Queensryche 9/12/2004

Crossing the threshold of Denver’s Fillmore Auditorium was similar to stepping through a bizarre time warp. A sea of metal heads donning their leather and black concert T’s, instantly transported the scene back to the 80s, but the aging process never stopped. The big hair and tight jeans were indeed present. Only an event this special could drag these relics of the past from the back of their drawers. Queensr˙che was back, and for the first time in fifteen years, were performing 1988’s concept album meets rock opera Operation: Mindcrime in its entirety. But this time around, the performance is being presented in a theatrical mode. Actors will portray the chilling tale's characters, including Sister Mary and Nikki, a junkie-turned-assassin by an anarchist group. In addition to the stage actors, Michael Igor Delassandra, formerly an official composer with the Vatican, joins the band on keyboards. The only missing element was co-founding member Chris DeGarmo who left the band in 1997, later to return for 2003’s album Tribe. Mike Stone now takes on the daunting task of filling DeGarmo’s hair-raising riffs.

The first set was comprised of the band’s greatest hits including a number of selections from Rage For Order, the grammy-winning Empire and the not-so well received Tribe. The set closed with the ballad/rock hit “Silent Lucidity” which featured a small group of local string musicians conducted by Delassandra.

Operation: Mindcrime opens with an animated video of Nikki in his hospital bed trying to remember what happened. The band explodes on to the stage with Nikki’s “I just remember doing what they told me.” With blazing guitars and thunderous drums we are thrust into the realm of Mindcrime. Geoff Tate’s operatic vocals fill the room with the power that earned him the title as one of metal’s greatest front-men. Tate’s broad range is pretty close to what it was in the late 80s, when his voice set the standard for arena rock. Pamela Moore, who has toured with the band in the past, accompanies Tate in several duets, supplying the voice of Sister Mary. New video footage assists in telling the story of the mysterious Dr. X, who is portrayed by Tate himself. Stage actors perform the roles of Sister Mary and Nikki (Christian Sorenson) as they band together to overcome Father William, Mary’s abusive savior, and the villainous Dr. X. “Revolution Calling” stands as strong as ever with its always relevant theme of political corruption.

The title track and “The Needle Lies” control the nearly two-hour set with their blistering presence. The band really hasn’t lost a step and does Mindcrime the justice it deserves. The crowd was so energetic and in full participation, that at key moments throughout the album, Tate invited the crowd to join in, assisting with the mighty vocals. Most fans probably thought the opportunity to see this classic metal concept album again would never be possible, but crazier things have happened. Queensryche has brought this epic album back to the stage for another run at greatness with vengeance and pride.

The resurgence of Operation: Mindcrime comes in anticipation of the forthcoming sequel Operation: Mindcrime II.