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)
SLIVER
Queensrÿche Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take your gun, it's the cross that's carried by your brothers.
A sliver is all there is, a sliver of the old you.
Underneath the skin, buried deep,
there's a man. There's a soldier in you.
What you doing here?
Welcome to the show!
There's only one man you can trust, he's the one at your side.
This shit's for real, there's nowhere to hide.
They say that conflict makes the man.
He survives with what he can.
The brave of heart won't look away
but live to fight another day.
What you doing here?
Welcome to the show!
Queensrÿche's song "Sliver" is a powerful call to arms, urging listeners to step up and take control of their lives. The opening line "It's time to sack up and let go of your mothers" is a metaphorical statement, encouraging individuals to shed the comforts and security of childhood and embrace their adult responsibilities. The line "Take your gun, it's the cross that's carried by your brothers" speaks to the idea of the individual soldier as part of a larger group, all fighting for a common cause.
The chorus "What you doing here? Welcome to the show!" is a repeated questioning of an individual's choice to be present and engaged in their own life. It challenges the listener to examine their own motivations and actions, asking if they are simply passive observers or active participants in their own destiny. The final verse emphasizes the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity and the power of the human spirit to endure and triumph.
Overall, "Sliver" is a powerful anthem of empowerment and personal responsibility, urging listeners to take control of their lives and be active participants in their own stories.
Line by Line Meaning
It's time to sack up and let go of your mothers.
It's time to become independent and let go of your comfort zone, represented here by your mother figure.
Take your gun, it's the cross that's carried by your brothers.
Take responsibility for your actions, as it's a burden shared by your fellow men.
A sliver is all there is, a sliver of the old you.
The change may be small, but it represents a shift from your old self.
Underneath the skin, buried deep, there's a man. There's a soldier in you.
Even if you feel weak or lost, you have the potential to be strong and fight for what you believe in.
There's only one man you can trust, he's the one at your side.
When times are tough, the only person you can rely on is your closest ally.
This shit's for real, there's nowhere to hide.
The situation is serious, and there's no escaping it.
They say that conflict makes the man.
The hardships of life are what shape us into stronger individuals.
He survives with what he can.
In times of struggle, we must make do with what we have and push through.
The brave of heart won't look away but live to fight another day.
True courage is facing challenges head-on and persevering through them.
What you doing here?
The artist is questioning the listener's purpose in their current situation.
Welcome to the show!
The singer acknowledges that life is full of challenges, and the listener is now a part of that struggle.
Lyrics © TRI-RYCHE CORPORATION DBA QUEENSRYCHE PUBLISHING COMPANY, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GEOFFERY WAYNE TATE, JASON SLATER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind