Operation: Mindcrime was inevitable. After toying with themes with both of its previous albums, Queensr˙che was ready to tackle a full-on concept and as millions worldwide have shown, the band delivered an album many consider the finest concept record ever-made. On-par or surpassing masterpieces such as Pink Floyd's The Wall, or The Who's Tommy, Operation: Mindcrime tells the story of Nikki, who gets brainwashed through drugs by the terrorist simply known as "Dr. X," and used to commit assasinations.

Nikki meets Mary, a prostitute turned nun, and struggles with his relationship with her, his addiction and his work for Dr. X. The album begins as it ends, with Nikki in a hospital bed recalling the story, and the listener is left wondering - did it all really happen? What happened to Sister Mary?

Musically, Operation: Mindcrime is a timeless heavy metal classic. The album features Tate's operatic range in full effect, displaying the tension and emotion of both Nikki and Dr. X. Ripping guitar leads by DeGarmo and Wilton, both solo and harmonized, are in abundance, while Jackson and Rockenfield's pounding rhythm section enhances the story's drama. Lyrically, the concept was the brainchild of Geoff Tate, who got inspired during his time in Montreal and his observations of a terrorist group and a church.

Touring for Operation: Mindcrime was a challenge. At first, the record did not sell well. Opening for both Def Leppard and then Metallica, the band could not (and ultimately did not, until the next tour) perform the album in its entirety. It wasn't until a video for "Eyes of a Stranger" appeared on MTV that listeners caught on to the story. Once they did, Queensr˙che broke through to the mainstream, going from career openers to headline status in a span of three months. By April 1989, the band were headlining across Japan and the West Coast of the United States to crowds in the thousands. Queensr˙che stood primed and ready for the next step in its evolution.

Releases

Operation: Mindcrime (1988)

Video: Mindcrime (1989)

Article Scans

Guitar (Sept. 1989-pt.1)

Guitar (Sept. 1989-pt.2)

Guitar (Sept. 1989-pt.3)

Guitar (Sept. 1989-pt.4)

Guitar (Oct. 1988-pt.1)

Guitar (Oct. 1988-pt.2)

Guitar (Oct. 1988-pt.3)

Guitar (Oct. 1988-pt.4)

Guitar (Oct. 1988-pt.5)

Guitar (Oct. 1988-pt.6)

Guitar (Oct. 1988-pt.7)

Unknown (Mindcrime Era) (1989)

Guitar (March 1990 pt.1)

Guitar (March 1990 pt.2)

Guitar (March 1990 pt.3)

Guitar (March 1990 pt.4)

Guitar (March 1990 pt.5)

Guitar (March 1990 pt.6)

Guitar (March 1990 pt.7)

RIP (Feb. 1989 pt. 1)

RIP (Feb. 1989 pt. 2)

RIP (Feb. 1989 pt. 3)

RIP (Feb. 1989 pt. 4)

RIP (Feb. 1989 pt. 5)

Powerline (May 1989 pt. 1)

Powerline (May 1989 pt. 2)

Rock Scene (1988 pt. 1)

Rock Scene (1988 pt. 2)

RIP (Nov. 1988 pt. 1)

RIP (Nov. 1988 pt. 2)

RIP (Nov. 1988 pt. 3)

RIP (Nov. 1988 pt. 4)

Modern Drummer (Aug. 1989-pt.1)

Modern Drummer (Aug. 1989-pt.2)

Modern Drummer (Aug. 1989-pt.3)

Modern Drummer (Aug. 1989-pt.4)

Modern Drummer (Aug. 1989-pt.5)

Modern Drummer (Aug. 1989-pt.6)

Modern Drummer (Aug. 1989-pt.7)

Kerrang 212 (Nov. 5, 1988-cover)

Kerrang 212 (Nov. 5, 1988-pt.1)

Kerrang 212 (Nov. 5, 1988-pt.2)

Metal Edge (Nov. 1989)

Rock Beat (Aug. 1988 pt.1)

Rock Beat (Aug. 1988 pt.2)

