Queensrÿche is a progressive metal band formed in Seattle, USA, in 1982. The group originated when guitarists Chris DeGarmo and Michael Wilton and bassist Eddie Jackson joined drummer Scott Rockenfield and recruited vocalist Geoff Tate to play covers of metal classics. The band, then called The Mob , recorded a demo in '81 and signed a contract with the Easy Street Records .
Forced to change their name, the group decided to name the band after an adaptation of the first track from their debut EP, " Queen Of The Reich ". The band's demo was released as Queensrÿche's first EP in 1983 and was very well received by critics. The work also had a large number of sales for an independent release. The band then signed with EMI and went on to tour with Quiet Riot and Twisted Sister .
In 1984, Queensrÿche released their debut album, The Warning , which, like its successor Rage For Order (1986), had moderate commercial success. In 1988, Queensrÿche released the concept album Operation: Mindcrime , and in 1990, Empire . Both albums propelled the band to the peak of their career.
In 1998, DeGarmo announced his departure from the band to pursue other interests. The guitarist became a professional pilot and has had little involvement with music to this day. He was replaced by guitarist Kelly Gray , a member of Tate's former band, Myth . Gray, however, only stayed until 2002 when he was fired for "abusive habits" and replaced by Mike Stone . The new guitarist's debut was on the album Operation: Mindcrime II (2006), a sequel to the 1998 album. Stone left the band in 2009 and was replaced by Parker Lundgren .
In 2011, Queensrÿche released their last album with Geoff Tate, Dedicated To Chaos . During the 2012 tour, the Queensrÿche instrumentalists began firing members of Tate's family who were part of the band's crew. At a show in São Paulo in April 2012, Tate argued with the other members, and in June the vocalist was fired. Geoff Tate formed a new band, also named Queensrÿche, and his former colleagues continued using the same name, with Todd La Torre on vocals.
In April 2014, Queensrÿche announced the final settlement in the battle over the band's name, determining that original musicians Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, and Scott Rockenfield, and new members Todd LaTorre and Parker Lundgren have exclusive rights to the name "Queensrÿche." Geoff Tate retained exclusive performance and recording rights for the songs from Operation: Mindcrime and Operation: Mindcrime II and even named his new band after the album.
Queensÿche has released 12 studio albums and sold over 20 million albums worldwide, in addition to being nominated for three Grammys.
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