_________________________________ | Screaming in Digital
        ________________*________________ | The Queensryche Net Digest
                       ***                | queensryche@pilot.njin.net
        __________*__*******__*__________ | Volume 049, 28Sep92
                 ******* *******          | Edited by Dan 'Shag' Birchall
              *********   *********       | 
        ____************_************____ | Anonymous FTP sites:
          **** ******************* ****   | glia.biostr.washington.edu
         ***   ***  *********  ***   ***  | 
         **     *     *****     *     **  | 
        _*____________*****____________*_ |   The editor is liable only
                    *********             | for his errors.  Submission
                   ***********            | constitutes license to use.
                  **  *****  **           | Editorial right is reserved
                  *   *****   *           | regarding grammar, length,
        ______________*****______________ | decency, and redundancy.
                       ***                |   Screaming in Digital is 
                       ***                | edited by member 7302 of the
                       ***                | Queensryche Fan Club, who
                        *                 | does encourage membership.
                        *                 | Write Queensryche, Box 70503,
        _SiD_1992_______*________________ | Bellevue, Washington 98007.
        _________________________________________________________________
        _Screaming in Digital______________________________Editor's Note_

                Fall has arrived, and things seem to be picking up a bit.
        I cross-posted an advertisement to Usenet, as planned.  Several
        SiD "business" cards are also en route to England with one of the
        British fans who visited me recently.
                For reference purposes, here are the e-mail addresses for
        things relating to this digest:
                Submissions:    queensryche@pilot.njin.net
                Subscriptions:  queensryche-request@pilot.njin.net
                Problems:       queensryche-owner@pilot.njin.net
        For those of you on Bitnet, pilot.njin.net is the same machine as
        Bitnet's site NJIN.  For those of you using UUCP bang-paths, send
        to !rutgers!pilot.njin.net!queensryche, et cetera.  Thanks.
                As I promised in the last issue, all digitized images on
        the FTP site at Glia have been removed, and a selection of JPEG
        compressed files have been put in their place.  This results in
        a 75% reduction in disk space used, which makes the administrator
        of the site happy.  All the JPEG files can be decompressed into
        GIF images using conversion software.
                In this issue:  More new news, old concerts, bands with
        similar sounds, a musical critique of "Operation: mindcrime," 
        things wanted, Geoff's voice, Geoff's political views, Geoff's 
        eating habits, and no sex.

        _Neue Regel___________________________________________What's New_

        cuz@chaos.cs.brandeis.edu (Brandon) writes,
                I was reading the latest College Music Journal (CMJ) the 
        other day, and was checking out what albums were scheduled for 
        release.  I got to Oct. 20, and one of the releases was 
        Queensryche "Building Empires."  Extrapolating from the title, I 
        will assume this is a live album from their last tour. However, 
        does anyone know any more than this?
                        {I don't have any more information than what I
                        put forth in volume 48 - yet.  -sh}

        mcapp@nyx.cs.du.edu (Mike) writes,
                Just to let you all know, there is a new contest in 
        "Guitar for the Practicing Musician" to win an Ovation acoustic 
        guitar signed by Michael and Chris.  September 1992 issue, 
        entries must be in by December 31st, 1992.  

        _Speak____________________________________________Correspondence_

        gmgettie@thama1.apgea.army.mil (Gary) writes, 
                I have listened to "Rage for Order" at least 20 times now 
        and I have come to the conclusion that it is without a doubt my 
        favorite Queensryche album.  It may even be my favorite album, 
        period.  And to think, I almost didn't even buy it.  Also, I just 
        bought "The Warning" and "Queensryche."  Is it me, or has Geoff 
        lost same of his vocal range?  It seems that he can hit the high 
        notes better on their older stuff.

        mcapp@nyx.cs.du.edu (Mike) writes,
                Somebody commented a while back that Geoff wasn't singing 
        high notes as much as he used to.  I can't answer for Geoff, 
        obviously, but as a musician and a singer, it takes a lot out of 
        you when you do it a lot (throat wise), when you have to strain 
        your throat muscles.  Knowing that Geoff has a fairly deep voice, 
        it makes it even harder.  I'm sure he'll start up again to keep 
        things different and going.

