Queensrÿche (EP)
| Queensrÿche | ||||
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| EP by Queensrÿche | ||||
| Released | September 1983 | |||
| Recorded | September 1982 | |||
| Studio | Triad Studios in Redmond, Washington | |||
| Genre | Heavy metal, power metal | |||
| Length | 17:27 | |||
| Label | 206 Records | |||
| Producer |
Queensrÿche Neil Kernon (track 5 on reissue) |
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| Singles from Queensrÿche | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Robert Christgau | D+ |
| Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 8/10 |
Queensrÿche is the self-titled debut EP by the American progressive heavy metal band Queensrÿche, released independently in September 1983 through 206 Records and reissued later that same year through EMI-America. A remastered edition was reissued in 2003 through Capitol Records.
In the early 1980s, 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 demo 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". The whistle at the beginning of "The Lady Wore Black" were unintentional, as Brett Miller recalls: "Geoff needed to set the mood, so he had the lights turned off and sang with a single candle burning in the studio. While waiting for his first verse to come up, he whistled along with the opening guitar not realizing they were taping him. He told them it was a mistake, but everyone agreed it was cool, so they kept it."
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Wikipedia