Queensryche 'The Whisper' Rage for Order tour 1987

[jrcforlife]

Thank you for posting this great video. I have watched it ten times so far. Do you have the whole show?

[ablecain68]

Nobody could touch Tate back in the day, not even the Metal God!

[whiskeynale69]

compared to some other singers, Geofff still sounds great, especially for his age..amazing singer!

[jroach96]

This shit was WAY ahead of it's time. Truly an innovative band.

[richedie]

Love Ryche by poor olf Geoff can;t pull it off any longer. Some singers can still do it but he can't. It is par of the aging process for most. Strangely enough Bruce Dickinson still seems to be in vocal shape.

[PJB1775]

@richedie Bruce takes good care of himself, Geoff, not so much

[The61769]

these were good times

[caryg666]

Went to see kiss. Left a Queensryche fan.

[Crackhitler68]

@caryg666 Lol...Same here....I was like KISS who? QR blew them off the stage ;-)

[konevnin]

@privatechair Went to go see Metallica's Justice For All tour. Queensryche opened for them. Left a Queensryche fan. Been one ever since and always will but miss their more progressive edginess of the past........:(

[2112madman]

@konevnin Yeah I went to the same concert in Waco, TX. Went back stage and met metallica and james hetfield was a real DICK HEAD !!!!! Spoke to Scott for about an hour, he was such a down to earth person and QR put on a way better show than metallica. Master of puppets was the last awesome album that they did.

[konevnin]

Holy shit... This sounds EXACTLY like the original....

[omnadrener]

Halford couldnt sing this if his life depended on it

[omnadrener]

yeah halford has few more octaves halford is pure Falsetto im a Maiden Fan here i know what im Talking Tate is amazing

[ben6killer]

So thats what Goeff Tate looked like before he got fat and old, Now he looks like tony clifton and one of the backstreet boys had a baby.

[osborne1971]

yeah that is Geoff live for sure. So close to perfect it is perfect. How many singers have a voice that sounds that full on record AND live? Not many IMO.

[pollaris18]

I love this album \m/

[dragonsfire6664]

love geoff, but halford was doing it when geoff was in diapers still, and halford had a few more octaves

[resurgam44]

@dragonsfire6664

I don't think you understand what an octave is; Geoff Tate's range extended (in his prime) from A1-A5, while Halford is confirmed for D2-B5. Ergo, while stylistically very distinct in their vocals, both have similar ranges - though Halford's tends to extend upwards rather than downwards due to his tenor voice type. Also, Halford is only 8 years older than Geoff.

[lostnparody]

@resurgam44 not to mention the tone tate has, ontop of that range..........both amazing, but tate reminds me there just may be a Heavin.

[sobeto28]

@resurgam44 Where halford hits a B5?Anyways,halford uses too much falsetto (live),not to mention that geoff could do anything with his voice,versatile as FUCK,he used to be.

[resurgam44]

@sobeto28

I agree: Geoff is by FAR the better singer - my favourite of all time, actually. Frankly, I don't like really like Halford at all after Stained Class. As far as I can recall, Halford hits a B5 in one of his solo albums. However, since I'm not a huge fan, I can't remember exactly where it shows up.

[jlmso11568]

@resurgam44 Tate is a singer, Halford is a screamer

[clarkdef]

@dragonsfire6664 Halford sounds like a girl, he has no man in his voice no depth, therefore Geoff has more range.

[tatey39]

@dragonsfire6664

Hahahahahahahahahaha....Halfor­d compares to Tate's voice.....hahahahahahaha. Halford's voice is terrible compared to Geoff Tate's...!!! Like comparing Bruce Dickinson to Pavarotti....hahahahaha

[josimcd1]

Geoff realmente tem um vocal muito foda ele consegue levar as musicas ao vivo perfeito igual o @tribuzy faz com suas musicas

[NeueRegel1]

Geoff is flawless here.... I would kill to see them live during that tour...!!!!

[almadido]

But Geddy's voice is naturally higher and he has no problem hitting that register. Smoother for sure. But Geoff has smoked like a chimney and that golden voice is a thing of the past. Writing was better too.

[almadido]

I totally agree. It sounds fantastic and it's quite unique. Nowadays he's lost almost a full octave. He's abused his voice completely.. Too bad..

[233kid]

@saintrico DITTO! I drove 150 miles to see the open for AC/DC on the RFO tour and LEFT after QR cuz it woulda been pointless to watch AC/DC. Nothing against AC/DC (I DO like them) but after QR"s set I was just SPEECHLESS AND STUNNED. That performance and KISS in 1979 were the best rock performances I'd ever seen........AMAZING!!!

[FreeMTrider]

@saintrico This tour was the third time I saw them (the EP, the Warning all in Sacramento, Ca) and it completely blew away anything previous. Just today I found out that the band was reading vampire novels at the time Rage was written.