        edju@phakt.usc.edu (Eddie) writes,
                I couldn't believe it when Geoff said, "Anything that's 
        living, I don't eat."  Aren't vegetables living before they 
        become Geoff's lunch?
                        {Maybe he means "anything that would put up a
                        fight."  -sh}

        corum@uscn.bitnet (Paul) writes,
                While I respect Geoff for his social conscience and 
        views, I can't help but get the feeling there's something _wrong_ 
        here.  I don't see conspiracies ("paying off the AMA") behind 
        every spiked tree, and I'm a little taken aback at his feelings 
        toward dairy products - milk is a good source of calcium, 
        especially for older women.  My grandmother has shrunk at least 
        four inches in the last decade, and part of this is due to 
        calcium deficiency.  Aside from the fact that it comes from a 
        cow, I don't know of any serious health risks with milk, or 
        fish, for that matter, if it's properly prepared.   Sure, my 
        grandmother could have taken Calcium pills - is this a nice, 
        natural life?  Can we strike a balance here between social and 
        environmental awareness and left-fringe politicking?
                If you remember the special-edition Rockline radio show
        for Earth Day, which featured Geoff Tate among others in the 
        Seattle scene, you'll recall that virtually every question - even 
        musical ones - was turned by host Bob Coburn or the participants 
        into a forum for expressing social views and, to be frank,
        pushing a liberal agenda.  Once, when someone asked how Al Gore's 
        wife Tipper's involvement with the PMRC and censorship affected
        the political race, Bob Coburn tossed that very-valid concern off 
        with "Well, I think whoever wins the election will have enough 
        problems to try to fix that censorship will take a back seat."  
        This may be true, but it was still a whitewash - and Tipper Gore, 
        of course, won't be busy fixing the nation since _she_ wouldn't 
        win the election, her husband would.
                Again, can we strike a balance here?  Or am I doomed to 
        be dismissed by Geoff as being "oooh, [in] bad shape" in the 
        South, when we recycle everything we can, et cetera?   Frankly, 
        I could never afford to pay off the AMA.
                        {I agree that Geoff could afford to check his 
                        data a little more closely - as an example, the
                        national perception of New Jersey, where I live,
                        is extremely poor, and historically, it has been
                        one of the nastier places to be, in terms of
                        pollution and health.  In recent years, though,
                        something like 40% of all solid waste has been
                        recycled.  Yes, the Seattle area recycles 60%,
                        the best in the country.  But there are few towns
                        where recycling is totally unknown.  Geoff's data
                        for regions other than his own is, like that of
                        most people, probably a little out of date.  -sh}

        _Roads to Madness__________________________________________Shows_

        mckinzie@math.wisc.edu (Mark) writes,
                Queensryche has been playing 'The Prophecy' forever - 
        including the tour from the EP.  Other than the 4 EP tracks, 'The 
        Prophecy' is the only other "old" song that they've released. 
        They played 3 or 4 other songs on that first tour that have never 
        appeared on record.
                The misdated bootleg sounds like it might be Oct 5, 1983 
        in San Jose, CA, since those are the four tracks that were 
        broadcast by the King Biscuit Flower Hour.  I was at those shows 
        - they were opening for Dio, and the original 7pm show sold out 
        so quickly they added a second show at 4pm.  Rather odd to see a 
        concert, and as soon as the headliner leaves the stage all the 
        roadies start running around setting up the opening band's 
        equipment!

        _Spreading the Disease_________________________________Resources_

        steinare@ifi.uio.no (Steinar) writes,
                To your list of bands playing progressive heavy metal, 
        I'd like to add a Norwegian band named Manitou.  They play a 
        music similar to early Queensryche and Fates Warning ("Awaken the 
        Guardian," "No Exit"), and their vocalist sounds a bit like Ray 
        Alder.  At one point, they also played a cover version of 
        'Breaking the Silence' in their live set.  The band members 
        (including my younger brother Tom on bass) are aged between 21
        and 23.  If any of you are interested in writing to the band, and 
        maybe requesting a demo-tape, write to :
                Manitou, P.B. 465, N-4501 Mandal, NORWAY.