Concert Shots (Jan. 1990 pt.1)

Concert Shots (Jan. 1990 pt.2)

Concert Shots (Jan. 1990 pt.3)

Bravo (Germany)

Heavy Rock (Spain)-pt.1

Heavy Rock (Spain)-pt.2

Misc. Scans

Operation: Mindcrime Advertisement

Operation: Mindcrime Tour Poster

Video: Mindcrime Promo Poster

Operation: LIVEcrime Promo Sheet

Band Photos

Operation: Mindcrime Era B&W 1

O:MC Era B&W 2

Dr. X/Sister Mary Promo Shot

Operation: Mindcrime Era Promo Shot 1

Operation: Mindcrime Era Promo Shot 2

Operation: Mindcrime Era Promo Shot 3

Operation: Mindcrime Era Promo Shot 4

Operation: Mindcrime Era Promo Shot 5

Operation: Mindcrime Era Promo Shot 6

Operation: Mindcrime Era Promo Shot 7

Operation: Mindcrime Era Promo Shot 8

DeGarmo/Tate Promo Shot

Tate/DeGarmo Promo Shot

Wilton/CDG Promo Shot

QR Live (circa 1988/1989)

Tate/DeGarmo Live (circa 1988/1989)

Houston In-Store 1 Feb. 4, 1989

Houston In-Store 2 Feb. 4, 1989

Houston In-Store 3 Feb. 4, 1989

Unkonwn In-Store 1 pt. 1

Unkonwn In-Store 1 pt. 2

Unkonwn In-Store 1 pt. 3

Unkonwn In-Store 2 pt. 1

Unkonwn In-Store 2 pt. 2

Unkonwn In-Store 2 pt. 3

Misc. Scans

Operation: Mindcrime Promo Ad

"Eyes of a Stranger" Promo Ad

Operation: Mindcrime Ad

MC Tour Promo Ad

Overseeing the Operation Ad

MC Tour Ad 2

MC Tour Ad 3

Operation: Mindcrime Ad 2

Who Killed Mary?

Tour Dates

The Operation: Mindcrime Tour (1988-1989)

