:: 08.29.07 ::

TAKE COVER OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

:: 04:05 ::


INCOMING!!! -- QUEENSRźCHE PAY HOMAGE TO THEIR IDOLS WITH TAKE COVER

Adventurous 11-Song Collection of Covers Ranges From Black Sabbath
to Broadway, Including the Band’s Unique Take on Songs By U2,
Queen, Pink Floyd, Buffalo Springfield, Peter Gabriel,
The Police, The O’Jays, and More

Available From Rhino November 13

LOS ANGELES — Queensr˙che pays tributes to some of its favorite songs with an adventurous collection of covers that range from Black Sabbath and The O’Jays to Italian opera and Broadway musical. Singer and chief songwriter Geoff Tate, guitarists Michael Wilton and Mike Stone, bassist Eddie Jackson, and drummer Scott Rockenfield put their stamp on 11 classic tracks with TAKE COVER. The album is available November 13 at regular physical retail outlets and at www.rhino.com for a suggested price of $13.98, with a digital version also available for the suggested price of $7.99. The album will also be released on 180-gram vinyl on November 20 for a suggested price of $13.98.

Not known for playing many covers live, Tate says the album gave the band a chance to relax and have some fun. “During sound checks, Stone and Michael like to play ‘name that riff,’ and sometimes the whole band joins in. That’s really the way this album came together too. We got together and started playing songs to each other, and then we picked our favorites.”

The eclectic list of songs reflects the members’ divergent tastes and includes a few surprising selections such as “Heaven On Their Minds” from the hit musical Jesus Christ Superstar, the O’Jays R&B classic “For Love Of Money” and an operatic epic originally performed by the Italian duo of Carlo Marrale and Cheope, “Odissea.” Recognized as an accomplished vocalist, Tate says he enjoyed the song’s demanding arrangement. “I really like this song because there is a lot for a singer to sink his teeth into, plus I got a chance to sing in Italian, which was interesting considering I don’t speak a word of it.”

The set covers a lot of ground both lyrically and musically, opening with “Innuendo,” Queen’s epic song about life and death; “Almost Cut My Hair,” Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s paean to freedom; and the medieval metal of Black Sabbath’s “Neon Knights.” Starting September 5, Queensr˙che and Black Sabbath with Ronnie James Dio (touring as Heaven And Hell), will play a month of North American concerts. Says Tate, “Ronnie took us out on our first European tour and he’s always been good to us. With the tour coming up, this seemed like a nice way to pay tribute to him. I hope he likes it, or I’m sure I’ll hear about it every night of the tour.”

TAKE COVER also features Queensr˙che’s distinctive arrangement of Pink Floyd’s “Welcome To The Machine,” an acoustic version of Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth,” and a highly charged live version of U2’s “Bullet The Blue Sky.” “We’ll never top the originals; they’re classics for a reason,” Tate says. “We were more focused on finding different approaches that took the songs in unexpected directions.”

Singing Peter Gabriel’s “Red Rain” and the Police’s “Synchronicity II,” Tate says, were opportunities for him to explore music he’d previously overlooked. “I’d heard these songs on the radio before, but I didn’t really appreciate them before the guys suggested we record them. It was a rewarding experience doing this album because it gave us all a chance to pay tribute to some of the bands that have meant so much to us over the years, and we all discovered new songs to love.”

TAKE COVER
Track Listing
Original artist in parenthesis

1. “Innuendo” (Queen )
2. “Bullet The Blue Sky” – Live (U2)
3. “Synchronicity II” (Police)
4. “For What It’s Worth” (Buffalo Springfield)
5. “Welcome To The Machine” (Pink Floyd)
6. “Red Rain” (Peter Gabriel)
7. “Neon Knights” (Black Sabbath)
8. “Almost Cut My Hair” (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young)
9. “Heaven On Their Minds” (Jesus Christ Superstar)
10. “For The Love Of Money” (The O’Jays)
11. “Odissea” (Carlo Marrale & Cheope)

Queensr˙che North American Fall Tour Dates:

SEPTEMBER
5 Binghamton, NY Broom County Arena##
6 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live++
7 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena##
8 Wantagh, NY Jones Beach Amphitheatre##
9 Mansfield, MA Tweeter Center##
11 Reading, PA Sovereign Center##
12 Winston-Salem, NC Millennium Center++
13 Atlanta, GA Roxy Theater++
14 Tampa, FL St. Petersburg Times Forum##
15 Sunrise, FL Bank Atlantic Center##
16 Orlando, FL Amway Arena##
18 Cleveland, OH House Of Blues++
19 Darien Lake, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center##
20 Hamilton, ONT Copps Coliseum##
21 Ft. Wayne, IN Piere’s++
22 Chicago, IL Sears Centre##
23 St. Louis, MO Family Arena##
25 Denver, CO Coors Amphitheatre##
27 Boise, ID Big Easy++
28 Reno, NV Reno Events Center##
29 Kelseyville, CA Konocti Harbor##
30 Concord, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre##