        _The Whisper__________________________________________Discussion_

        rob@gumbo.noarl.navy.mil (Robert) writes,
                "Operation: mindcrime" is without doubt one of the most 
        incredible artistic achievements.  It has all the elements to 
        be labeled a classic:  musical genius, fascinating lyrical 
        relentlessness, original concept, and mystery!  It would be 
        blasphemous to speak only of the guitar playing on the album.  
        Chris and Michael are contributing as much _compositionally_ 
        with their different _writing_ styles as they are musically with 
        their differing guitar styles.  I've seen interviews -
        specifically, 'RockLine' on MTV with Geoff and Chris - in which 
        Geoff is credited with writing practically all of the album (an 
        exception being Chris's 'The Mission').  However, the album notes 
        list either Michael or Chris as a co-author with Geoff on each 
        non-instrumental track.  I speculate that Geoff is responsible 
        for most of the album's lyrics, while Chris and Michael are 
        contributing most of the musical themes.  I'll kind of stroll 
        through the tracks on the album to try to illustrate my point:
                Anarchy-X:  I was surprised when I first learned this was 
        a DeGarmo song, thinking it too heavy for Chris' slower style.  
        Notice, though, the way this song slowly _teases_ you!  It begins 
        with some obvious changes around straight power chords, and then 
        it gradually starts throwing in unusual chords, stacked chords,  
        and 'timing skips.'  My expertise is primarily guitar, but I'm 
        compelled to mention that Rockenfield is _fabulous_ on this track 
        in "LIVEcrime."  He's playing military drum rolls on the snare, 
        and he begins almost every strike with his hands at eye level -
        power!  A DeGarmo solo in the upper registers precedes a 
        tension-building pre-climax that isn't resolved until the intro 
        of...
                Revolution Calling:  Note: the March 1992 Guitar School
        issue has guitar & bass tablature for this song.  Michael doesn't 
        tease you.  His chilling style gives you what you need - now!  
        On "LIVEcrime," Michael hammers the intro riff before Chris plays 
        the intro solo (with a harmonizer?) which resolves the 
        "Anarchy-X" tension, but the story's tension is revived with an 
        edgy, textural guitar riff as Geoff begins singing.  Michael's 
        guitar solo is laced around some aggressive time signature 
        changes.  Chris comes back for the "outro" solo ,which bookends 
        the intro.  The percussive drum & vocal ending,  "There's a 
        revolution," sustains the album's conceptual tension as we 
        receive an important phone call.
                Operation: mindcrime:  This is a heavy song!  I would 
        like to put an 18" sub-woofer under my car seat, crank the 
        volume, and drive 100 mph down the interstate while this plays, 
        just to feel the low-frequencies vibrate my whole body!  The 
        opening riff goes from the key of F#5, rocking back and forth: 
        F#, C#, F#m to the common 'inverted fifth' in D5 - just play the 
        A and D strings open and loud, but mute the other 4 strings like 
        Chris does on "LIVEcrime."  Michael starts a great solo 
        reminiscent of an automatic weapon spitting at dispersed targets.  
        He then hands it off to Chris, whose smooth style soars 
        momentarily before opening fire again and cutting into the last 
        verse.
                Speak:  Michael is all over the guitar neck assembling 
        this explosion of an into!  This is not the intro from hell - 
        it's the intro hell envies!  It finally subsides into the 
        intricate open-string-based DeGarmo riff that beckons Geoff's 
        voice into the fray.  Wilton's solo repeats and punctuates the 
        intro with some of the most melodic, yes, melodic! metal I've 
        ever heard.  A great song for the guitar purist.
                Spreading the Disease:  Compositionally, this is a 
        brilliant change of pace that introduces us to Sister Mary.  The 
        spectacular guitar extravaganza of 'Speak' is followed by Scott's 
        heavy percussive intro.  The guitars enter with a whammy dive 
        that ignites a cool descending riff on the small strings.  We 
        then settle in on a Queensryche rarity:  hammering on a power 
        chord, momentarily, before Geoff comes in, "She always brings me 
        what I need."  The track lulls you into thinking it's a 
        straight-forward power song, but it has a deceptively intricate 
        chord progression.  Try to keep up; it's suprisingly difficult 
        keeping up with all the changes!  Michael's solo precedes our 
        favorite soliloquy, "Religion and sex are power plays."
                The Mission:  This song is pivotal to the "Mindcrime" 
        concept.  The album's mood changes from political anger and rage 
        to a dark, moody melancholia in which Nikki implicitly 
        acknowledges his dependence on Mary and the needle.  This is 
        DeGarmo's song; he's creating an atmosphere that draws you in.  
        On "LIVEcrime," Michael begins the haunting acoustic intro, and 
        Chris picks it up on his double-neck ESP, with the 12-string 
        answering-strum before Geoff's cue.  Later on, Chris' sultry solo 
        weeps with so much emotion and so few notes!  I rate this song 
        on par with Pink Floyd's 'Comfortably Numb.'  The track has an 
        abrupt, slam ending after which we hear the idling engine of a 
        rather large automobile.
                Suite Sister Mary.  An icy, breathtaking masterpiece.  
        DeGarmo leads you down an intriguing musical path studying and 