DATE	LOCATION	VENUE
September 7, 1988	Jackson, MS	Jackson Coliseum
September 8, 1988	Baton Rouge, LA	LSU Assembly Center
September 10, 1988	Biloxi, MS	Gulf Coast Coliseum
September 11, 1988	Tallahassee, FL	Leon County Civic Center
September 12, 1988	Lakeland, FL	Civic Center
September 13, 1988	Lakeland, FL	Civic Center
September 14, 1988	Macon, GA	Unknown
September 15, 1988	Chattanooga, TN	U.T.C. Arena
September 17, 1988	Auburn Hills, MI	The Palace
September 18, 1988	Auburn Hills, MI	The Palace
September 19, 1988	Toledo, Ohio	Sports Arena
September 21, 1988	East Rutherford, NJ	Meadowlands Arena
September 22, 1988	East Rutherford, NJ	Meadowlands Arena
September 23, 1988	East Rutherford, NJ	Meadowlands Arena
September 25, 1988	Philadelphia, PA	The Spectrum
September 26, 1988	Philadelphia, PA	The Spectrum
September 28, 1988	Worcester, MA	The Centrum
September 29, 1988	Worcester, MA	The Centrum
October 1, 1988	Hamilton, ONT., CANADA	Copps Coliseum
October 2, 1988	Wheeling, WV	Civic Center
October 9, 1988	Atlanta, Ga.	The Omni
October 13, 1988	Copenhagen, DENMARK	KB Hallen
October 15, 1988	Helsinki, FINLAND	Ishall
October 17, 1988	Stockholm, SWEDEN	Solnahallen
October 18, 1988	Oslo, NORWAY	Skedsmohallen
October 19, 1988	Gothenburg, SWEDEN	Frolundaborg
October 21, 1988	Munich, GERMANY	Rudi-sedmayerhalle
October 22, 1988	Saabrucken, GERMANY	Saarlandhalle
October 23, 1988	Wuerzberg, GERMANY	Carl-diem-halle
October 24, 1988	Hanover, GERMANY	Niedersachsenhalle
October 26, 1988	Cologne, GERMANY	Sporthalle
October 27, 1988	Dortmund, GERMANY	Westfalenhalle 3
October 28, 1988	Heidelberg, GERMANY	Rhein-Neckar
October 29, 1988	Brussels, BELGIUM	Forest National
October 31, 1988	Paris, FRANCE	Le Zenith
November 1, 1988	Frankfurt, GERMANY	Festhalle
November 2, 1988	Stuttgart, GERMANY	Schleyerhalle
November 3, 1988	Regensburg, GERMANY	Donauhalle
November 5, 1988	Leiden, HOLLAND	Groenoordhal
November 7, 1988	Hanley, UK	Victoria Hall
November 8, 1988	Nottingham, UK	Rock City
November 9, 1988	London, UK	Town & Country Club
November 15, 1988	Toledo, Ohio	Sports Arena
November 17, 1988	Chicago, IL	Pavillion
November 18, 1988	Cincinnati, Ohio	Cincinnati Gardens
November 19, 1988	Columbus, Ohio	Ohio Centre
November 21, 1988	Madison, WI	Dane County Coliseum
November 22, 1988	Milwaukee, WI	Mecca Arena
November 24, 1988	Indianapolis, IN	Market Square Arena
November 25, 1988	Detroit, MI	Cobo Arena
November 26, 1988	Cleveland, Ohio	Richfield Coliseum
November 28, 1988	St. Louis, MO	Keli Auditorium
November 29, 1988	Kansas City, MO	Municipal Auditorium
November 30, 1988	Oklahoma City, OK	Myriad
December 2, 1988	Albuquerque, NM	Tingley Coliseum
December 4, 1988	Phoenix, AZ	Memorial Coliseum
December 5, 1988	San Diego, CA	Sports Arena
December 7, 1988	Long Beach, CA	Long Beach Arena
December 8, 1988	Long Beach, CA	Long Beach Arena
December 10, 1988	San Francisco (Daly City), CA	Cow Palace
December 11, 1988	San Francisco (Daly City), CA	Cow Palace
December 12, 1988	Sacramento, CA	Arco Arena
December 14, 1988	Fresno, CA	Selland Arena
December 16, 1988	Salt Lake City, UT	Salt Palace
December 18, 1988	Denver, CO	McNichols Arena
December 31, 1988	Seattle, WA	Center Arena
January 11, 1989	Knoxville, TN	Civic Coliseum
January 13, 1989	Memphis, TN	Mid-South Coliseum
January 14, 1989	Birmingham, AL	Jefferson Civic Center
January 15, 1989	New Orleans, LA	UFO Lakefront Arena
January 17, 1989	Waco, Texas	Heart O' Texas Coliseum
January 18, 1989	Odessa, Texas	Ector County Coliseum
January 20, 1989	Lubbock, Texas	Lubbock Coliseum
January 21, 1989	El Paso, Texas	Special Events Centre
