The Warning sleeve   Queensryche

Hit Parader - on the set with Queensryche

Queensryche is one sharp band. This heavy metal quintet has a firm grasp on what it takes to be a long term success in the music business - they're not interested in one-shot platinum platters, Queensryche is in this biz for the long haul. They do not compromise. The group makes sure their LPs are exactly the way they want them to be, they have strong management and good record company rapport. For a band whose average age is 21, that's not a bad start on the road to the top.

Indeed, vocalist Geoff Tate, guitarists Chris DeGarmo and Michael Wilton, bassist Eddie Jackson and drummer Scott Rockenfield have total control of the destiny of their career. There really isn't very much they've overlooked; except maybe one thing...video. Granted the group has already recorded a live film in Japan, but for some reason MTV tends to be rather void of Queensryche videos, even their recent clip, Take Hold Of The Flame, failed to receive much airplay.

"We're going to go over and ask MTV why they're not playing our videos." Tate announced recently when the band made a stop in New York in the midst of their hectic world tour. "We always get 18 different answers. One: 'Well, we are playing you in light rotation right now. When the album picks up sales you're going to be in heavy/Second answer: 'Gosh, there are eight new releases this month that are already platinum, so we have to play those. It's a game we've learned to play."

Queensryche

Catch 22. If your video is seen on MTV then people will become interested in you and buy your album, but MTV won't play your video until the disc starts to sell well. Wasn't it Ronnie James Dio who said that in this business they give you everything after you don't need it anymore? As this article is written, Queensryche's first LP the Warning is hovering in the lower half of Billboard's Hot WO: not exactly ready to be hourly MTV fare but still keeping the record company people on their toes.

"The album hasn't peaked yet," declared Geoff, his blue eyes flashing. "It went to a certain level. There were so many new releases out that they blew the LP off the charts. I have confidence in the album having a long life, though. It's going to sit in the charts for quite a while.

"When the Warning first came out, we aimed for success in Europe," he continued. "The band was there, everything was in Europe for the first two months the record was here. It sold 150,000 on its own - without any promotion. Now we're aiming all our efforts on America and sales are going to go up."

Touring can do wonders for giving a band exposure. After all, 10,000 people get to see you every night, and if you're good, word of mouth gets your platters on turntables. But is touring really as effective for album sales as radio and television? Tate is adamant. "Video is really overrated," he stated. "But it brings you into the homes of 18 million Americans," the ever-optimistic DeGarmo added.

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