The years between the end of Queensr˙che's Building Empires tour and the creation of 1994's Promised Land were difficult, to say the least. While some of the band members enjoyed well earned vacations, others struggled with personal demons and a whole host of family problems. In fact, rumors circulated that the band had even broken up during this time period - with Tate even admitting later that he felt he was close to leaving the band.

Eventually, all five members of Queensr˙che got together to write and record what would become Promised Land. Instead of going into a traditional studio, the band elected to rent out a log cabin on the San Juan Islands - in effect, treating the recording process as a vacation. At first, the band found it difficult to re-adjust to one another, but eventually overcame that hurdle to record the new album with producer James "Jimbo" Barton.

As artists, difficult times usually mean a well of ideas to draw upon, and this instance was no different. The lyrics connected in a theme of self-examination, someone reaching the pinnacle of what they are told is "success" and looking at the individual they have become. Somewhat autobiographical in nature, Promised Land is a dark, brooding, but hauntingly beautiful masterpiece of music.

Once released, Promised Land eventually sold more than 1 million copies - quite a nice number, given it was the band's first album in four years, and the mainstream audience was now more interested in the grunge movement from Seattle, not the city's heavy metal icons. Unfortunately, the support from MTV also dropped, as videos for "I Am I," "Bridge," and "Dis-con-nec-ted" were aired briefly, if at-all on the network.

The touring cycle for Promised Land was shorter than the one for Empire - but no less stunning, visually and musically. Commencing in late 1994 for a few warm-up shows, the "Road to the Promised Land" tour kicked off in earnest in early 1995 in Europe, concluding in late July of that year in the United States. The entire Promised Land album was performed, along with familiar band hits and some rare cuts from the Rage for Order record. Much like the Building Empires tour, video footage enhanced the music, and dramatic scenes were performed live by the band, including a second stage made-up as a bar to perform the album's title track.

Releases

Promised Land (1994)

Promised Land CD-Rom (1996)

Article Scans

RAW (1995 - pt. 1)

RAW (1995 - pt. 2)

RAW (1995 - pt. 3)

RAW (1994)

RAW Special (1995 - pt. 1)

RAW Special (1995 - pt. 2)

RAW Special (1995 - pt. 3)

Kerrang (1994/1995 - pt.1)

Kerrang (1994/1995 - pt.2)

Kerrang (1994)

Circus (1994-pt.1)

Circus (1994-pt.2)

Circus (1994-pt.3)

RIP (July 1995-pt.1)

RIP (July 1995-pt.2)

RIP (July 1995-pt.3)

RIP (July 1995-pt.4)

RIP (July 1995-pt.5)

EQ (1995-pt.1)

EQ (1995-pt.2)

EQ (1995-pt.3)

EQ (1995-pt.4)

EQ (1995-pt.5)

EQ (1995-pt.6)

EQ (1995-pt.7)

EQ (1995-pt.8)

Guitar World (Jan. 1995 pt.1)

Guitar World (Jan. 1995 pt.2)

Guitar World (Jan. 1995 pt.3)

Guitar World (Jan. 1995 pt.4)

Guitar World (Jan. 1995 pt.5)

Guitar World (Jan. 1995 pt.6)

Guitar World (Jan. 1995 pt.7)

Guitar World (Jan. 1995 pt.8)

Guitar (Dec. 1994-pt.1)

Guitar (Dec. 1994-pt.2)

Guitar (Dec. 1994-pt.3)

Guitar (Dec. 1994-pt.4)

Guitar (Dec. 1994-pt.5)

Guitar (Dec. 1994-pt.6)

Guitar (Dec. 1994-pt.7)

Guitar (Dec. 1994-pt.8)

Guitar (Dec. 1995 pt.1)

Guitar (Dec. 1995 pt.2)

Guitar (Dec. 1995 pt.3)

Guitar (Dec. 1995 pt.4)

Guitar (Dec. 1995 pt.5)

Guitar (Dec. 1995 pt.6)

Guitar (Dec. 1995 pt.7)

Modern Drummer (March 1995 pt.1)

Modern Drummer (March 1995 pt.2)

Modern Drummer (March 1995 pt.3)

Modern Drummer (March 1995 pt.4)

Modern Drummer (March 1995 pt.5)

Modern Drummer (March 1995 pt.6)

Modern Drummer (March 1995 pt.7)

Modern Drummer (March 1995 pt.8)

Modern Drummer (March 1995 pt.9)

Modern Drummer (March 1995 pt.10)

Modern Drummer (March 1995 pt.11)

Modern Drummer (March 1995 pt.12)

Modern Drummer (March 1995 pt.13)

Guitarist (Dec. 1994 pt.1)

Guitarist (Dec. 1994 pt.2)

Guitarist (Dec. 1994 pt.3)

Guitarist (Dec. 1994 pt.4)

Guitarist (Dec. 1994 pt.5)

Guitarist (Dec. 1994 pt.6)

Livewire (1994 pt.1)

Livewire (1994 pt.2)