OCTOBER
2 Fresno, CA Selland Arena##
3 Agoura Hills, CA Canyon Club++
4 Tucson, AZ Anselmo Valencia Amphitheatre##
5 Las Vegas, NV The Pearl Concert Theater At The Palms Casino**
6 Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre##

## with Heaven And Hell and Alice Cooper
**with Heaven And Hell only
++Queensr˙che only

 

:: 08.28.07 ::

TAKE COVER ON NOV 13TH

:: 04:12 ::


Per Billboard.com, and by Chris Titus...

Queensryche pays homage to some of its musical idols on "Take Cover," a covers album due Nov. 13 via Rhino. The Seattle group is putting its stamp on such numbers as Pink Floyd's "Welcome to the Machine," U2's "Bullet the Blue Sky" and Peter Gabriel's "Red Rain."

"We'll never top the originals; they're classics for a reason," singer Geoff Tate says. "We were more focused on finding different approaches that took the songs in unexpected directions."

He explains that the album gave the band a chance to have some fun. "During sound checks, [guitarists Mike Stone and Michael Wilton] like to play 'name that riff,' and sometimes the whole band joins in. That's really the way this album came together. We got together and started playing songs to each other, and then we picked our favorites."

Queensryche has only released a few covers, one of them being a powerful interpretation of "Scarborough Fair" in the early 1990s. Some of the 11 selections naturally fit the band's progressive rock influences, particularly Pink Floyd and "Innuendo" by Queen, one of Tate's favorite bands. Others will definitely raise eyebrows. The group is giving Broadway a spin by performing "Heaven on Their Minds" from "Jesus Christ Superstar," as well as the O'Jays' R&B classic "For Love of Money," the operatic "Odissea" by Italian duo Carlo Marrale and Cheope and an acoustic version of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth."

Tate says he enjoyed the demanding arrangement of "Odissea." "I really like this song because there is a lot for a singer to sink his teeth into," he reports. "Plus I got a chance to sing in Italian, which was interesting, considering I don't speak a word of it."

He considered singing "Red Rain" and the Police's "Synchronicity II" opportunities to explore music he'd previously overlooked. "I'd heard these songs on the radio before, but I didn't really appreciate them before the guys suggested we record them," he admits. "It was a rewarding experience doing this album because it gave us all a chance to pay tribute to some of the bands that have meant so much to us over the years, and we all discovered new songs to love."

In July, Queensryche entered Billboard's Top Music Video chart at No. 1 with the live double-DVD/double-CD set "Mindcrime at the Moore"; it was the first time in its 20-plus year career Queensryche debuted atop a Billboard chart. On Aug. 28, EMI is releasing the group's second greatest-hits album, "Sign of the Times: The Best of Queensryche."

The band is also touring with Heaven And Hell for a month of North American concerts starting Sept. 5 and is currently writing its next studio record.

 

:: 08.22.07 ::

MONSTER BALLADS XMAS

:: 10:44 ::


ARE YOU READY FOR MORE ROCK N’ ROLL AT CHRISTMASTIME? MONSTER BALLADS XMAS MAKES ITS DEBUT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

(New York, NY) – Inspired by the success of the platinum-certified, best-selling MONSTER BALLADS collections and last year’s surprise Christmas hit, Twisted Sister’s A TWISTED CHRISTMAS, Razor & Tie Entertainment is proud to announce a must-have for any rock and roll fan – MONSTER BALLADS XMAS. Featuring such hair metal icons as Winger, Queensryche, Dokken, Twisted Sister and many more, the album contains rockin’ versions of Christmas favorites – both old and new. New recordings by Skid Row, Winger, Nelson, Queensryche and members of Cinderella and Warrant are available for the first time ever on this super-charged Christmas collection.

MONSTER BALLADS XMAS is co-executive produced by Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French, a man who knows a thing or two about metal. French commented, “80s bands are more popular than ever. The MONSTER BALLADS XMAS CD will bring the party vibe into the holiday season with enough hairspray to further enlarge the hole in the ozone layer above the North Pole”. MONSTER BALLADS XMAS is available in stores beginning September 11th.

