Queensryche | Operation: Mindcrime | Story Explained

Queensrÿche's 1988 album, Operation: Mindcrime has been hailed by metalheads as the greatest concept album of all time. Here is a quick and dirty summary of the story behind the music.

[ZillaFitness]

Best album of all-time, concept or otherwise.

[cody_sorensen]

HOW BRILLIANT AND FRIKEN RELEVANT IS THIS ALBUM STILL IN 2020 ... damn.

[dallasvabeach]

I was big Hip-hop/r&b kid back in highschool but I had friend who introduced me to this album. He let me borrow it. I'ma huge fan of storytelling and this album had me right out of the gate. Definitely a masterpiece and opened my eyes to different forms of music! ❤

[jrichiemusic]

Thank you for fleshing this out and carrying the torch of Metal.
Old fella here. There used to be a radio show called "Metal Shop" hosted by legend Charlie "The Butcher" Kendall.
You can find some of that stuff on here and it's most certainly worth seeking out.
I remember the Operation: Mindcrime premier episode. I recorded it on tape.
I remember HATING Geoff's voice at first.
Then again, the music of Jane's Addition (Nothing's Shocking) made me angry on first listen, I hated it so much.
I was 14? I soon grew to insanely love and appreciate Jane's and Geoff's voice. [no connection]
My 2nd concert ever was on-deck. It was Metallica's "Damaged Justice" Tour. Queensryche were on opening support.
Geoff was in his "Gold's Gym" phase. Muscles'n'tanks! :D
It's so strange that such a gigantic work was first performed as an opening act, new tracks mixed with old.
They had a small time slot to market themselves to these audiences, so best to not load heavy with new music, but rather hit a cross-section of new stuff and the road-tested live favorites for variety.
Their next tour, "Empire" was an arena-headlining tour where they played selections from their discography along with a performance of Mindcrime in its entirety.
Suicidal Tendencies opened on their "Lights, Camera, Revolution" tour. odd paring, but it was certainly memorable.
For those playing along at home, follow this thread of Trujillo->Metallica.
Like... it's all connected... man. :)
100 years later, I met Geoff at a pre-show at a micro spot in Gainesville, FL (High Dive).
He and his band were simply lovely and genuine. Geoff signed my Mindcrime record, so it's now a lil treasure.
Thanks again for the metal music education. This is important stuff.

[josefbleaux]

It's revealed in MindCrime II. Sister Mary hangs herself with her own rosary. In MindCrime (Eyes of a Stranger) when Nickie finds Mary dead he recalls "your rosary wrapped around throat". In 'I don't Believe in Love', Nickie states - "hand-cuffed and Blind I left the scene of the crime - I didn't do it... " It is in Electric Requiem where Nickie returns to find Mary dead. "Is anybody home? .... Mary?"

[shelbyaskew]

I got a couple of kids addicted to this album in my art class, they wanted to know the full circle story but I wasn't sure whether the story i had put together was right. I sent them this video and they're stoked about it. Thanks for making this!

[johnuruski]

I am 59 and been a huge QR fan since the EP dropped when i was 16…. I have played this album for all these decades always loving the musicians, song structures and the like for I played guitar, bass and drums… putting this album on again in my kitchen making dinner i told myself, “ WTF is the entire meaning of this great album I have listened to for over 30 years “.. Then you came right at the right time to finally explain this wonderful album with an explanation that is what I needed for again, I’m getting old…. Thanks again…

[ExoStyle]

I am moved. Seeing my favorite album being so popular many years later gives me hope for the future. Great JJ.

[IREMEMBERNOW]

My favorite album of all time, as you can tell by my name. Every note played, every note sung, is absolute perfection. Great review.

[thegibsonserver]

This is quite possibly the one and only time, I've ever heard anyone publicly break down the narrative behind OM. Just brilliant.

When I bought "Operation:(LIVE)crime" boxset in the 90's...my mind was fucking blown when I realized the truth behind Sister Mary...quite possibly the most burning question left so ambiguous in the story/lyrics:

Did Nikki kill Sister Mary?