Livewire (1994 pt.3)

Metal Edge (1994 pt.1)

Metal Edge (1994 pt.2)

Metal Edge (1994 pt.3)

The Music Paper (Feb. 1995 pt.1)

The Music Paper (Feb. 1995 pt.2)

The Music Paper (Feb. 1995 pt.3)

Kerrang 515

Kerrang 516 (Cover)

Kerrang 516 (Part 1)

Kerrang 516 (Part 2)

Kerrang 516 (Part 3)

Kerrang 516 (Part 4)

Metal Edge (Jan. 1995 pt.1)

Metal Edge (Jan. 1995 pt.2)

Metal Edge (Jan. 1995 pt.3)

Metal Edge (Jan. 1995 pt.4)

Metal Edge (Jan. 1995 pt.5)

Metal Edge (Jan. 1995 pt.6)

Rip Magazine (Dec. 1994 pt.1)

Rip Magazine (Dec. 1994 pt.2)

Rip Magazine (Dec. 1994 pt.3)

Rip Magazine (Dec. 1994 pt.4)

Los Angeles Times (Jan. 1995 pt.1)

Los Angeles Times (Jan. 1995 pt.2)

Metal Edge (Oct. 1995 pt.1)

Metal Edge (Oct. 1995 pt.2)

Metal Edge (Oct. 1995 pt.3)

Aardschok (Nov. 1994 pt.1)

Aardschok (Nov. 1994 pt.2)

Aardschok (Nov. 1994 pt.3)

Aardschok (Nov. 1994 pt.4)

Aardschok (April 1995 pt.1)

Aardschok (April 1995 pt.2)

Aardschok (April 1995 pt.3)

Band Photos

Promised Land Era Promo Shot 1

Promised Land Era Promo Shot 2

Promised Land Era Promo Shot 3

Promised Land Era Promo Shot 4

Promised Land Era Promo Shot 5

Promised Land Era Promo Shot 6

Promised Land Era Promo Shot 6

PL Era Promo Shot 7

PL Era Promo Shot 8

PL Era Promo Shot 9

Michael Wilton PL Photo Shoot

Geoff Tate PL Photo Shoot

Chris DeGarmo PL Photo Shoot

Eddie Jackson PL Photo Shoot

Scott Rockenfield PL Photo Shoot

Chris DeGarmo (live, 1995)

Wilton & DeGarmo (PL Era)

Press Kit Photo 1

Press Kit Photo 2

Misc. Scans

PL Promo Ad

HMV PL Promo Ad

EMI PL "Out Soon" Ad

Ad for "I Am I" Single

PL Promo Kit Bio pt. 1

PL Promo Kit Bio pt. 2

PL UK Tour Flyer

Tour Dates

The Road to the Promised Land Tour (1994-1995)

