Operation: Mindcrime Appreciation Thread

[LastSunrise1981]

I know there are some Queensryche fans on the SHH! and I believe Wilheim is a fan of them as well. I've been a huge Queensryche fanatic since I first heard their demo of "Queen of the Reich". Ever since that day I was hooked and began finding anything that is related to Ryche.

Needless to say I truly feel the pinnacle of their greatness came with the release of Operation: Mindcrime. The sequel isn't as great or as gripping as the first one obviously, but the first Operation: Mindcrime is musically and emotionally gripping and was done when the band was at their absolute peak.

Every band has a period where they reach the level of absolute greatness. Iron Maiden reached it with Powerslave and Seventh Son of A Seventh Son, Metallica reached it with Master of Puppets and along with And Justice For All, Iced Earth reached it with Night Of the Stormrider and Burnt Offerings, and King Diamond peaked with Abigail, Them, and Conspiracy.

Queensryche created an ultimate masterpiece in Operation: Mindcrime that can in some form or another be reflected in the period we live in today. Geoff Tate, Chris DeGarmo, Michael Milton, Scott Rockenfield, and Eddie Jackson were at their peak in 1988.

I believe Queensryche suffered musically and songwriting wise when Chris DeGarmo left. However, on the other hand he began to take them in a different direction with Empire and The Promised Land.

But Operation: Mindcrime will go down in heavy metal history as one of the greatest, if not, the greatest concept album ever. In terms of greatness it's right next to W.A.S.P.'s "The Crimson Idol" and Iron Maiden's "Powerslave".

 

[LastSunrise1981]

Oh yeah, I also forgot to mention that Geoff Tate apparently has been pitching the screenplay to different motion picture companies.

He said the script is already completed, now it's just trying to find the right company who will treat the story with respect and do it right.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

Here are some videos/songs from the Operation: Mindcrime album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXSdLnHr_80
(Eyes Of A Stranger)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVv_hCHtyCc
(The Needle Lies from the Operation: Livecrime DVD)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dShZJcLKuY
(Anarchy X/Revolution Calling from the Operation: Livecrime DVD)

Here is what the story is about along with the track-list:

The album begins with the protagonist, Nikki, lying in a hospital bed, having a flashback about his past. He remembers how, as a heroin addict, he was mesmerized to join a secret network of rebels who work for a person named Doctor X. As he joins the coup, he becomes hypnotized into a state where when Dr. X says the word "mindcrime", Nikki becomes a puppet on a string (akin to The Manchurian Candidate) to commit any murder Dr. X assigns to him. Dr. X offers a return to Nikki: Through one of his friends, a priest called Father William, he offers Nikki the services of a hooker-turned-nun called Sister Mary. (Details are vague whether these services are sexual or simply emotional.) However, through Sister Mary, Nikki begins to turn back to an emotional human being. Dr. X notices this and, seeing a potential threat in Mary, he orders him to kill her and the priest. Nikki visits Mary, he kills the priest, but fails to comply the orders to murder Mary. He decides to quit the operation and goes back to Dr. X to tell him. X, however, reminds Nikki that he's a drug addict and X is the only one who can provide his daily fix. Nikki returns to Mary, only to find her dead. He can't cope with the loss and succumbs to insanity. The police, arriving on the scene, find him with the body and arrest him. Since he's in a near-catatonic state, he's put into a hospital, where he starts to remember ...

1. I Remember Now
2. Anarchy X
3. Revolution Calling
4. Operation: Mindcrime
5. Speak
6. Spreading The Disease
7. The Mission
8. Suite Sister Mary
9. The Needle Lies
10. Electric Requiem
11. Breaking The Silence
12. I Don't Believe In Love
13. Waiting For 22
14. My Empty Room
15. Eyes Of A Stranger

 

[LastSunrise1981]

No one has anything to say about this great album?

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

I am not a fan of Queensryche.
I used to listen to Empire 'cause we all thought it was funny when the voiceover gives boring statistics and says, "...by way of comparison" in the movie trailer guy - voice.

My first girlfriend was obsessed with Operation:Mindcrime and Judas Priest and tried to indoctrinate me but I wasn't havin' it.
Her Mom was hotter 'cause she liked Led Zeppelin and Jethro Tull.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

I am not a fan of Queensryche.
I used to listen to Empire 'cause we all thought it was funny when the voiceover gives boring statistics and says, "...by way of comparison" in the movie trailer guy - voice.

My first girlfriend was obsessed with Operation:Mindcrime and Judas Priest and tried to indoctrinate me but I wasn't havin' it.
Her Mom was hotter 'cause she liked Led Zeppelin and Jethro Tull.

Why was I under the impression that you were a Queensryche fan? I could've sworn you mentioning that you liked Geoff Tate and some of Queensryches songs.

Guess it was someone else then.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

probably because I always quote the whole Empire monologue. *shrug*

But I will say, they're all obviously really good musicians, so I don't hate their freaking guts, just not my type of music.

 

[SpideyInATree]

Definitely one of the best CD's of all time.

Most people look at Queensryche as like an 80's hair band, but they are quite far from that. I put them in the same league as Dream Theater, just great musicians who put substance and thought behind their music instead of senseless BS.

If you're into heavy metal at all, or even rock for that matter this CD should be in your collection.

 

[Darthphere]

I hate Queensryche.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

I hate Queensryche.

jealous

 

[jaguarr]

They're incredible musicians. I like bits and pieces of a couple of their albums, Mindcrime being one of them. But they're not really one of my favorite bands. BTW, you LOST me at W.A.S.P. LOL!

jag

 

[SpideyInATree]

I hate Queensryche.

You've got good taste in comics, but obviously not music. t:

 

[IKnowSomeJudo]

Great singer, unbearable music.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

Here are some more videos/songs from the Operation: Mindcrime and also a video from the Operation: Mindcrime II album.

Geoff doesn't have the same power in his voice that he used to have during the earlier Ryche days. Guess that's what smoking and drinking does to the vocal chords eh? I watched him trying to sing Take Hold Of The Flame, Empire, and Queen of the Reich, and my disappointment rose to its highest point when I seen he could no longer hit the high notes anymore.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALxfnKaVji0
(Speak)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ConzJlmfgs
(Breaking The Silence from the Livecrime DVD)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaXA9gWsydo
(Operation: Mindcrime)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsJrqlEZTDg
(The Hands from Operation: Mindcrime II)

 

[jaguarr]

Geoff Tate used to brag about being able to smoke and drink scotch all the time and not have it affect his voice. As a vocalist, I knew it was simply a matter of time before it caught up with him.

jag

 

[LastSunrise1981]

It really shows on the Operation: Mindcrime II album unfortunately. Can you imagine Geoff Tate in his prime singing with Dio? Man, that would've just been outright amazing.

It's flat out embarassing hearing Tate trying to keep up with Dio.

The song is great and Dio is the only reason why it's great. But damn, Tate needs to stop smoking and drinking.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEYMG7AOa68
(Live performance of Queensryche's The Chase featuring Ronnie Jame Dio as Dr. X from Operation: Mindcrime II)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmyy-LCgnsU
(Live performance of Murderer the Operation: Mindcrime II.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhlhkvHOzdY
(Live Re-Arrange You from Operation: Mindcrime II)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLwmwvpb9Yw
(Here's the Operation: Livecrime II DVD promo.)

I wonder if the Livecrime II DVD is going to include them performing the first Operation: Mindcrime as well?