Queensrÿche in the '90s

I saw Queensrÿche at the Sports Arena in the early ’90s, when Operation: Mindcrime came out. I wasn’t even in radio back then. There were two things I noticed about the crowd: a lot of military and…how many people were drunk and just doing lots of illegal stuff. I think security was a lot more lax back then.

Singer Geoff Tate has this amazing voice. His aunt was an opera singer, and he has a lot of range himself. I was near the front, and this one guy was so drunk, he just passed out and fell right on the floor. Security had to drag him away. The singer just looked down at him briefly and kept on talking. Even his speaking voice almost sounded operatic as he said something like, “Our tour has been a great success. And we want to thank the people of San Diego.”

There was something a bit odd about a singer with that voice, thanking the people of San Diego, as I see one of those people passed out right next to me and being dragged away.

DJ: Clint August

Station: Rock 105.3 FM

Shift: Weekdays, 3:00–7:00 p.m. (with sidekick B.C.)