DATE	LOCATION	VENUE
October 20, 1994	London, UK	Astoria Theater
October 21, 1994	Cologne, GERMANY	Altes Presswerk
October 25, 1994	Stockholm, SWEDEN	P3 (Studio 13)
October 28, 1994	Milan, ITALY	Rock FM Studio
November 1994	Hilversum, HOLLAND	Vara Studio
February 9, 1995	Glasgow, SCOTLAND	Barrowlands
February 10, 1995	Manchester, UK	Manchester Apollo
February 11, 1995	Sheffield, UK	Sheffield City Hall
February 13, 1995	Nottingham, UK	Royal Concert Hall
February 14, 1995	Wolverhampton, UK	Civic Hall
February 16, 1995	Leeds, UK	Town & Country Club
February 17, 1995	Newport, UK	Newport Center
February 19, 1995	Brussels, BELGIUM	Forest National
February 20, 1995	Paris, FRANCE	Elysee Montmartre
February 22, 1995	Neu-Isenburg, GERMANY	Hugenottenhalle
February 23, 1995	Hannover, GERMANY	Capitol
February 24, 1995	Hamburg, GERMANY	Grosse Freiheit
February 26, 1995	Stockholm, SWEDEN	Circus
February 27, 1995	Copenhagen, DENMARK	KB Hallen
February 28, 1995	Berlin, GERMANY	Neue Welt
March 1, 1995	Stuttgart, GERMANY	Kongresszentrum B
March 3, 1995	Milan, ITALY	Palaido
March 4, 1995	Zurich, SWITZERLAND	Volkhaus
March 5, 1995	Munich, GERMANY	Terminal 1
March 7, 1995	Cologne, GERMANY	E-Werk
March 8, 1995	Rotterdam, NETHERLANDS	Ahoy
March 9, 1995	London, UK	MTV Studios
March 10, 1995	London, UK	Royal Albert Hall
March 16, 1995	Tokyo, JAPAN	Kosei Nenkin Kaikan
March 17, 1995	Osaka, JAPAN	Kosei Nenkin Kaikan
March 18, 1995	Fukuoka, JAPAN	Sun Palace
March 20, 1995	Tokyo, JAPAN	Nakano Sun-Plaza
March 22, 1995	Sendai, JAPAN	Izumi T-21
March 23, 1995	Kawasaki, JAPAN	Club Citta
March 24, 1995	Tokyo, JAPAN	Gotanda Kani-Hoken Hall
April 14, 1995	Kalamazoo, MI	Wings Stadium
April 15, 1995	Saginaw, MI	Wendler Arena
April 17, 1995	Cleveland, Ohio	Unknown
April 18, 1995	Cleveland, Ohio	CSU Convention Center
April 19, 1995	Toledo, Ohio	Sports Arena
April 21, 1995	Indianapolis, IN	Pepsi Coliseum
April 22, 1995	Dayton, Ohio	Irvin J. Nutter Center
April 23, 1995	Peoria, IL	Peoria Civic Center
April 25, 1995	Madison, WI	Dane County Coliseum
April 26, 1995	Rosemont, IL	Rosemont Horizon Arena
April 28, 1995	Auburn Hills, MI	The Palace
April 29, 1995	Milwaukee, WI	Mecca Auditorium
April 30, 1995	St. Louis, MO	Kiel Center
May 1, 1995	Bonner Springs, KS	Sandstone Amphitheater
May 2, 1995	Omaha, NE	Omaha CIvic Auditorium
May 5, 1995	Green Bay, WI	Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena
May 6, 1995	Minneapolis, MN	Target Center
May 7, 1995	Cedar Rapids, IA	Five Seasons Center Arena
May 9, 1995	Denver, CO	McNichols Sports Arena
May 10, 1995	Salt Lake City, UT	Delta Center
May 11, 1995	Boise, ID	Boise State University Pavilion
May 12, 1995	Ogden, UT	Dee Events Center
May 13, 1995	Sacramento, Calif.	Cal Expo
May 14, 1995	Reno, NV	Lawlor Events Center
May 15, 1995	Las Vegas, NV	Thomas & Mac Arena
May 16, 1995	Tucson, AZ	Tucson Convention Center
May 17, 1995	Albuquerque, NM	Tingley Coliseum
May 19, 1995	Phoenix, AZ	Desert Sky Pavilion
May 20, 1995	Inglewood, CA	Great Western Forum
May 21, 1995	San Diego, CA	Sports Arena
May 23, 1995	Concord, CA	Concord Pavilion
May 24, 1995	San Jose, CA	San Jose Arena
May 26, 1995	George, WA	The Gorge
May 27, 1995	Portland, OR	Portland Coliseum
June 9, 1995	Odessa, Texas	Ector County Coliseum
June 10, 1995	San Antonio, Texas	Freeman Coliseum
June 11, 1995	Houston, Texas	Woodlands Pavilion
June 13, 1995	Dallas, Texas	Starplex Amphitheater
June 14, 1995	Oklahoma City, OK	Zoo Amphitheater
June 16, 1995	Wichita, KS	Britt Brown Arena
June 17, 1995	Little Rock, AK	Barton Coliseum
June 18, 1995	New Orleans, LA	Lakefront Arena
June 20, 1995	Birmingham, AL	Unknown
June 21, 1995	Nashville, TN	Starwood Amphitheater
June 23, 1995	Pensacola, FL	Pensacola Civic Center
June 24, 1995	Orlando, FL	Orlando Arena
June 25, 1995	Miami, FL	Miami Arena
June 27, 1995	Tampa, FL	Expo Arena
June 28, 1995	Atlanta, GA	Lakewood Amphitheater
June 30, 1995	Raleigh, NC	Walnut Creek Amphitheater
July 1, 1995	Charlotte, NC	Blockbuster Pavilion
July 2, 1995	Hampton, VA	Hampton Coliseum
July 4, 1995	Manassas, VA	Nissan Pavilion at Stone Ridge
July 5, 1995	Pittsburgh, PA	Star Lake Amphitheater
July 7, 1995	Louisville, KY	Louisville Gardens
July 8, 1995	Fort Wayne, IN	Fort Wayne Coliseum
July 9, 1995	Cincinnati, Ohio	Cincinnati Gardens
July 11, 1995	Evansville, IN	Roberts Stadium
July 12, 1995	Columbus, Ohio	Polaris Amphitheater
July 14, 1995	Scranton, PA	Montage Mountain
July 15, 1995	Buffalo, NY	Darien Lake Amphitheater
July 16, 1995	Boston, MA	Great Woods
July 18, 1995	Wantagh, Long Island, NY	Jones Beach Ampitheater
July 19, 1995	Camden, NJ	Blockbuster-Sony Entertainment Center
July 21, 1995	Albany, NY	Knickerbocker Arena
July 22, 1995	Hartford, CT	Meadows Music Theater
July 24, 1995	Holmdel, NJ	Garden State Arts Center
July 25, 1995	Middletown, NY	Orange County Fairgrounds
July 26, 1995	Weedsport, NY	Cayuga Fair
July 27, 1995	Toronto, Ont., CANADA	Molson 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.