..and if so...why? It was obvious the love they had, and the agony that Nikki portrayed ("I Don't Believe in Love" for starters) That entire act of the story fascinated us and drove us fans mad with questions.

That answer to the question is spelled out in the beautiful libretto included in the boxset, with lyrics mixed with video screenshots of the (now out-of-print) VHS "Video:Mindcrime. (If you ever find a copy on eBay, grab it. It's more than brilliant. I've been thinking of doing a true HD upscale of it since digitizing it lossly years ago and putting it on mu Plex...)

Get the boxset if you can, as it's an absolute MUST for the production and performance they did with OM in Madison, Wisconsin. I know I ran that VHS to the ground...so the DVD that was re-released really came in handy.

Thank you for this. Every once in a while, Youtube will recommend something I actually want to see, and hearing the story laid out like you did, really made me smile.

'Ryche on!

[patrickdiaz]

They should make a movie from this album... sorry, Masterpiece.

[wishmakr]

When it comes to English language music, this album is in my top 5. I saw them perform the whole album twice, and it was amazing.

[JeffsVariousVinyl]

Great video JJ. Just stumbled upon your video. Operation Mindcrime is in my top 5 albums of all time! I was lucky enough to see Queensryche live on the Empire tour. They performed the whole Mindcrime album in full as well as old classics and most of the Empire album. One of the best shows of my life.

[cbeliew]

I saw this live in 88 when the opened for Metallica on the ...and Justice tour. Blew my mind as an impressionable 17 year old.

[purplekat]

Yours has been one of the best overviews of the O:MC story that I've read. Thanks for taking the time to do it!
I had a few additional thoughts regarding a couple things that I hope you don't mind me sharing.
"The Mission" is a brilliant song in which, I agree, Nikki is beginning to question the the motives of Dr. X and the "cause". I don't know if this was intentional (and genius if it was), but when Nikki is saying (in the song) that he's saved and changed the world, and he's standing proud, the actual MUSIC is anything but proud. It feels as if it's l full of regret, sorrow, and pain. It sounds to me like he's trying to CONVINCE himself that the cause (which he's committing murder for) is still a good one.
In "Suite Sister Mary", I don't think he ever intended to kill Mary, but rather was desperate to convince her to run with him. Also, Nikki TOLD her about killing Father William. There's no indication that she SAW him do it. And she knew all along what his job was with the order. Also, when Nikki tries to convince her to run with him, her responses only dwell on all the abuses she's had heaped upon her. She's too damaged and to full of self-loathing to care anymore. She has no hope at this point and is detaching from reality and life.
I also don't think he thought he MIGHT have killed her (even though he was very unstable). When he was arrested he repeated "I didn't do it."
The story isn't completely straight-foreward, and as such has generated a lot of speculation. But I think all the clues are sprinkled throughout the lyrics.
Sorry this is SO long! I don't mean to be contentious, I'm just throwing out a few of my observations for what they're worth.

[andrewbako]

Operation Mindcrime came out when I was in high school. I remember listening to it and thinking wow great songs love it then I pulled the lyric sheet out and started to follow along and my mind was BLOWN. I was so fortunate to see them open for Metallica on the Damage Justice tour and then the Empire tour with the full OMC play through with the video and stage show...was so freaking I still listen to it in full several times a year such a perfect album musically, lyrically, story, timing, sounds effects etc absolute MASTERPIECE!

[gemini]

Well done. Thanks for the synopsis. It helps knowing the backstory.

[lHasRage]

Queensryche is my favorite band. This is my favorite album. And you did a great job analyzing and explaining the story. Subbed!

[coreykolenosky]

Was my favourite album, came out when I was 17....so cool.

[aerialarboreal]

"Religeon and sex are power plays, manipulate the people for the money they pay... Selling skin, or selling God... The numbers look the same on your credit card"
My favorie rock line of all time...