Queensr˙che (The Warning) 1984 How I got into
Queensr˙che is interesting unto itself. It was by chance really. I had already scored my tickets to see
KISS on their
Animalize Tour and opening uo for them was Queensr˙che. I didn't have a f u c k i n g clue who they were, but the name sounded really cool. I had gotten the ticktes about 4 months before they were to arrive in town and in that time, I never even gave it a thought to find out more about this band. It was literally 5 minutes before I was heading down to the
Sports Arena to see
KISS in concert. As I was about to turn off
MTV, on comes
Take Hold Of The Flame. I immediately said to myself "that's them"? I wasn't saying it based on their look but on the fact that I had been rocking out to this mystery song on the radio whenever it came on. But they never said the band's name, so I didn't have a clue they were one and the same.
So, it was kinda cool that I was suddenly going to see them in concert and get to hear the song live. It was awesome. They tore it up and ended up putting on one of the best shows I've ever seen for an opening band. So, what about the album? I ended up picking up
The Warning shortly after just for the song. Although I enjoy The Warning, it was never something I would listen to over and over and I think the reason why is because
Queensr˙che was a very progressive metal band at the time. I thought both
Geoff Tate and the band itself was amazing. I had never even heard anyone that could hit notes that high before and that's what a lot of The Warning is. So it was jarring to hear everything an octave higher and layered at the time.
The album is still great, but far from their best. That would present itself over the next few years. But the blueprint of what's to come can be found here. This is probably the first time I've listened to all of
The Warning since maybe the late 80's, early 90's and a couple of songs just don't hold up as well as I remember it.
Fave Songs:
Warning, NM 156,
Before the Storm and
Take Hold Of The Flame, which gets the MVP award.
The Warning Music Videos