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)
Hit the Black
Queensrÿche Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't know what I said, living to be dead on the run.
Corporation greed, television need,
Overdose and bleed, pornograph obscene, I'm a liar.
There's no brakes on me, as I'm running down the track.
They'll be waiting for me, but I'm never coming back.
To a place where I can see all there is to see in me.
Bullets in the gun, gonna have some fun,
Think I'll take a ride to the other side, till I'm done.
Hole is in the vein,
Feel it numb the brain, take away the pain,
Never be the same till I die.
There's no brakes on me, as I come around the track.
There's no gauge to read,
Peg the needle as I hit the black.
I'm going down
To a place where I can see all there is to see in me.
Population freeze,
Modern day disease,
Brings us to our knees, see them stand in line for a cure.
Profit in the wind,
Pushing back the time that we wait in line,
Pushing back the time, it's a sin.
There's no brakes on me, as I'm running down the track.
They'll be waiting for me, but I'm never coming back.
I'm going down.
The lyrics of "Hit The Black" by Queensryche are dark and haunting, describing a person who is struggling with various issues and is on a destructive path towards self-destruction. The first few lines talk about how the persona is hanging by a thread, with problems in their head, and they don't even know what they're saying. They feel like they're living to be dead, and they're always on the run. The verses then describe the societal issues that surround them, with corporation greed, television need, overdose and bleed, and pornographic obsessions that all contribute to the persona's destructive nature. The persona admits to being a liar, possibly indicating that their problems are self-made and that they are struggling to come to terms with their own issues.
The chorus talks about the persona's reckless nature, with no brakes on them and running down the track. They are aware that they will face consequences for their actions, but they are determined never to come back. The next verse talks about the persona's desire to escape their troubles through the use of drugs, with bullets in the gun, taking a ride to the other side, and numbing the pain. They know that they will never be the same until they die.
The final verse talks about the societal issues that are pushing people towards destructive behavior, with population freezes, modern-day diseases, and people standing in line for cures. The profit motive in society is pushing people towards self-destruction, and the persona acknowledges that it's a sin. Overall, the lyrics describe a person who is struggling with personal and societal issues and is on a path towards self-destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
Hanging by a thread, problems in my head,
I am facing difficult situations and problems that are causing stress and anxiety for me.
Don't know what I said, living to be dead on the run.
I am not sure of the choices I have made and my life is leading me toward death without direction.
Corporation greed, television need,
Companies are obsessed with making profit, and people are increasingly reliant on entertainment in the form of TV.
Overdose and bleed, pornograph obscene, I'm a liar.
I have indulged in dangerous behaviors and watched offensive material, which makes me feel guilt and deceit.
There's no brakes on me, as I'm running down the track.
I am unstoppable in my current trajectory, with no way to slow down.
They'll be waiting for me, but I'm never coming back.
There are people who expect me to return, but I am committed to moving forward and not looking back.
I'm going down
I am heading towards a downward spiral or a negative outcome.
To a place where I can see all there is to see in me.
I am going towards a destination where I can come to a better understanding of myself and my actions.
Bullets in the gun, gonna have some fun,
I am planning to engage in dangerous or reckless behavior that could have negative consequences.
Think I'll take a ride to the other side, till I'm done.
I am considering embarking on a journey with uncertain consequences, with the intention of seeing it through to the end.
Hole is in the vein, Feel it numb the brain, take away the pain, Never be the same till I die.
I am using drugs to numb emotional pain, but this will have permanent effects on my brain and myself.
There's no gauge to read, Peg the needle as I hit the black.
I am so committed to my course of action that I am willing to take dangerous risks without any form of measurement or restraint.
Population freeze, Modern day disease, Brings us to our knees, see them stand in line for a cure.
The stagnation of society and modern problems are causing people to suffer and desperate seek solutions for their ailments.
Profit in the wind, Pushing back the time that we wait in line, Pushing back the time, it's a sin.
People's pursuit of profit is delaying progress towards resolving issues that affect people's lives, and this is a moral failing.
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