Queensrÿche

'''Queensrÿche''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|w|iː|n|z|r|aɪ|k}}) is an American [[progressive metal]] band. It formed in 1980 in [[Bellevue, Washington]], and first went by Cross+Fire and then by the Mob before settling on its current name in 1982.{{cite web|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/queensr%C3%BFche-mn0000315339/biography|title=Queensrÿche – Biography & History|work=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=January 24, 2019}} The band has released 16 studio albums, one [[Extended play|EP]], and several DVDs, and continues to tour and record. The original lineup consisted of guitarists [[Michael Wilton]] and [[Chris DeGarmo]], drummer [[Scott Rockenfield]] and bassist [[Eddie Jackson (musician)|Eddie Jackson]]; lead vocalist [[Geoff Tate]] was recruited in 1982 to round out the band.

'''Queensrÿche''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|w|iː|n|z|r|aɪ|k}}) is an American [[progressive metal]] band. It formed in 1980 in [[Bellevue, Washington]], and first went by Cross+Fire and then by the Mob before settling on its current name in 1982.{{cite web|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/queensr%C3%BFche-mn0000315339/biography|title=Queensrÿche – Biography & History|work=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=January 24, 2019}} The band has released 16 studio albums, one [[Extended play|EP]], and several DVDs, and continues to tour and record. The original lineup consisted of guitarists [[Michael Wilton]] and [[Chris DeGarmo]], drummer [[Scott Rockenfield]] and bassist [[Eddie Jackson (musician)|Eddie Jackson]]; lead vocalist [[Geoff Tate]] was recruited in 1982 to round out the band.

Queensrÿche has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, including more than six million albums in the United States. A leader of the progressive metal scene of the mid-to-late 1980s, the band is often referred to as one of the genre's "Big Three", along with [[Dream Theater]] and [[Fates Warning]].{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/13-essential-progressive-metal-albums|title=The 13 essential progressive metal albums you need to know|website=[[Kerrang!]]|date=March 12, 2021|access-date=February 12, 2022}} The band has received three [[Grammy Award]] nominations for songs from the albums. In 1998, drummer Rockenfield received an individual Grammy nomination. In 2016, the staff of ''[[Loudwire]]'' named them the 28th-best metal band of all time.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Loudwire StaffLoudwire |date=2016-07-20 |title=Top 50 Metal Bands of All Time |url=https://loudwire.com/top-metal-bands-of-all-time/ |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=Loudwire |language=en}}

Queensrÿche has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, including more than six million albums in the United States. A leader of the progressive metal scene of the mid-to-late 1980s, the band is often referred to as one of the genre's "Big Three", along with [[Dream Theater]] and [[Fates Warning]].{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/13-essential-progressive-metal-albums|title=The 13 essential progressive metal albums you need to know|website=[[Kerrang!]]|date=March 12, 2021|access-date=February 12, 2022}} The band has received three [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]] nominations for songs from the albums. In 1998, drummer Rockenfield received an individual Grammy nomination. In 2016, the staff of ''[[Loudwire]]'' named them the 28th-best metal band of all time.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Loudwire StaffLoudwire |date=2016-07-20 |title=Top 50 Metal Bands of All Time |url=https://loudwire.com/top-metal-bands-of-all-time/ |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=Loudwire |language=en}}