MONSTER BALLADS XMAS track listing:

1. “Jingle Bells” – Skid Row
2. “Happy Christmas (War Is Over)” – Winger
3. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” – Jane Lane of Warrant
4. “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” – Twisted Sister with Lita Ford
5. “White Christmas” – Queensryche
6. “Run Rudolph Run” – L.A. Guns
7. “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” – Firehouse
8. “”Naughty Naughty Christmas” – Danger Danger
9. “Blue Christmas” – Tom Keifer of Cinderella
10. “Jingle Bell Rock” – Nelson
11. “Silent Night” – Faster Pussycat
12. “The Twelve Days Of Christmas” – Dokken
13. “Happy Holiday” – Enuff Z’Nuff
14. “Winter Wonderland” – Stryper
15. “Christmas Love” – Billy Idol

To listen to a snippet of Queensryche's "White Christmas", you can visit the official Monster Ballads Xmas Myspace page at www.myspace.com/mbxmas

 

:: 08.21.07 ::

TALKING METAL FEAT. TATE & DEGARMO

:: 06:16 ::


This special episode features an interview host Mark Strigl conducted with Geoff Tate and Chris DeGarmo. Topics include Queensryche's new track "Justified," the Sign Of the Times 2-CD best-of collection, Myth, the Rage For Order album, MTV Unplugged, the Operation Mindcrime screenplay, Jerry Cantrell, Spys4Darwin, Black Sabbath, and Alice Cooper. The episode also includes a short interview Strigl conducted with Guns N' Roses guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal where Thal speaks exclusively about the Locobazooka concert on September 9 in Mansfield, MA. Additional podcasts topics covered by Strigl and co-host John Ostronomy at the Odessa bar on Avenue A in New York City include Van Halen, Wolfgang Van Halen, Kissology II, KISS in Attack of the Phantoms, Swashbuckle, and a Heaven and Hell/Locobazooka ticket giveaway.

Listen to Episode 168 here!

 

:: 08.14.07 ::

FREE FRANK KOZIK POSTER

:: 06:01 ::


Frank Kozik is the widely-recognized master of concert poster art and this is his first time working with Queensryche. Check out this limited edition and extremely rare 16"x23" poster for Mindcrime At The Moore. Only 300 of these 3-color posters, printed on special think paper will be available worldwide.

Buy both the CD and DVD and get a Queensr˙che poster by renowned artist Frank Kozik. Get your copy now !

While supplies last!

 

:: 08.08.07 ::

QUEENSRYCHE TO HAVE A WHITE XMAS

:: 04:28 ::


According to Amazon.com & CDUniverse.com and other online vendors, Razor And Tie Records has set a September 11 release date for the "Monster Ballads Christmas" CD. The track listing for the collection, which was spearheaded by TWISTED SISTER, is as follows:

01. I'll Be Home For Christmas - TWISTED SISTER
02. Christmas Love - BILLY IDOL
03. Blue Christmas - TOM KEIFER of CINDERELLA
04. White Christmas - QUEENSRźCHE
05. Happy Christmas (War Is Over) - WINGER
06. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - JANI LANE
07. Jingle Bell Rock - NELSON
08. Winter Wonderland - STRYPER
09. Silent Night - FASTER PUSSYCAT
10. Run Rudolph Run - L.A. GUNS
11. Naughty Naughty Xmas - DANGER DANGER
12. Happy Holiday - ENUFF Z'NUFF
13. Jingle Bells - SKID ROW
14. 12 Days Of Christmas - DOKKEN
15. Rockin' Round The Christmas Tree - FIREHOUSE

I'm told an official press release will be forthcoming...

 

:: 08.06.07 ::

SIGN OF THE TIMES PRE-SALE STICKERS

:: 05:15 ::


Last week we began pre-selling "Sign of the Times: The Best of Queensryche" in two different versions:  A single CD jewel case of greatest hits, and a double CD digipak of greatest hits, rarities, b-sides, demos, etc.  For all those who pre-order, we're including a limited edition sticker set.  Thought we'd give you a little sneak-peak as to what the stickers would look like.  Click the images below to get a better view.

To pre-order your copy, click here!
 

Sticker #1
(front)
Sticker #1
(back)
Sticker #2
(front)
Sticker #2
(back)

 

:: 08.03.07 ::

THE CHASE ON HEADBANGERS BALL

:: 04:18 ::


Headbangers Ball is finally going to debut and play the video of "The Chase" featuring Ronnie James Dio from Mindcrime At The Moore!

Here are the details:

MTV2 - Headbangers Ball - This Saturday @ 10:00pm ET

After the shows airs on Saturday, please visit the link below. It's the official site of MTV2's Headbangers Ball. One you're on the page you'll see a link called "Questions". We urge you to click on it and request "The Chase" as many times as you can. The more requests we get, the more you'll see the video on MTV2!

http://www.mtv2.com/#series/10896 

Ryche & Roll!