Cathy Faulkner

On this day in 1988, Queensrÿche unleashed Operation: Mindcrime 🔥

A true concept album and full-scale rock opera, it follows Nikki — a drug addict pulled into a shadowy revolutionary group and manipulated into becoming a political assassin. Dark, cinematic, and years ahead of its time.

The album became the band’s breakthrough, reaching No. 50 on the Billboard 200 and delivering their first U.S. charting rock singles with “Eyes of a Stranger” and “I Don’t Believe in Love.” It went gold in early 1989 and platinum just two years later — cementing its place as one of metal’s most ambitious and influential records.

Where does Operation: Mindcrime rank for you all-time?

Happy Birthday KevinMartin!!! And hello Guru!