Bringing the Mindcrime to life

It's not often that a band would be cheered by people walking out of their shows. But for Queensryche's Geoff Tate it proves that the band's most celebrated work is more relevant than ever.

When the American prog-metal rockers released their third album 20 years ago little did they realise it would dominate their whole career.

Now they are bringing over their full, acclaimed theatrical version of Operation: mindcrime and its sequel, Operation: mindcrime II, to the UK, in a tour which includes Wolverhampton Civic Hall on June 18 (See below for ticket details).

Mixing progressive heavy rock with pure theatre, the three-hour show features surround-sound, video imagery, props and a full cast, with actors re-enacting the storyline.

"There's been an interesting reaction," says Tate, as he recalls some of the American shows on the tour.

"It's the story of a young man growing up who becomes a terrorist. In the US that subject pushed a lot of buttons with people, with its themes of manipulation and religious overtones.

"There was a definite impact, with people walking out in protest. We like to think of our fans as open-minded and able to follow a multi-faceted story but clearly that's not everyone. But generally it was very positive."

Operation: mindcrime, which was nominated for a Grammy, has sold more than a million copies worldwide. It tells the story of Nikki, a junkie who is manipulated by the sinister Dr. X into assassinating corrupt public figures, crimes which conflict with his love for prostitute-turned-nun, Sister Mary.

By the end of the album Sister Mary is dead and Nikki sedated, jailed and unsure if it was him or someone else who killed her.

The sequel, released 18 years later sees Nikki released from prison but tortured by the memories that now come flooding back and it finally answers the question "Who Killed Sister Mary?"

Tate, who takes the lead role of Nikki in the stage show, says, "This is the most extensive stage show we have ever put together. Working with the actors and creating the different scenes helped us to really tell the story.

"Between ritualistic execution, working prostitutes, motorcycle crashes and everything in between, we are able to really draw the audience in to the story.

"There's an interior and an exterior set, and then there's me hamming it up. I love this part. This Nikki character is interesting to play but I really don't like him. He's the antithesis of me."

But Tate has had to work hard in the gym to keep in shape for a very demanding three hours on stage.

"When we were designing the show it looked fantastic. But the first week into the show I thought I was going to die! It's very challenging to do vocally and it's a very physical show as well. But I'm one of those people where I get stronger the more I do things."

He says that taking Operation: mindcrime on the road is quite different to a normal rock tour.

"It's a circus. There are so many different things going on, with all the set changes and keeping everything in sync. Scott, our drummer, is the sync master.

"Pamela Moore, who plays Sister Mary, is a wonderful person and singer and quite the actress as well. We love touring together and I really love singing with her. She comes from that old school style of singing, really belting it out.

"Not like some of these girl singers today with their tiny, little voices. She roars!"

But touring the show hasn't been without its own dramas – including the band's tour manager being arrested in Holland because a replica gun used during the performance was in his suitcase.

Tate explains: "Apparently it's highly illegal to have a replica or toy gun in the Netherlands. I had it in my suitcase and I told our tour manager, Adam, to tell security. So Adam told this woman: 'Oh, in the suitcase we have a gun' and that was as far as he got because off went an alarm and the police swarmed on us in seconds.

"They handcuffed Adam and as he was being led away he turned back and shouted 'Make sure you get to the show in Norway'!"

For the past 20 years Queensryche fans have been calling for the Operation: mindcrime story to be made into a film, and it's something that Tate is hopeful of too.

"We've developed a screenplay so it can be a film," he says. "Agents are out there shopping it around but there's nothing set in stone as yet, although David Cronenberg was interested early on.

"But nothing has ever felt right. I'd like to keep the story intact and not change it for Hollywood."

When I tell him a film could bring the band a whole new audience he replies: "It already is a whole new audience. Our fans have had kids and they're bringing them along with their friends.

"I was talking to a group of 14 and 15-year-olds backstage and I said: 'What brings you to a Queensryche show?' One of them said: 'You guys are legends and we wanted to see you before you are dead!' "

The band is in a particularly busy phase at the moment, following the release of Operation: mindcrime II and a collection of covers called Take Cover, two albums which, it must be said drew mixed reactions from fans and critics alike, as Queensryche experimented with different sounds.

Tate leaps to the band's defence when he says: "We all have such eclectic tastes. We like to incorporate everybody's ideas. Sometimes that's connected with the public's taste, sometimes it hasn't."

But hopefully the next project should whet fans' appetites. Queensryche have almost completed their next album . . . and it's a return to the concept album format they are famous for.

Tate says: "We're just finishing up a new album and hope to have it finished by the end of the summer for an early '09 release. I can't say very much about it yet but it will be a theatrical genre of presentation, a concept piece."

When I ask him if it's futuristic, sci-fi or set in the present he replies enigmatically: "It's very much about now."

But for now, sitting in Mexico with the temperature in the hundreds, his thought are on the forthcoming British tour:

"I'm incredibly excited about bringing the show to the UK. I was in London for Christmas. Man it was cold! So we're looking forward to coming over in June and seeing some blue skies."

Queensryche play at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Wednesday, June 18. Tickets are £22.50 and are available from www.livenation.co.uk and www.ticketline.co.uk. Also visit www.wolvescivic.co.uk

By Ian Harvey