1997's Hear in the Now Frontier marked the end of many chapters for Queensr˙che. Just as the band's seventh studio release hit stores on March 25, 1997, EMI Records closed its doors, leaving the band without a record label to do promotion. At first, with the tremendous airplay lead singles "Sign of the Times" and "You" received, it appeared there wouldn't be a problem - but unfortunately, there was.
The album's stripped-down approach was not looked upon favorably by many fans that cut their teeth on Queensr˙che's layered and dynamic sound. That said, the record has a number of highlights, including the uplifting "The Voice Inside" and epic "spOOL," but it was a drastic departure from 1994's critically acclaimed Promised Land. Album sales began well, but slowly dried up as there was no one to push the album from the label.
Queensr˙che powered on, however, beginning its U.S. tour in June 1997. Although the band played a strong two-hour set, the same amphitheaters it had played in 1994 were now only half full or at times, even less. The sparse crowds was another sign that Queensr˙che's day headlining large outdoor venues was coming to a close. To add injury to insult, vocalist Geoff Tate came down with a horrendous summer cold and flu, blowing out his voice in early July, forcing the band to cancel shows due to sickness for the first time in its career. Once the tour resumed, Queensr˙che wrapped up the tour in August, heading home to Seattle.
With no label, an unsuccessful summer tour, and an album that was not well received, one final change occurred during the fall of 1997. At some point, guitarist Chris DeGarmo, who had formed the band with Michael Wilton and Scott Rockenfield 16 years ago, announced to his bandmates that he was leaving Queensr˙che. The band was contractually obligated to play a few shows in South America in December 1997. Those shows sadly marked the last time (as of 2006) that Chris DeGarmo has played live with Queensr˙che.
 Hear in the Now Frontier (1997) |
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(June 1997-cover) |
(June 1997-pt.1) |
(June 1997-pt.2) |
(June 1997-pt.3) |
(June 1997-pt.4) |
(1997-pt.1) |
(1997-HITNF Review) |
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(Summer 1997 pt. 1) |
(Summer 1997 pt. 2) |
(Summer 1997 pt. 3) |
(Summer 1997 pt. 4) |
(Summer 1997 pt. 5) |
(Summer 1997 pt. 6) |
(Summer 1997 pt. 7) |
(1997) |
(1997) |
(1997) |
 HITNF Era Promo Shot 1 |
 HITNF Era Promo Shot 2 |
 HITNF Era Promo Shot 3 |
 HITNF Era Promo Shot 4 |
 HITNF Era Promo Shot 5 |
 HITNF Era Promo Shot 6 |
 CDG & MW circa 1997 |
 HITNF Era Promo Shot 7 |
 HITNF Promo Sticker (front) |
 HITNF Promo Sticker (back) |
 HITNF Magazine Ad |
 HITNF Concert Program Pt. 1 |
 HITNF Concert Program Pt. 2 |
 HITNF Concert Program Pt. 3 |
 HITNF Concert Program Pt. 4 |
 HITNF Concert Program Pt. 5 |
 HITNF Concert Program Pt. 6 |
 HITNF Concert Program Pt. 7 |
 HITNF Concert Program Pt. 8 |
 HITNF Promo Sheet (front) |
 HITNF Promo Sheet (back) |
DATE |
LOCATION |
VENUE |
June 3, 1997 |
North Bend, Wash. |
Bob's Garage |
June 5, 1997 |
Sorroco, NM |
Very Large Array |
June 17, 1997 |
Rapid City, SD |
Rushmore Plaza Civic Center |
June 19, 1997 |
Boise, ID |
Boise State Pavilion |
June 20, 1997 |
Portland, OR |
Rose Garden |
June 21, 1997 |
George, WA |
The Gorge |
June 24, 1997 |
Reno, NV |
Reno Amphitheater |
June 25, 1997 |
Irvine, CA |
Irvine Meadows |
June 27, 1997 |
San Diego, CA |
Hospitality Point |
June 28, 1997 |
Phoenix, AZ |
Blockbuster Desert Sky Pavilion |
June 29, 1997 |
Las Vegas, NV |
Aladdin Theater |
July 1, 1997 |
Salt Lake City, UT |
Wolf Mountain Ampitheater |
July 3, 1997 |
Tucson, AZ |
Tucson Convention Center |
July 4, 1997 |
Albuquerque, NM |
Tingley Coliseum |
July 5, 1997 |
Denver, CO |
Red Rocks Ampitheater |
July 8, 1997 |
Kansas City, MO |
Sandstone Amphitheater |
July 9, 1997 |
Minneapolis, MN |
Target Center |
July 11, 1997 |
East Troy, WI |
Alpine Valley |
July 12, 1997 |
Tinley Park, IL |
New World Music Theater |
July 13, 1997 |
Indianapolis, IN |
Deer Creek Music Center |
July 15, 1997 |
Toledo, Ohio |
Toledo Sports Arena |
July 16, 1997 |
Grand Rapids, MI |
Van Andel Arena |
July 17, 1997 |
Detroit, MI |
Pine Knobb Music Theater |
July 19, 1997 |
Columbus, Ohio |
Polaris Ampitheater |
July 20, 1997 |
Dayton, Ohio |
Hara Arena (show cancelled) |
July 21, 1997 |
Cleveland, Ohio |
The Odeon (cancelled) |
July 22, 1997 |
Cleveland, Ohio |
Blossom Music Center |
July 23, 1997 |
Pittsburgh, PA |
Star Lake Ampitheater |
July 25, 1997 |
Charlotte, NC |
Blockbuster Pavilion |
July 26, 1997 |
Washington, D.C. |
Nissian Pavilion |
July 27, 1997 |
Holmdel, NJ |
PNC Bank Arts Center |
July 29, 1997 |
Buffalo, NY |
Darien Lake Ampitheater |
July 30, 1997 |
Wantagh, Long Island, NY |
Jones Beach Ampitheater |
August 1, 1997 |
Scranton, PA |
Montage Mountain |
August 2, 1997 |
Mansfield, MA |
Great Woods |
August 3, 1997 |
Hartford, CT |
Meadows Music Theater |
August 5, 1997 |
Philadelphia, PA |
Mann Music Center |
August 6, 1997 |
Raleigh, NC |
Walnut Creek Ampitheater |
August 7, 1997 |
Virginia Beach, VA |
GTE Virginia Beach Ampitheater |
August 9, 1997 |
Tampa, FL |
Entertainment Hall |
August 10, 1997 |
West Palm Beach, FL |
Coral Sky Ampitheater |
August 12, 1997 |
Memphis, TN |
Mud Island Ampitheater |
August 13, 1997 |
New Orleans, LA |
Kiefer UNO Lakefront Arena |
August 15, 1997 |
Houston, Texas |
Woodlands Pavilion |
August 16, 1997 |
Dallas, Texas |
Starplex Ampitheater |
August 17, 1997 |
San Antonio, Texas |
Freeman Coliseum |
December 5, 1997 |
Curitiba, BRAZIL |
Pedreira (cancelled) |
December 6, 1997 |
Sao Paulo, BRAZIL |
Parque Antarctica |
December 8, 1997 |
Belo Horizonte, BRAZIL |
Unknown |
December 9, 1997 |
Rio De Janeiro, BRAZIL |
Metropolitan |
December 12, 1997 |
Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA |
Ferro Carril Oeste Stadium |
December 13, 1997 |
Santiago, CHILE |
Unknown (cancelled) |