield. Additional personnel: Pamela Moore (vocals). Recorded live at The Moore Theater, Seattle, Washington on July 27 & 28, 2001. Includes liner notes by Paul Gargano. OPERATION: LIVECRIME October 28th, 1991 // September 25th, 2001 :: Queensrÿche: Geoff Tate (vocals); Chris DeGarmo, Michael Wilton (guitar, background vocals); Eddie Jackson (bass, background vocals); Scott Rockenfield (drums). Additional personnel: Pamela Moore (vocals); Anthony Valentine, Debbie Wheeler, Mike Snyder, Scott Mateer (spoken vocals). Producers: Queensrÿche, Jeff Tannenberg. Reissue producer: David Brown. Engineers: James "Jimbo" Barton, Tom Hall. Digitally re-mastered by Evren Gocknar (Capitol Mastering). Q2K September 14, 1999 :: Queensrÿche: Geoff Tate (vocals); Kelly Gray, Michael Wilton (guitar); Eddie Jackson (bass); Scott Rockenfield (drums). Recorded at London Bridge Studios, Seattle, Washington. GREATEST HITS June 27th, 2000 :: Queensrÿche: Geoff Tate (vocals); Chris DeGarmo, Michael Wilton (guitar); Eddie Jackson (bass); Scott Rockenfield (drums). Producers: James Guthrie, Niel Kernon, Peter Collins, James Barton. Compilation producers: David Brown, Cheryl Pawelski. Includes liner notes by Paul Sutter. Digitally remastered by Evren Goknar (2000, Capitol Studios). HEAR IN THE NOW FRONTIER March 25th, 1997 :: Queensrÿche: Chris DeGarmo (vocals, guitar); Geoff Tate (vocals); Michael Wilton (guitar); Eddie Jackson (bass); Scott Rockenfield (drums, percussion). Additional personnel: David Ragsdale (violin); Matt Rollings (piano, keyboards, synthesizers); Steve Nathan (keyboards, synthesizers). Recorded at Sixteenth Avenue Sound, Nashville, Tennessee and Studio Litho, Seattle, Washington in 1996. PROMISED LAND October 18, 1994 :: Queensrÿche: Geoff Tate (vocals); Michael Wilton, Chris DeGarmo (guitar); Eddie Jackson (bass); Scott Rockenfield (drums). Producers: Queensrÿche, James "Jimbo" Barton. Engineers: James "Jimbo" Barton, Tom Hall, Queensrÿche. EMPIRE September 4th, 1990 :: Queensrÿche: Geoff Tate (vocals, keyboards); Chris DeGarmo (6- & 12-string acoustic & electric guitars, keyboards, background vocals); Michael Wilton (6- & 12-string acoustic & electric guitars); Eddie Jackson (electric & fretless basses, background vocals); Scott Rockenfield (drums, percussion). Additional personnel: Michael Kamen (strings); B.O.B. (background vocals). Engineers: James "Jimbo" Barton, Paul Northfield. Recorded at Vancouver Studios, Vancouver, Canada and Triad Studios, Redmond, Washington in 1990. OPERATION: MINDCRIME May 3rd, 1988 :: Queensrÿche: Geoff Tate (vocals); Michael Wilton, Chris DeGarmo (guitar, background vocals); Eddie Jackson (bass, background vocals); Scott Rockenfield (drums, percussion). Additional personnel: Pamela Moore (vocals). Recorded at Kajem/Victory Studios, Gladwyne, Pennsylvania. RAGE FOR ORDER 1986 :: Queensrÿche: Geoff Tate (vocals, keyboards); Michael Wilton, Chris DeGarmo (guitar, background vocals); Eddie Jackson (bass, background vocals); Scott Rockenfield (drums, percussion). Recorded at M.D.H. Studios, Bellevue, Washington and Le Mobile Remote Sound Studio Mushroom Studios, Vancouver, Canada. THE WARNING September 7th, 1984 :: Queensrÿche: Geoff Tate (vocals); Chris DeGarmo, Michael Wilton (guitar, background vocals); Eddie Jackson (bass, background vocals); Scott Rockenfield (drums). Additional personnel: Michael Kamen (conductor). Recorded at Angel Recording, Audio International, Abbey Roads Studios and Mayfair Recording, London, England. QUEENSRŸCHE EP 1983 :: Queensrÿche: Geoff Tate (vocals); Chris DeGarmo, Michael Wilton (guitar); Eddie Jackson (bass); Scott Rockenfield (drums). Principally recorded at Triad Studios, Redmond, Washington in 1982.
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