Queensryche

The progressive metal band Queensryche is announcing it has signed with Rhino Records. Rhino is scheduled to release 'Operation:mindcrime II' in January 2006. This is the eagerly awaited sequel to Queensryche's groundbreaking 1988 concept album 'Operation:mindcrime.'

"We found Rhino and they found us. Several labels were interested in signing Queensryche, but we went with Rhino because our good friend Kenny Nemes is an executive there. He worked with us on our 'Greatest Hits' album for EMI. Kenny is a very creative guy," says vocalist Geoff Tate.

"We are utterly confident that Rhino will do what it takes to make as many people aware of 'Operation:mindcrime II' as possible. Rhino has an exciting team of people who are really into it. They already have a ton of different, innovative promotional ideas in mind and so do we, so it's a great fit."

The public's appetite for 'Operation:mindcrime II' was whetted with Queensryche's recent sold-out tour during which 'Operation:mindcrime' was performed live in its entirety for the first time in 15 years.

Tate, guitarist Michael Wilton, guitarist Mike Stone, bass guitarist Eddie Jackson and drummer Scott Rockenfield are picking up the provocative tale of 'Operation:mindcrime.' It's best known songs include "Revolution Calling," "I Don't Believe In Love" and "Eyes Of A Stranger." The album's intriguing plot involves Nikki, a young man from the streets who is brainwashed and turned into a drug-addicted assassin by a shadowy, evil, anarchy movement led by Dr. X. Nikki's lover, Mary, a teen-age runaway who became a prostitute and then a nun, is murdered. 'Operation:mindcrime' was left open-ended with a central, heart-pounding cliffhanger: Who killed Sister Mary? 'Operation:mindcrime II' will address that question, as well as Nikki's fate.

"'Operation:mindcrime II' is about revenge and what it does to people -- their emotions and the situations they find themselves in," says Tate, who conceived the sequel's direction last year while working on a screenplay based on the original album.

"The character of Nikki has now been in prison for 18 years. I thought, 'What would I do?' I'd be analyzing every move I ever made, especially the wrong ones. I'd want to get the guy who put me there. Nikki's revenge is about getting out, getting him and getting even."

Current Fall Tour Dates Include:

Tuesday, September 13th Victoria, BC Royal Theater

Wednesday, September 14th Vancouver, BC Vancouver PAC

Friday, September 16th Boise, ID Big Easy

Saturday, September 17th Spokane, WA Big Easy

Tuesday, September 20th Edmonton, AL Red's Ent. Center

Wednesday, September 21st Calgary, AL MacEwan Hall

Thursday, September 22nd Saskatoon, SAS Credit Union Center

Friday, September 23rd Winnipeg, MB Burton Cummings

Saturday, September 24th St. Paul, MN Myth

Sunday, September 25th Des Moines, IA Val Air Ballroom

Wednesday, September 28th Columbus, OH Promo-West

Thursday, September 29th Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium

Friday, September 30th Louisville, KY Palace Theater

Saturday, October 1st Merrillville, IN Star Plaza

Sunday, October 2nd Toledo, OH Stranahan Theater

Tuesday, October 4th Greensburg, PA Palace Theater

Wednesday, October 5th Reading, PA Sovereign PAC

Thursday, October 6th New Brunswick, NJ State Theater

Friday, October 7th Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Event Center

Saturday, October 8th Portland, ME State Theater

Tuesday, October 11th Cleveland, OH House of Blues

Wednesday, October 12th Knoxville, TN Tennessee Theater

Thursday, October 13th N. Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues

Friday, October 14th Orlando, FL House of Blues

Saturday, October 15th Ft. Meyers, FL Barbara B. Mann