Queensrÿche is an American heavy metal band. It formed in 1980 in Bellevue,… Read Full Bio ↴Queensrÿche is an American heavy metal band. It formed in 1980 in Bellevue, Washington, out of the local band the Mob. The band has released 15 studio albums, one EP, and several DVDs, and continues to tour and record. The original lineup consisted of guitarists Michael Wilton and Chris DeGarmo, drummer Scott Rockenfield, bassist Eddie Jackson, and lead vocalist Geoff Tate.

Queensrÿche has sold over 20 million albums worldwide, including over 6 million albums in the United States. They are considered one of the leaders of the progressive metal scene of the mid-to-late 1980s, and often referred to as one of the "Big Three" of the genre, along with Dream Theater and Fates Warning. The band received worldwide acclaim after the release of their 1988 album Operation: Mindcrime, which is often considered one of the greatest heavy metal concept albums of all time. Their follow-up release, Empire, released in 1990, was also very successful and included the hit single "Silent Lucidity". The band has received three Grammy Award nominations for songs from both albums. In 1998, drummer Rockenfield received an individual Grammy nomination.

Also in 1998, guitarist and primary songwriter Chris DeGarmo left the band for personal reasons, returning briefly in 2003 to write and record the Tribe album. Over the years, his replacements have been Kelly Gray, Mike Stone, and Parker Lundgren. Following a highly publicized backstage altercation before a show in São Paulo, Brazil, in April 2012, Tate was fired from the band and replaced with then-Crimson Glory singer Todd La Torre. In response to his dismissal, Tate and his wife Susan (who served as the band's manager from 2005 to 2012) filed a lawsuit in a Washington court, claiming that he was wrongfully terminated. The ruling in the preliminary injunction was that both parties were allowed to use the name Queensrÿche until a court ruling or a settlement decided who would get to use the name. A settlement was reached on April 17, 2014, in which founding members Wilton, Rockenfield and Jackson were awarded the rights to the band trademark, continuing to play with the lineup that additionally includes singer La Torre and guitarist Lundgren.

During the time, both parties could use the name Queensrÿche, Tate created his own lineup featuring former guitarist Gray and musicians from bands including Blue Öyster Cult, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Dio, AC/DC and Quiet Riot. This version of Queensrÿche with Geoff Tate released the album Frequency Unknown on April 23, 2013, while Queensrÿche (with La Torre replacing Tate) released their eponymous album on June 24 and 25, 2013 (European and American release date, respectively). Both bands toured in 2013 and 2014.

Full article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensrÿche

Studio albums
The Warning (1984)
Rage for Order (1986)
Operation: Mindcrime (1988)
Empire (1990)
Promised Land (1994)
Hear in the Now Frontier (1997)
Q2K (1999)
Tribe (2003)
Operation: Mindcrime II (2006)
Take Cover (2007)
American Soldier (2009)
Dedicated to Chaos (2011)
Queensrÿche (2013)
Condition Hüman (2015)
The Verdict (2019)
Digital Noise Alliance (2022)

Geoff Tate's Queensrÿche
Frequency Unknown (2013)

For What It's Worth
Queensrÿche Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware

I think it's time we stop
Children, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down

There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind

I think it's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down

What a field-day for the heat?
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side

It's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
You step out of line
The man come and take you away

We better stop, hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down

Stop, now, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down

Stop, children, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down

Overall Meaning

Queensrÿche's song "For What It's Worth" is a cover of Buffalo Springfield's 1966 hit song of the same name. The song speaks to the unrest and chaos of the late 60s, with the lyrics hinting at social issues such as gun control, censorship, and the resistance to change.

The song begins with the singer observing that something is happening, but it isn't entirely clear what it is. He hears a man with a gun warning him to be careful, suggesting that there is a need for vigilance and caution. The singer then calls for a stop to the chaos, asking the younger generation to pay attention to what is happening around them. The song then notes that there are battle lines being drawn, and the younger generation is speaking out and experiencing resistance from those who want to maintain the status quo.

As the song continues, the singer notes that people are taking to the streets to protest, but the situation is still dangerous because of the paranoia and fear that seem to pervade society. He observes that people are afraid of being singled out and punished for speaking out, and there is a sense that the authorities are watching and waiting to take action.

Overall, "For What It's Worth" is a song that speaks to the need for vigilance and social change, while acknowledging the fear and resistance that accompany such changes. The song's message is as relevant today as it was in the late 60s, and it continues to be a potent reminder of the power of music to inspire social change.

Line by Line Meaning

There's something happening here
A significant event is taking place

What it is ain't exactly clear
The nature of the event is ambiguous

There's a man with a gun over there
An armed individual is present

Telling me I got to beware
Issuing a warning or threat

I think it's time we stop
It's time to take action

Children, what's that sound?
Asking about a noise

Everybody look what's going down
Pay attention to the situation

There's battle lines being drawn
People are taking sides

Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
There are no absolutes

Young people speaking their minds
Youth expressing themselves

Getting so much resistance from behind
Facing opposition from traditionalists