Booker T. Jones Booker T. Jones Queensrÿche
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MAY 2011 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM SPOTLIGHT Myriam Santos QUEENSRŸCHE Three decades of envelope-pushing hard Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, Geoff Tate, rock—and they’re just picking up speed Parker Lundgren, Scott Rockenfi eld ON THE OPENING TRACK OF from the rigid formats of those projects. “We not punching a time card in front of a console, Dedicated to Chaos, Queensrÿche’s 12th wanted to stretch out from making concept Tate remains creative in a nonmusical fi eld: and most recent album, frontman Geoff albums,” Tate says, “and write a collection of The wine connoisseur developed his own Tate sings, “You ain’t seen nothing yet/ songs that had no interconnection other than brand, Insania, which recently released its We’re just picking up speed.” Though “Get having our musical stamp on them.” third vintage. Though “metal ringleader” and Started” is ostensibly a love song, that lyric The core members of Queensrÿche— “winemaker” appear to be disparate career could easily be applied to the progressive- Tate, drummer Scott Rockenfi eld, bass paths, Tate fi nds similarities. I see grapes as metal band itself, which is celebrating its player Eddie Jackson and guitarist Michael musical notes,” he says. “You take notes and 30th anniversary this year. The group’s Wilton—have remained in place since the form them into chords that are pleasing to ongoing success, Tate believes, owes to its group’s inception in 1981. The four have the senses, just like taking different kinds of willingness to take chances. “Our operating resisted stagnation by employing a series grapes to form a pleasing blend. It’s a little plan from the beginning was to always of second guitarists, a role that currently inspiration and a lot of craftsmanship.” push musical boundaries, to do different belongs to Parker Lundgren. “We’ve always After three decades, Queensrÿche things and not be afraid of going on a limb liked working with different people,” Tate remains short on neither inspiration nor musically,” Tate says. “Whatever moved us, says. “That keeps things fresh, to bring in craftsmanship. “I love making new music, I that’s what we’d go for.” another personality.” love being in the studio, I love writing and I In recent years Queensrÿche has been Tate approaches songwriting like a really love playing live,” Tate says. “I hope we inspired to make two concept records and a full-time job, working in his studio fi ve days can still continue to do that as the years pass.” covers album. Chaos fi nds them moving away a week, “like going to the offi ce.” When he’s –Juli Thanki BOOKERBOOKER T. JONESJONES Stax’s keyboardk legend brings it back home to Memphis As the house band for Memphis’ legendary Stax Records throughout the ’60s, Booker T. and the MG’s—organist Booker T. Jones, guitarist Steve Cropper, bassist Donald “Duck” Dunn and drummer Al Jackson Jr.—was perhaps the most prominent and infl uential R&B band of the era. Providing backup for such soul titans as Otis Redding, Sam MAY 2011and Dave, M Albert MUSIC King, Eddie & MUSICIANS Floyd and Carla Thomas, MAGAZINE the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees were at the heart of hundreds of era-defi ning recordings. For his new solo album, The Road From Memphis, Jones has attempted to reach even farther back than those days to retrace 1616 MARCH/APRIL 2011 M MUSIC & MUSICIANS MAGAZINE Piper Ferguson M mag 11.indd 16 6/1/11 9:52:54 AM.