[dyst0piate]

Was the best vocalist in rock and heavy metal.

[EligosPoltergiest]

To actually be there to experience this must have been truly explosive....

[BrianM1]

This band has crumbled so bad, oh the good ol days

[WaywardYak]

Fuck. Back in the days when Tate's voice was just unbelieveable. Shame he didn't take better of his voice. By the time they did Livecrime in 91 or so, his voice was already slipping.

[codavox]

I've been a big Queensrÿche fan from the EP...never saw footage from this tour until now. Priceless! Even on his worst day, Geoff Tate would never lip synch. The guy has always had a phenomenal voice live and on record, but he really pushed his range into the stratosphere in the early days. Luckily for him (and us), his lower range is every bit as pleasing to the ear. This is partly why Silent Lucidity went through the roof commercially. Just isn't the same without Chris DeGarmo, though... :-(

[surgpath24]

@codavox Type in "queensryche pittsburgh 1985" and check out NM156 live....totally awesome.

[codavox]

@surgpath24 Thanks for your reply- yes, great version of a great song. It's my best friend's favorite as well. We saw them together the first time opening for Metallica on the "...And Justice For All" Tour & again on Operation: Livecrime. Since then I've seen them on the "Promised Land" tour as well as about 8 years ago with Halford & Iron Maiden on their "Brave New World" tour. I'll probably regret never having fronted a Rÿche tribute, though I do front a Led Zep tribute here in Bufffalo, NY.

[clarkdef]

I tried to sing this song like he does....I couldn't talk for the next few days oh geez...

[Spectorwithin]

Geoff Tate is dressed like Madona..

[FreeMTrider]

@Spectorwithin not really. I saw them twice on this tour and many before and after. I remember looking up to the stage about two rows back and the lights came on with that green glow and thinking they all looked like futuristic vampires. It was awesome. Scott's drum kit was some kind of new carbon fiber. The entire stage had a futuristic design.

[lightapo]

maybe one of five records in the history of music

[rdbinterprises]

Back in the day he still had his voice.I saw him on this tour and many others.He was flawless live. He has lost the power in his voice or at least it seemed that way the last time I saw them.

[Djasper321]

Fresh and intelligente 80's metal

[TheKillingword]

that opening riff is terrific!

[garnerean]

Girls, wake up. We all get old if we live long enough. Don't judge him.

[PeterRyche99]

fav song by queensryche

[metalxmania91]

definately one of the greatest metal vocalists ever was and ever will be

[NOaverageJOE]

Seriously...who sings like this?! This is the best live rock singing I've ever heard. It's such a shame he can't even attempt to sing this song in its correct key nowadays. I'd rather the band tune down than he half-step most of the song. It just sounds weak now.

[nattiep]

@NOaverageJOE Actually this song isn't tuned down now. He just sings it really half assed.

[StanleyKu]

No rock singer has ever matched Geoff IMO.

[66jtm45]

@StanleyKu your opinion is the correct one! Few were in his league. Queensryche were all incredibly talented musicians.

[metalxmania91]

your comment is good but I think that someone who hits higher notes is Ian Gillan not with as much power but still nails insane notes. If you want to look him up then look up 'Child In Time' by deep purple. im not trying to be a smartass either im repectfully asking you to look it up b/c its fricken awesome!!!

[lostnparody]

@StanleyKu He's one in a million ;-)

[JuniorSynth]

FUCK!!! Geoff was sent to earth from another planet far far away back those years! I mean... Those vocals?! This is unbelieveable! Im stunned. I watched this clip 6 times in a raw... Fantastic... Im totally blown away..

[Djasper321]

WHAT a voice he had back then!

[almadido]

his voice is suspectly faultless to be live.. either that or years of abuse has made him drop a full octave nowadays.. this is PERFECT and it doesn't alter the live performance either..

[resurgam44]

Nope, Geoff is live. His voice has just degenerated over the years.

[WowzaGuy]

@almadido Nooooo, he's live.... Now you see why he's a legend. Time and cigars can ruin it.... but thankfully we have vids like this to capture the sterling moments forever.

[rknrll1]

@almadido Funny thing is that you couldn't be anymore wrong. This was all tate 100%... But what you here live today is only about 90% him singing in the mix, the rest is piped in. He still doesn't lip-sync but he sings over 3 or 4 backing tracks to layer his voice. Really has lost his voice a lot over the years

[233kid]

@almadido I saw them on the RFO tour (8/29/86) AND he did sound FLAWLESS! Unfortunately, he doesn't sing like this anymore:(......

They were like a PANZER TANK from 86-95! UNSTOPPABLE.......

[fugazione]

@almadido The same thing happened to Geddy Lee of Rush, his voice got deeper with age.

