In the early ’80s Queensrÿche was known as The Mob, a cover band that played songs from popular heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. Their line-up consisted of guitarists Chris DeGarmo and Michael Wilton, drummer Scott Rockenfield and bassist Eddie Jackson.
Without a singer, they performed several shows with Geoff Tate, who at the time was the front man of the local band Babylon, and later of Myth. Tate chose not to join The Mob, because he was not interested in performing heavy metal covers.
Inspired by the positive responses from their performances at local rock festivals, The Mob decided to switch from playing cover songs to writing original music. The four members, who were between 17 and 19 years old, rehearsed five days a week in the basement of Rockenfield’s parents,and took on at least two jobs each to earn enough money to record a 24-track professional tape.
They booked the graveyard shifts from Monday through Friday at Triad Studios in Redmond, Washington to record four songs.
Tate was asked to join the band for the recording sessions, and in the same week write the lyrics to one unfinished song, which became “The Lady Wore Black”.
Attempts to be signed to a label were unsuccessful. Kim and Diana Harris, the owners of Easy Street Records, ultimately offered The Mob a management contract. As the band name “The Mob” was not available,it was changed to “Queensrÿche”.
Harris sent the tape and a band photo to a friend at the British music magazine Kerrang!, resulting in a glowing review and causing a growing buzz in both the United States and Europe, following which the Harrises released Queensrÿche’s recordings as a self-titled EP on their independent 206 Records label in 1983.
After the EP garnered international praise, receiving much airplay and selling an unusual number of copies for a small independent release, Tate agreed to leave Myth and become Queensrÿche’s permanent lead singer.
Harris then convinced EMI-America A&R manager Mavis Brodey to see Queensrÿche perform as the opening act for Zebra in Portland and Seattle on June 29–30, 1983. Brodey offered Queensrÿche a contract with EMI, spanning 15 years and encompassing seven albums.
To support the EP, the band toured with Quiet Riot through the south and with Twisted Sister to the East Coast and Canada, and played in Seattle opening for Dio.
After the tour had ended in November 1983, the band began preparations for their first full length studio album, The Warning.
Geoff Tate – lead vocals
Chris DeGarmo – guitars, backing vocals
Michael Wilton – guitars
Scott Rockenfield – drums
Eddie Jackson – bass, backing vocals
Produced by Queensryche.
Engineered by Tom Hall
Recorded at Triad Studios, Redmond, WA, late Summer, 1982.
Mastered at the Mastering Lab (L.A.)
Re-Mastered at Japan by EMI Manhattan Records, 1989
By Heavy Nation Records from license from Queensrÿche, 2020
credits
released January 9, 2020
Cover Art and Concept Wes Criswold
All Rights Reserved
