Saturday June 23, the BMI Indoor Speedway crowd gathered for a night of Mindcrime, Empires, Rage for Order and a few tunes from the beginning to modern day.
Queensrÿche came to Versailles with a career spanning show with a new record looming on the horizon. While the screen flashed concept images during certain songs, vocalist Todd La Torre tore into the catalog belting out vintage tunes, crowd pleasing staples and a few newer songs.
Most eras and records were touched on with Rage for Order getting some major attention and a handful of tunes from the groundbreaking epic story of Doctor X, Mary and Nikki.
Early support came from neighboring band Latter with a list of classics spanning the ‘70s to the ‘90s. With songs bringing back the days of cassettes, CD’s, no cell phones (or really big ones) and dial up internet. Direct tour support came from Los Angeles ladies The Iron Maidens bringing the award winning sole female Maiden tribute to an all ages Eddie loving audience.
Local lads Latter opened up eardrums playing tunes from Coverdale to Russell including some British horned and spiked metal, including the prince of darkness, some ‘80s MTV flare and early ‘90s crossover groove.
Jim Graham and Quintin Fyffe
Whitesnake slithered out early on “Gimme All Your Love” with a horned witchy salute to the godfather of goliath vocals on “The Last in Line.”
The ‘90s got a metal remembrance from Skid Row on “Monkey Business.” Things got hairy with the prince of darkness as everyone howled and Autograph turned up the volume.
Tim Hart and Quintin Fyffe
If you’re gonna do Dio and Ozzy, you gotta give a shout out to the Metal God and Priest as they did on “Electric Eye.” The first metal record to hit Billboard’s highest peak was also given respect on “Cum on Feel the Noise.”
Faith No More experimented with rap and metal way before it was cool and the result was “Epic.” The show ended calming things down with the smooth, subtle blues Great White riffs of “Rock Me.”
Kirsten Rosenburg
The internationally traveled and praised Maiden’s brought two versions of Eddie, along with a show from both D’iano and Dickinson. Though the set relied heavily on the ‘80s, they touched on the early ‘90s. The beast came out, a few pieces of mind were given, with a short journey to Egypt, a trip back in time, and darkness came.
With smiles and screams Kirsten Rosenburg, Courtney Cox, Nikki Stringfield, Wanda Ortiz, and Linda McDonald gave it to Ohio straight up the irons.
Nikki Stringfield
Planes soared in the air as the Churchill inspired “Aces High” warmed up the crowd. “2 Minutes to Midnight” gave an early finish to Powerslave as psych ward Eddie got suited up for “Revelations.” From the psych ward to the robo-cyborg “Wasted Years” foretold the tale of weary world road travelers with circulatory Eddie making an armed appearance looking a bit lost somewhere in time.
If you got tired or lonely enough “22 Acacia Avenue” might seem like a good idea.
“Still Life” screamed out more nightmares from the locked padded rooms as “The Trooper” clanged helmets in battle while some in the crowd drank the strong brewed spoils of its liquid courage equivalent.
Nikki Stringfield, Wanda Ortiz, Courtney Cox
Time drew short, as they who hath understanding, reckoned the “Number of the Beast” as the red horned trickster sneaked out under a cloud of steam causing mischief and plunder. Giving the band and fans a good devilish heckling.
In the name of God, thy father they flew with ‘Icarus.” Briefly leaving the ‘80s everything went black as creatures of nightmares and phobias awaited in “Fear of the Dark.”
Asylum escapee Eddie ran a mock onstage in a staggering headbanging cameo as “Iron Maiden” got all of you. Scream for me Versailles!
Parker Lundgren
Queensrÿche delivered a healthy dose of career retrospection and a few tastes of La Torre era tunes. If you weren’t familiar or around in the early days, they played an educated amount of classics from The Warning and Rage For Order. With the screen showing stylistically themed illustrations and videos accompanying select songs.
The Empire began with “Best I Can” as “Damaged” steps were taken through the Promised Land with an old school “Walk in the Shadows.”
Scott Rockenfield
The book of Mindcrime opened with “The Mission,” “Breaking the Silence,” and “I Don’t Believe in Love.”
The illumination of lighters, err cell phones filled the room during “Silent Lucidity” as La Torre joked that people did ‘many’ different things to this song in the day.
Michael Wilton
Versailles got its first dose of new school with the “Guardian” as the classics kept coming on “The Lady Wore Black.”
La Torre invited the crowd to sing along ‘if’ they knew the words to “Empire” as the “Jet City Woman” flew high above.
The Tool-like bass rumble of “Eye9” started the encore, “Screaming in Digital.” With Sister Mary getting the last word of the night on “Eyes of a Stranger.” They are the one, the only, Queensrÿche!
Images by Mike Ritchie