[knobrock]

@almadido He lost his voice over the years, through smoking.

That, and there wasn't any pitch shifters back in 87. ;)

[bassmanjoe]

@knobrock Really! He was a smoker? I thought he was Mr. Health Nut. Maybe now he is a health nut.

[resurgam44]

@bassmanjoe

Oh yeah. There are a few interview videos of him in the 80s taking periodic puffs from a cigarette.

[knobrock]

@bassmanjoe Yep, he gave up a few years ago now... He was blogging about it. I would love to have seen him in his hey day. If you do a search on you tube, "Making of Hear N Aid" it's an absolute blast to watch the best metal singers of their time, all together in a studio and hearing them actually recording the vocal tracks is incredible.

[bassmanjoe]

Those were the days, god i wish Geoff

could sing like this now a days. Kinda hard at age 50. Different story when your

28. Amazing vocals!!!!

[ravenquest2009]

Saw them in Charlotte. I thought Geoff's voice was as great as ever. Yeah!! He still looks good to be 50. They were fantastic!!! Geoff you are truly an icon.

[gasguiltyasin]

notice how geoff is screaming every single line without breathing. Brilliant!

[ceegee71]

I absolutely have to agree with all the other commentators here. Geoff was " not-of-this-earth " at that time. What a class...what a performance. As a formely " Die-hard-QR-Fan ", I know now why I was one then. They whole band were so good performing their, really not easy, stuff live. Still impressed by that performance...they were ahead of their time. Great...just great !!! The haute 'ecole of  rock...

[Coven23]

Omg the band was fucking awsome at that time and Tates vocal are ISANE!!!!!!!!

[rychehed]

the note Geoff hits at 1:33 is just insanely good...the pro of all metal singers and still going strong today...a true maestro!!!

[OliverMagnum21]

Astonishing video!! "The whisper" is probably my favorite song frm "Rage for Order". Million thanx for posting!!!

[NiklausMetal]

Most likely my favorite 'ryche song.

[DoubleOKevin11]

Honestly one of my favorite songs of all time and Geoff Tate literally sounds perfect. The only flaw he has is he's TOO GOOD!! It makes people forget about the rest of the band which fucking rocks.

[cornspike]

Fuck I hate getting old!!!! His voice was so sick here....

[wildrover7]

Here is part of the youtube link to Geoff 22years later singing "The Whisper" . He is better than ever and so sexy at 50 WOW

No one can compare he is the BEST!

 /watch?v=0p_xjjwdfTQ&NR=1

[Petruccibear]

I like the direction he is going in now as well. I would appreciate fewer high notes in the studio though, because I feel he sounds so much better on tracks like "Hundred Mile Stare" and "The Thin Line".

Of course thats not to say that his high stuff doesn't inspire me! He's the reason I wanted to do what I do now!

[surgpath24]

That note at 1:35 is crazy!! One in a million voice in his prime, Tone is absolutely perfect

[masonjarjar]

I don't know about y'alls but I think this is just about their best song. After all these years I listen to RAGE FOR ORDER probably the most of any of their albums. Clasic.

[ricaard]

ditto.

[gasguiltyasin]

Geoff Tate Is The BEST. That Is A Fact and if you disagree Then I will FIGHT YOU!!

[TruthUnderFire]

Geoff is God. Man this was when he had NO flaws in his voice. These guys kicked the living SHIT out of Ratt when they played. Talk about being upstaged....ha ha ha. Oh man, this is as good as it gets.

'Listen!!!!!!!!!!!!" Fucking amazing!

[OpenComments]

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Share your TRUTH without cost or servitude, Scientology.

[Rychemn]

Look on the "Rage for Order" album, definetly had the goth image long before anyone else.

[demarcus68]

I saw this tour...They opened for Ratt .Been a Queensryche fan ever since..

[Saytar7]

Awesome Vid ! Queensryche ,one of my all time favorite bands ,what a voice ! Great tune !!

[sbrave]

Anyone have a concert video/DVD from this tour???

[sonic540]

Awesome! sorry, I don't see or hear any goth metal in Queensryche. It was just future QR look back then. Goth...give me a break.

[FreeMTrider]

Yeah I agree. They had their own sound and it's badass.

[Rikenrocker]

Goth Metal before goth became mainstream. Rage still rocks!

[doomantia]

Goth/Vampire image. There is nothing, even remotely gothic about the music.

[jossy2112]

vampire...i was thinking the same thing. Look at the back cover of the booklet of Rage for Order. they seriously look like vampires

[doomantia]

"Walk in the Shadows", "I dream in infra-red", you cannot be sure for the meaning of their lyrics. Many say that they refer to vampires. Geoff Tate has said he was reading many Anne Rice novels at the time.

