Metal Mayhem's Top 100 Bands of All-Time, 14: Queensrÿche

14. Queensrÿche 

For today's installment of Metal Mayhem's Top 100 Metal Bands of All-Time, we have Queensrÿche at number 14.

Queensrÿche is an American progressive metal band that formed in 1981 near Seattle, Washington. Their classic lineup included singer Geoff Tate, guitarists Chris DeGarmo and Michael Wilton, bassist Eddie Jackson, and drummer Scott Rockenfield. Along with Dream Theater, they can be considered one of the greatest progressive metal bands in history.

One of the things that makes Queensrÿche great is the vocals of Geoff Tate. He is possibly the most versatile singer in all of metal. His use of low pitched singing with high pitched screams are incredible. I also love the guitar work of Chris DeGarmo and Michael Wilton especially on Operation Mindcrime.

Over the years, the driving force behind the band were Tate and DeGarmo. During this period, they released some of the best progressive metal albums of all-time: Queensrÿche, Operation Mindcrime, Empire, Promised Land, The Warning, and Rage for Order.

However, DeGarmo left the band in 1997 leaving a creative void in the band. Over the last fifteen years, they have released six albums with varying levels of success. I have really enjoyed the albums: Tribe, Q2K, and Operation Mindcrime II, but their last two albums, American Soldier and Dedicated to Chaos were terrible albums.

During the summer of 2012, the band voted to fired Geoff Tate which led to much confusion and lawsuits. What ended up happening was that Tate released a solo album in early November that was pretty good, but before the release, he announced a "new" Queensrÿche. But wait, what about the band that fired him? They have their version of Queensrÿche as well.

The Tate led lineup features himself as lead singer, Kelly Gray (former member) on guitar, Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot) on bass, Bobby Blotzer (Ratt) on drums, and Randy Gane (Myth) on keyboards.

The other version of Queensrÿche includes Todd La Torre (Crimson Glory) on vocals, Michael Wilton on lead guitar, Parker Lundgren on rhythm guitar, Eddie Jackson on bass, and Scott Rockenfield on drums.

Despite the weirdness of their current situation, the classic Queensrÿche was one of the greatest metal bands to ever take the stage!

Here is "Queen of the Reich."

And "Spreading the Disease."

And "The Thin Line."

And "I Am I."

And "Open."

Thanks for reading!
Martin Sabin