In a genre where nostalgia often outweighs evolution, Queensrÿche stands out not just for its legacy but for its ability to adapt without compromise. Guitarist Michael Wilton, in a recent interview with Sonoridades Inc., reflected on how the band has managed to stay in tune with both their roots and the present. The key, he says, lies in the creative synergy they’ve found with vocalist Todd La Torre.
“Todd has helped keep us relevant,” Wilton explained. “He’s a great songwriter, but he’s not just a vocalist and a lyric writer. He’s a drummer. He can play guitar. He can speak to you and communicate to you as a musician, not just a singer. I mean, he grew up in Florida in the metal era, and he’s got a lot of that influence, but he’s very melodic as well. And he’s got a killer voice. So I think it’s just something that in the evolution of post-Queensrÿche…”
When La Torre joined the band in 2012, replacing original singer Geoff Tate, he brought with him not just vocal chops but a deep musicality that has enriched the band’s sound. His ability to collaborate across instruments has contributed to a sense of creative renewal, which Wilton describes as crucial in what he calls the “evolution of post-Queensrÿche.”
“It’s, like, we are still doing it and kicking ass,” Wilton added. “And hopefully we’ll have something new out in the future.”
That something new is slowly taking shape. The band’s most recent release, Digital Noise Alliance (2022), signaled that they’re far from done. However, juggling life on the road with studio time is proving to be a balancing act.
“Right now we’re writing,” Wilton said. “We’re doing so much touring right now, it’s hard to figure out where we will have a block of time to make an album. But before we went to Europe, we brought Zeuss [Chris Harris], our producer, down to Florida, and we worked on some ideas. We just started writing. And that’s where we’re at right now.”
While the future may be in development, the band’s current lineup continues to solidify their present. Wilton had high praise for drummer Casey Grillo, who took over in 2017 for original member Scott Rockenfield.
“Casey is an amazing player, and he brings so much to Queensrÿche. He respects the songs, but he’s such a dynamic player. He’s very talented, and he helps in the writing process as well. So, yeah, he’s been in the band over five years, six years, or whatever it is, seven, and, yeah, he’s great.”
It seems like Queensrÿche has no intention of resting on their legacy as the band has done more than four decades of work, which shows that their main goal is rather trying to ‘have’ new frontiers and opportunities crafted by diverse and skilled musicians. From their story, we can see that “existing” in rock music is changing.