[FreeMTrider]

Yeah! I was there!

[U3X6785]

Man his voice is killer here.....

[rog197236]

Amazing how good Queensryche performed back then.Very tight band Rage For Order is one of my favorite ryche album of all time.

[Wytchfynder1982]

This performance reminds me why Queensryche is one of my favorite bands ever... Thank you for sharing that one... made my day for sure...

[kingofhell1972]

Fantastic! This is Queensryche's best cd. Geoff could really sing back then..........

[thegofdd]

this is quite simply AMAZING!

[nino288]

chris de garmo come back....

[anolaf]

/agree

[thinghurlos]

Geoff Tate fucking owns.

[MetalMistress888]

It just doesn't get any better than this:-))

[h0d3d0]

Holy crap! This is the Geoff Tate that made me love (and I mean LOVE!!!) Queensryche! Amazing. This is what changed my life in the 80s and 90s

[tjcobra666]

A damn shame they didn't release a video from this tour. So many great songs, and the band never sounded better.

[FreeMTrider]

I saw them on this tour in Sacramento, Ca. Just a bad ass show. Actually, I've seen them on just about every tour starting from the EP Queensryche

[Bulbus156]

Unsurpassed

[U3X6785]

I am still astounded by the vocal power from this timeframe from Mr. Tate. Priceless.

[eyaldamasta]

Definitely true : Geoff's voice evolves on each album and tour, but technically it just can't reach the perfection of his early years, illustrated here. This performance is astounding !

Geoff smokes, and tobacco has damaged somehow such a precious voice. He admits it himself, that's why he was always keen on jogging and bodybuilding : try to keep up the good shape and reduce the damage ...

[resurgam44]

Geoff has, in fact, quit smoking. This explains the dramatic improvement in his vocals recently, especially during the current tour. Not in years has he been able to hit that high Eb5 at the beginning of Take hold of the flame, and now he is doing so again. I've actually heard a high F5 from him this year! (walk in the shadows)

[djlucy1]

This is interesting info. you shared here. I didn't realize he was a smoker. His voice is quite amazing. He is able to switch from his true voice to falsetto in such a seamless way that sometimes it's difficult for me to tell when he's falsettoing, and when he isn't. What's your take on his voice and his falsetto?

[resurgam44]

Geoff Tate has never used falsetto; he utilizes both pure head voice and a mix between head and chest. Falsetto is different from head voice in that falsetto is disconnected from the chest whereas head voice still connects fully, but extends into the mask. He does have an incredible range, A1-A5 in his prime!

[FreeMTrider]

So does that explain why his voice is so powerful? His notes and tone are fluent through his range. Even his speaking voice is very pronouced. A true pro.

[CsemTam]

Yeah I was quite shocked (in a good way) to see 2008 performances of 'Take Hold' with the Eb5.

Do you know when he started smoking and when he quit?

I thought his voice started going downhill in the mid-90s but on some recordings from 2003 or the videos here on YouTube from the 2005 tour with Judas Priest he sounded surprisingly good again. At the Mindcrime show this year in London he was good but again, the high notes weren't really there.

[almadido]

his voice goes a full octave lower on this song nowadays..it's sad..no one could top geoff tate in his glory days...no one!

[resurgam44]

He doesn't go a ful octave lower, he simply sings it a few steps down. He essentially sings the harmony, at present.

[robinsings]

sad thing is.. I remember going to that tour.. having a shirt like that.. with my hair like that.. lol

[FreeMTrider]

Haha. Yeah, I think only a rock band can pull off that look. The good thing is Queensryche has always changed with time.

[sillymanblues]

Where did you get this footage? It's absolutely awesome!!! The raw days of Tate's voice hits me in the gut. Thank you for posting this vid!

[resurgam44]

To be honest, I really don't remember where I found it. It was online somewhere a few years back.

[nattiep]

First four songs were vampire tunes and London was one I believe as well.

[66jtm45]

Such a great song--though I have no idea what they were writing about. Rage is probably my favorite QR record. Thanks for posting this footage.

[resurgam44]

Wasn't Rage for Order a pseudo-concept album of sorts, dealing with a new breed of vampire, or something to that extent?

[jdonovan99]

NO to the vampire concept!!! They may have looked it with their mullets, long coats and make-up but that isn't true.

If anything, the themes on this album were either about relationships (Walk in the Shadows, I dream infared, Gonna Get Close to you, Killing Words, London) or socio/political topics (The Whisper, Surgical Strike, Neue Regal, Chemical Youth, Screaming in Digital and I Will Remember)

[waldonewman]

I read they were influenced my Vampire Chronicles by Ann Rice. I always like to say Rage For Order is like Dracula meets Terminator.

[jdonovan99]

Never heard that..........But they are avid readers so who knows..........