Went through and deleted probably a hundred or so fake users that had been created by spammers who were hoping I didn’t moderate comments. Sorry, but I do. Don’t worry, you can post your comment spam on lots and lots of other web sites that don’t.

I also bumped more people from “Contributor” to “Author” - a quick explanation of that.

When you register here, you get “Contributor” status, which means you can comment on everything (noting again that comments are moderated), and can also write actual entries for S.i.D., which are subject to editing/approval just like in the old days.

“Author” status means you can edit/approve your own entries… which means I know your writing skills and general level of sanity well enough from years past to trust you.

I realize I may have missed people who should have “Author” status, either due to my own forgetfulness, or due to your choosing an unfamiliar name or something. If you feel that’s the case, please leave a comment here. (I won’t publish your personal message, but I’ll read and act on it.)

Thanks!

No, Screaming in Digital isn’t on Facebook. But I have a page on there about things I write or edit, and S.i.D-related things get mentioned.

As you may have heard elsewhere, David Ascoli, known in Queensrÿche fan circles as LONDON, passed away last week. Best-known in recent years as a participant on the Queensryche.com message boards, David was a Screaming in Digital reader and contributor at the turn of the century.

After first commenting on the band’s changing lineup in SiD #241, David contributed a “Screaming in Digital”-themed collage for SiD #254…

…and a humorous piece of artwork for SiD #258 as well.

His review of the band’s March 2000 show in Cincinnati appeared in SiD #266.

David is missed by many of his fellow fans. Condolences to his wife Amy.

If you scroll down a couple entries, there’s a picture of Michael Wilton and Mike Stone jamming at a music store in New Jersey. And over the years, the guys have made lots of appearances at music stores to autograph stuff.

But this… this is different. April 17 in Snoqualmie, WA, and May 30 in Phoeniz, AZ, Geoff Tate will be making in-store appearances… at Whole Foods. Where he’ll be autographing… bottles of his new wine.

I can’t think of anything better to say than “Bartender, bring another drink for their favorite son.”

By now, you probably know that Queensrÿche has a new concept album, entitled American Soldier, coming out on March 31. You might know the first single off it, If I Were King, will be on the radio and available digitally on March 3. And I’m guessing you already know that the tour kicks off in mid-April, and they’ll be playing music from the new one, Rage for Order, and Empire… and if you’ve looked at the band’s site you know they’re playing the Ship Rocked Cruise in November. Oh, and Mike Stone is off to do his own thing, and Geoff’s daughter’s boyfriend is going to fill in on guitar or something like that. (There’s an idea - metal band as family business.)

All good so far? Looking forward to hearing stuff off Rage as much as I am? Thought so.

So why am I posting, other than to demonstrate that I still have a pulse? Well, there are a couple other things I’ve been hearing. The first is that the band might show up on a ship (or two?) other than that cruise… and this time they might actually do more than a meet-n-greet. (Check your 2004 history books if you’re lost.)

The second thing I just heard is, of all things, a Seattle telephone number. +1 (206) 260-1215. I’m sure no explanation is needed… but it’s a hotline for info on the new album, and something more than that, too.

It’s been almost ten years since I last went to a Queensrÿche show. During that time I’ve changed jobs, become a father, moved to Hawai’i (where for some reason, Queensrÿche, like all other decent bands, never seem to tour), changed jobs again, moved to a different island, changed jobs again, and spent a fair chunk of the last three years traveling all over the world (mainly to places where, again, there were no Queensrÿche concerts happening).

But this week, my daughter and I happened to stop in New Jersey on our way home from Europe to Hawaii, and tonight, the Mikes happened to do a guitar clinic in New Jersey. I think Michael Wilton barely recognized me 10 years and 30 pounds later, with an 8-year-old hiding behind me when I tried to introduce her.

And of course I must say hi to #queensryche IRC channel regulars Royal_Pain and dellabrown, who were both in attendance.

Here’s a photo (one of plenty I took) of the Mikes jamming on An International Confrontation at the start of the clinic.

Fifteen years ago, as a 20-year-old college drop-out, I was introduced to Queensrÿche.  Next month, it’ll be fifteen years since Screaming in Digital was started.  Things tapered off somewhat after the first several years, due to my career, parenting, moving around, and all manner of other factors.  The last couple years have been especially slow, and I know that’s my fault - after all, the band has been active!

For several years, I’ve wanted to turn ol’ “SiD” into something that wasn’t just “mine.”  Something that was a bit more community-driven, and importantly, something that could reward people other than me.  And, well, better late than never.

So here it is.  A new incarnation of Screaming in Digital where all of us can post, comment, discuss, and so on.  If you want to do more than read, yes, you have to register (to minimize, if not eliminate, the time I spend cleaning out spam comments)… but there are other benefits and surprises in store for those who do register.

More on those later.

‘Ryche on!

No, I’m not dead yet. Yes, I’ve been kind of busy. Yes, there have been certain things that have taken precedence over my Queensryche fandom, or interfered with my ability to deal with Queensryche-related matters, for the last few years. However, those things are now being dealt with and put in the past.
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Depending on how you look at it, this is either wonderful news, or horribly wrong in so many ways: according to Billboard, Queensryche will release Operation: mindcrime II next year. And they’ll lead up to it with a tour starting in October, where they’ll play all of the original, and some material from the new one.
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Editor’s Notes

Hi again.

I’ve just gone through and deleted a bunch of comment spam. I’m sure you all know how I feel about spam, and unwanted ads for porn, penis enlargements and piercings don’t have anything to do with Screaming in Digital. So they’re gone, and I’m going to regretfully disable the “comments” option on most things, until I can migrate to software that lets me approve comments. In the meanwhile, if you’ve got anything to say, emailing it to edit@nospam.sidzine.com might still work… I think.
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