Queensrÿche self-released its [[Queensrÿche (EP)|eponymous EP]] in 1982,{{cite web|url=https://www.metaledgemag.com/metal-wire/michael-wilton-recalls-the-making-of-queensr%C3%BFches-debut-ep|title=Michael Wilton recalls the making of Queensrÿche's debut EP|website=[[Metal Edge]]|access-date=August 22, 2025}} and it earned them a following outside of their home state of Washington, as well as a record deal with [[EMI Records]], who reissued the EP the following year.{{cite web |url=http://anybodylistening.net/1981-1983-1.html |title=Queensrÿche: 1981–1983 |publisher=Anybody Listening |access-date=August 22, 2025 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328092855/http://anybodylistening.net/1981-1983-1.html |archive-date=March 28, 2013 }} Queensrÿche's popularity grew through the 1980s with their first three studio albums, ''[[The Warning (Queensrÿche album)|The Warning]]'' (1984), ''[[Rage for Order]]'' (1986) and ''[[Operation: Mindcrime]]'' (1988), the latter of which is widely considered among the greatest [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] [[concept album]]s.{{cite magazine|url=http://loudwire.com/best-metal-concept-albums/ |title=10 Best Metal Concept Albums |magazine=Loudwire |access-date=March 19, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.revolvermag.com/news/list-ten-great-metal-concept-albums.html |title=List: Ten Great Metal Concept Albums |work=Revolver Magazine |date=October 5, 2015 |access-date=March 19, 2016}} Their fourth album, ''[[Empire (Queensrÿche album)|Empire]]'' (1990), was also very successful and included one of the band's biggest hits "[[Silent Lucidity]]". That album, along with ''Operation: Mindcrime'', cemented Queensrÿche's status as one of the most successful American heavy metal bands.{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/queensr-che-guitarist-geoff-tate-spat-in-my-face-punched-me-and-called-me-a-pussy|title=QUEENSRŸCHE Guitarist: GEOFF TATE Spat In My Face, Punched Me And Called Me A 'Pussy'|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=July 11, 2012 |access-date=August 22, 2025}} After some turmoil between its band members in the 1990s, DeGarmo left the band in 1998 for personal reasons, returning briefly to write and record their eighth studio album ''[[Tribe (Queensrÿche album)|Tribe]]'' (2003). Over the years, his replacements have been [[Kelly Gray (musician)|Kelly Gray]], [[Mike Stone (musician)|Mike Stone]], and [[Parker Lundgren]].

Queensrÿche self-released its [[Queensrÿche (EP)|eponymous EP]] in 1982,{{cite web|url=https://www.metaledgemag.com/metal-wire/michael-wilton-recalls-the-making-of-queensr%C3%BFches-debut-ep|title=Michael Wilton recalls the making of Queensrÿche's debut EP|website=[[Metal Edge]]|access-date=August 22, 2025}} and it earned them a following outside of their home state of Washington, as well as a record deal with [[EMI Records]], who reissued the EP the following year.{{cite web |url=http://anybodylistening.net/1981-1983-1.html |title=Queensrÿche: 1981–1983 |publisher=Anybody Listening |access-date=August 22, 2025 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328092855/http://anybodylistening.net/1981-1983-1.html |archive-date=March 28, 2013 }} Queensrÿche's popularity grew through the 1980s with their first three studio albums, ''[[The Warning (Queensrÿche album)|The Warning]]'' (1984), ''[[Rage for Order]]'' (1986) and ''[[Operation: Mindcrime]]'' (1988), the latter of which is widely considered among the greatest [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] [[concept album]]s.{{cite magazine|url=http://loudwire.com/best-metal-concept-albums/ |title=10 Best Metal Concept Albums |magazine=Loudwire |access-date=March 19, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.revolvermag.com/news/list-ten-great-metal-concept-albums.html |title=List: Ten Great Metal Concept Albums |work=Revolver Magazine |date=October 5, 2015 |access-date=March 19, 2016}} Their fourth album, ''[[Empire (Queensrÿche album)|Empire]]'' (1990), was also very successful and included one of the band's biggest hits "[[Silent Lucidity]]". That album, along with ''Operation: Mindcrime'', cemented Queensrÿche's status as one of the most successful American heavy metal bands.{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/queensr-che-guitarist-geoff-tate-spat-in-my-face-punched-me-and-called-me-a-pussy|title=QUEENSRŸCHE Guitarist: GEOFF TATE Spat In My Face, Punched Me And Called Me A 'Pussy'|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=July 11, 2012 |access-date=August 22, 2025}} After some turmoil between its band members in the 1990s, DeGarmo left the band in 1998 for personal reasons, returning briefly to write and record their eighth studio album ''[[Tribe (Queensrÿche album)|Tribe]]'' (2003). Over the years, his replacements have been [[Kelly Gray (musician)|Kelly Gray]], [[Mike Stone (musician)|Mike Stone]], and [[Parker Lundgren]].