Queensrÿche Honors the “American Soldier”

March 25, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Blogroll, Uncategorized

Back in 1989, when I was a wee tot of about 15 years old, I went to my first concert alone with my sister and friends. I paid for the tickets with my own cash and felt the true rocker. The concert was the Damaged Justice Tour and the headliners were Metallica and Queensrÿche.

I can still hear the pounding drums and sweet guitar licks of the opening chords of “Revolution Calling”. Then, Geoff Tate’s sonic pipes would kick in and you were in another world entirely, hanging on every word of the lyrical stories he would tell. In my mind, Operation Mindcrime is the one of the best albums in history! Even today the lyrics to Revolution Calling speak to me:

Got no love for politicians
Or that crazy scene in D.C.
It’s just a power mad town
But the time is ripe for changes
There’s a growing feeling
That taking a chance on a new kind of vision is due

I used to trust the media
To tell me the truth, tell us the truth
But now I’ve seen the payoffs
Everywhere I look
Who do you trust when everyone’s a crook?

It was my first foray into politics and I was listening closely. When I lived with my father in Texas, I’ll crank up the LP (that’s a vinyl record to you yung’uns) while my father was at work. I just can’t get tired of Mindcrime and Empire!! Who doesn’t love “Silent Lucidity”? They recently released Mindcrime: Live and I was 15 again.

The band is about to release its next full-length album honorably titled “American Soldier” on March 31st. The band is teaming up with Jamsbio.com to celebrate the strength and courage of those who serve our country. Interviews with troops are laced throughout the well-produced album.

Probably the most emotional song on the album for me is the song “Unafraid”, the second track on the new album, that pretty much epitomizes the American Soldier!

I’m unafraid,
I fear nothing.
I’m unafraid,
I hope for nothing.
I’m unafraid,
I fear nothing.
I’m free! I’m free!
I’m unafraid,
I hope for nothing.
I’m free – you can believe in me.

The song will give you goosebumps of pride from start to finish. The problem with it is that you won’t want to continue on and listen to the rest of the songs on the album!! It’s that good. But, if you succumb to that temptation, you miss out on the rest of the gems from “American Soldier”.

“Hundred Mile Stare” encapsulates the essence of the combat Soldier trying make sense of what he’s just survived. “Middle of Hell” starts you on the edge of your seat with the whispered “wake up” and then gets your heart pounding as you experience combat through the eyes of a hero who at first thinks he’s dreaming only to find out he really is in the middle of hell. The reassuring “you’re gonna be alright” almost sounds ironic to the backdrop of a Soldier “just trying to hold on to whatever is left” of himself. “Man Down” is the musical version of the opening scenes of “Saving Private Ryan”, with heart pounding drum beats and combat hardened guitars piercing your soul as chaos reigns. “Home Again” will bring tears to your eyes. That’s all I’m going to say about that one.

JamsBio.com is hosting dozens of touching memories and dedications to soldiers, from servicemen and women and their loved ones about service, sacrifice, life on the frontlines and home front.

The project doesn’t officially kick off until next week. But, you can now enjoy early access to HONORING THE AMERICAN SOLDIER. As an important member of the military community, they’re letting us know first about this exciting opportunity to contribute to this unique project and pay tribute to our servicemen and woman by sharing music memories, song dedications and top-5 lists.

JamsBio.com is already host to dozens of touching memories and dedications to soldiers, from servicemen and women and their loved ones about service, sacrifice, life on the frontlines and home front. Here are just a few:

* My Soldier, a memory from armywife704 of Fort Bragg, NC
* My Brother Comes Home, a memory from kwalz of Kansas City, MO
* Radar Love, a memory from wedge of Redmond, WA
* 3-9-66, a dedication from Dave030966 of Inverness, FL
* Far Away in Korea, a dedication from lovelogan of Olney, IL
* Songs about Soldiers & Service, a JamsBio user-generated top-5 list
* Songs about Freedom, a JamsBio user-generated top-5 list

You too can leave dedications or leave behind your memories of how you tie service to music. As you all know, I’ve done many interviews about how music played a huge role in my combat time and throughout my military career. I can almost make a soundtrack of my life in the military.

Tomorrow, I will be interviewing Geoff Tate for a special edition of the You Served Radio Show and Podcast. The interview will be live at 1200 CST. If you miss the live interview, you’re out of luck for about a week. The show will not be listed as a podcast until next week. We’ll talk about the new album, their connections to the military, and this new Honoring the American Soldiers project.

Also, next week we’ll be talking to Matt Williams, co-founder of Jamsbio.com during our regular Thursday evening You Served Podcast. So, don’t miss it! We’ll also air our interview with Queensrÿche frontman Geoff Tate during the show for those that miss the live interview.

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