January 22, 1989	Amarillo, Texas	Civic Centre
January 24, 1989	Beaumont, Texas	Civic Center
January 25, 1989	Corpus Christi, Texas	Memorial Coliseum
January 27, 1989	Col Shreveport, LA	Hirsch Memorial
January 28, 1989	Tulsa, OK	Expo Square Pavillion
January 29, 1989	Manhattan, KS	Bramlage Coliseum
January 31, 1989	Avilene, Texas	Civic Center
February 1, 1989	San Antonio, Texas	Convention Center Arena
February 3, 1989	Austin, Texas	Frank Erwin Center
February 4, 1989	Houston, Texas	Coliseum
February 5, 1989	Dallas, Texas	Reunion Arena
February 7, 1989	Little Rock, AK	Barton Coliseum
February 8, 1989	Huntsville, AL	Von Braun Civic Center
February 10, 1989	Lakeland, FL	Civic Center Arena
February 11, 1989	Daytona Beach, FL	Ocean Center
February 12, 1989	Miami, FL	James L. Knight Center
February 14, 1989	Fort Myers, FL	Lee Civic Center
February 15, 1989	West Palm Beach, FL	Auditorium
February 17, 1989	Jacksonville, FL	Veterans Memorial Coliseum
February 18, 1989	Atlanta, GA	The Omni
February 19, 1989	Greensboro, NC	Coliseum
February 20, 1989	Winston-Salem, NC	Bailey's Music Garden
February 21, 1989	Raleigh, NC	Switches
February 23, 1989	Greenville, NC	A.J.'s
February 24 (22?), 1989	Hickory, NC	Cadillac's
February 25, 1989	Fayetteville, NC	Cumberland Co. Auditorium
February 26, 1989	Charlotte, NC	Charlotte Coliseum
February 27, 1989	Savannah, GA	Civic Center
March 1, 1989	East Rutherford, NJ	Meadowlands Arena
March 2, 1989	Bethlehem, BA	Stabler Arena
March 4, 1989	Pittsburgh, PA	Civic Arena
March 5, 1989	Binghampton, NY	Broome County Arena
March 7, 1989	Rochester, NY	War Memorial
March 8, 1989	Uniondale, NY	Nassau Coliseum
March 9, 1989	Landover, MD	Capitol Center
March 11, 1989	Norfolk, VA	Scope Arena
March 12, 1989	Philadelphia, PA	The Spectrum
March 13, 1989	Buffalo, NY	Memorial Auditorium
March 15, 1989	Troy, NY	RPI Fieldhouse
March 16, 1989	Worcester, MA	The Centrum
March 17, 1989	Hartford, CT	Hartford Civic Center
March 18, 1989	Syracuse, NY	War Memorial
March 29, 1989	Providence, RI	Civic Center
March 30, 1989	Portland, ME	Cumberland County Civic Center
April 1, 1989	Moncton, NB, CANADA	Moncton Coliseum
April 3, 1989	Sydney, NS, CANADA	Centre 200
April 4, 1989	Halifax, NS, CANADA	Metro Centre
April 6, 1989	Ottawa, ON, CANADA	Civic Center
April 7, 1989	Toronto, ONT, CANADA	Maple Leaf Gardens
April 8, 1989	Hamilton, ONT, CANADA	Copps Coliseum
April 10, 1989	Quebec City, PQ, CANADA	Colisee De Quebec
April 11, 1989	Chicoutimi, PQ, CANADA	Centre Georges Vezine
April 12, 1989	Montreal, QUE, CANADA	Montreal Forum
April 14, 1989	Battle Creek, MI	Kellogg Arena
April 15, 1989	Saginaw, MI	Wendler Arena
April 16, 1989	Dayton, Ohio	Hara Arena
April 18, 1989	Peoria, IL	Civic Center
April 19, 1989	Green Bay, WI	Brown County Arena
April 20, 1989	Peoria, IL	Civic Center
April 21, 1989	Bloomington, MN	Met. Center
April 27, 1989	London, UK	Hammersmith Odeon
April 29, 1989	Arnhem, NETHERLANDS	Rijnhal
April 30, 1989	Dortmund, GERMANY	Westfalenhalle
May 4, 1989	Tokyo, JAPAN	Kosei Nenkin Hall
May 5, 1989	Tokyo, JAPAN	Kosei Nenkin Hall
May 6, 1989	Tokyo, JAPAN	Kosei Nenkin Hall
May 7, 1989	Tokyo, JAPAN	Nihon-Seinen Hall
May 8, 1989	Osaka, JAPAN	Kosei Nenkin Hall
May 11, 1989	San Diego, CA	Starlight Bowl
May 12, 1989	Irvine, CA	Irvine Meadows Amphitheater
May 14, 1989	San Jose, CA	San Jose Civic Auditorium
1989/1990 (??)	Denver, CO	Red Rocks Amphitheater

NOTE: If you have any dates not included on here, and ticket stubs/information to prove accuracy, please e-mail me. I am always on the hunt for live photos from shows, as well as promo posters, set lists, etc.