        exploring the "diminished-fifth" - for example, using the Eb note 
        while playing in A - in multiple key signatures.  "LIVEcrime" 
        exposes the obvious fact that Chris is _into_ this song!  He 
        shows off his long fingers by easily stretching from the 6th to 
        the 11th frets in the song's piercing "demented riff."  There's 
        also a subtle "sin of omission" here - there's no guitar solo!  
        All the guitar work consists of thematically-central riffs - no 
        solo required!  This is one of my favorite tracks.
                The Needle Lies:  In case you became mesmerized and zoned
        out during the previous track, this ought to wake you up, 
        compliments of Michael Wilton.  This is about as close to speed 
        rock as Queensryche gets.  One of the most incredible scenes in 
        rock is the LIVEcrime line-up with Chris, Michael, Eddie and 
        Geoff across the front edge of the stage doing the unison riff 
        and abrupt stop.  "More?"  Its aggressiveness gets you pumped up 
        for what's about to take place.  "Anybody home?"
                Electric Requiem:  Not a lot for guitarists here, but 
        this transition piece has some sweetly dissonant high-pitched 
        tones that set the stage for a trip down DeGarmo row.
                Breaking the Silence:  With Mary's death, Nikki is on his 
        own.  This song, the next one and the last one all dangerously
        follow standard relative chord progressions.  They do change key 
        signatures for each song, though.  This driving-beat track in 
        G minor has a textural intro with uncharacteristically heavy 
        keyboards for Queensryche.  The guitar solo, passed back & forth 
        between Wilton and DeGarmo, is a good forum for comparing their 
        styles.  The song has a nice change-of-pace bridge before ending 
        and flowing into the accusation sound bite, "We know you did it."
                I Don't Believe in Love:  My favorite moment of the album 
        occurs when DeGarmo raises the hackles on my neck with his 
        searing intro riff following the "No!' scream; Wilton supplements 
        with anticipation power chord punches - a lot of fine textural 
        work in D minor.  I've heard some complain that this song is 
        lyrically weak, primarily, I think, because of the use of the 
        "L-word," but I'm amazed at the soft flow of such a harsh lyric:  
        "I awoke on impact under surveillance from the camera eye 
        searching high and low."  Only Queensryche could make this lyric 
        sound this beautiful!  This guitar solo is also handed back and
        forth during a bridge-like passage before ending with some 
        twin-lead lines en route to the last verse.  The ending flows 
        seamlessly into Michael arpeggiating in open Dsus2 on an acoustic 
        for...
                Waiting for 22:  This is an exquisite, dark acoustic 
        piece over which Chris surprisingly plays slide for several bars.
                My Empty Room:  Michael writes another heavy explosion to 
        set the stage for the grand finale.
                Eyes of a Stranger:  Nikki's flashback ends; he 
        acknowledges his demise.  This track begins with a passage almost 
        identical to the intro to Pink Floyd's 'Young Lust' from "The 
        Wall."  The same three relative chords are used in the chorus 
        here as in 'I Don't Believe in Love,' namely E minor, C, and D.
        The verse, however, begins with a rather odd chord progression 
        for rock, toggling between Bsus2 and, I think, E6.  Chris begins 
        the guitar solo over an E minor - C drone, and is joined by 
        Michael for some twin lead - Good scene in "LIVEcrime" when 
        Michael joins in - falling out into another "DeGarmo bridge"
        characteristic of 'Breaking the Silence,' 'I Don't Believe in
        Love,' and 'Eyes of a Stranger.'  The reprise of themes provides 
        a powerful climactic ending for the album.
                In my mind, Queensryche's albums show a growth trail:  
        the EP features 5 talented musicians with some great riffs; "The 
        Warning" is the album which firmly establishes the rhythm section
        - the whole group seemed to begin to play comfortably around 
        Scott and Eddie;  Chris and Michael begin to complement each 
        other with their guitars on "Rage for Order."  "Operation:  
        mindcrime" represents a growth plateau due to Geoff's writing 
        performance - fascinating conceptual lyrics describing a bizarre 
        but believable story sewn, together musically by the other 4 
        band members.  "Empire" is an album on which all 5 guys are 
        clicking and cruising on all cylinders,  The next album will be 
        different, I'm sure (I hope!) and even better!

        _Anybody Listening?______________________________________Adverts_

        bjross@mailbox.syr.edu (Brian) writes, 
                I would really appreciate a copy of the MTV "Unplugged" 
        performance.  I will pay for all shipping and the tape to be 
        copied onto.  Contact me at bjross@mailbox.syr.edu.  Thanks in 
        advance.

        IO20812@maine.maine.edu (Jeff) writes,
                Wanted: any hard to find Queensryche videos or bootlegs.
        I have one audio bootleg from July 21,1991 in Portland ME and an 
        audio/ video bootleg from July 28,1991 in Albany NY I am willing 
        to trade and/or buy anything else.  I am also interested in any 
        posters, pictures, etc.

        _________________________________________________________________

                That's it for this week... see you all in October!  Only
        a few more weeks until "Building Empires" comes out... 

                                                'Ryche on,
                                                        -Shag