It's been a long, rockin' journey for the heavy metal band Queensrÿche as it celebrates its 30th anniversary tour.
The band has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide since releasing its debut eponymous EP in the early 1980s.
The anniversary tour, which stops at Rialto Theatre Wednesday, pulls from the band's extensive catalog, dating back to early hits like "I Don't Believe in Love" and "Eyes of a Stranger." It also will pull from its latest album, "Dedicated to Chaos," which was released in June.
"We have a really cool visual show that accompanies the music, which is kind of a combination of all of our video footage shot over the years," said Queensrÿche frontman Geoff Tate.
Queensrÿche started out as The Mob, a name the members quickly learned had been taken by another band. So they took the name from one of their early songs "Queen of the Reich," Tate said.
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"We hooked up and started writing our own stuff and … vavoom, here we are 30 years later," said Tate, who discovered his own musical interests when he was about 9.
"I got a transistor radio for my birthday, and I started tuning into all the different radio stations in the Seattle area where I grew up … and it just really sparked my interests," the 52-year-old said.
He played in the school band and took piano and voice lessons, which helped prepare him for the rigors of touring.
"I'm really glad I jumped into that training because we tour a lot, you know. We tour 200 dates a year, and we play show after show. … I think our record is 14 straight shows," he said. "(The training) helps you endure the stress it takes to sing night after night for two hours … and that stuff is quite challenging vocally."
Queensrÿche - Scott Rockenfield on drums, Eddie Jackson on bass and Michael Wilton on the guitar - brought a wealth of influences to the table when they started. Band members had extensive record collections and musical tastes that influenced their music.
"We were referencing everything from Cher to Fleetwood Mac, Black Sabbath to Porter Wagoner, Coaltrain, you name it," Tate said.
Those influences continue today in songs Tate composes, most of them drawing from his life experiences and what he sees around him.
"I think music is a really personal curing for people, definitely for the artist," he said. "It's a personal expression. Audiences and people in general hear and listen to music differently. They'll latch onto a song that becomes the background music for their life during that period, and they'll always remember that," Tate said.
With 30 years behind them, Tate said he and the band never get tired of their old songs. The songs may stay the same, but the audience reaction night after night is always different.
"The enthusiasm of the audience makes for a unique performance every night," he said.
Tate said he hopes Queensrÿche will mark the start of its fourth decade with a new album and tour next year.
"It's been an amazing career, and we still have a great time playing music together, hanging out together," he said.
IF YOU GO
• What: Queensrÿche in concert.
• When: 8 p.m. Wednesday, doors open at 7.
• Where: Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St.
• Admission: $33 and $39 at www.rialtotheatre.com
Michelle Weiss a University of Arizona student who is an apprentice at the Star. Contact her at starapprentice@azstarnet.com
