Empire (Queensrÿche song)

"Empire"
"Empire"
Single by Queensrÿche
from the album Empire
Released	September 1990
Recorded	Spring 1990
Genre	Heavy metal; progressive rock;
Length	5:24
Label	EMI USA
Songwriter(s)	Geoff Tate; Michael Wilton;
Producer(s)	Peter Collins
Queensrÿche singles chronology
Audio sample
	file; help;
Music video
	"Empire" on YouTube

"Empire" is a song by the heavy metal band Queensrÿche, appearing on their 1990 album Empire. The lyrical content of the song warns of a foreboding and unstoppable "Empire" of drug trafficking within the United States and its related crimes, that will inevitably lead to the breakdown of civility in American society.

Known as a fan favorite, the group has played the song often live, doing so over a thousand times as of April 2016, and the track is the band's second most played song in its setlist history. It is exceeded only by "Eyes of a Stranger".^[5]

Track listing edit

7" single

Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Empire" (radio edit)	5:07

Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Scarborough Fair"	3:53

12" single

Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Empire" (radio edit)	5:07

Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Scarborough Fair"	3:53
2.	"Prophecy"	3:58

CD single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Empire" (radio edit)	5:12
2.	"Scarborough Fair"	3:50
3.	"Prophecy"	3:59
4.	"Della Brown"	7:03

Chart performance edit

Chart (1990–91)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA Charts)^[6]	150
UK Singles^[7]^[8]	61
U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock^[9]	22

Personnel edit

Geoff Tate – vocals
Michael Wilton – lead guitar
Chris DeGarmo – rhythm guitar
Eddie Jackson – bass
Scott Rockenfield – drums

Additional personnel edit

Randy Gane – message left on answering machine

References edit

^ Silver, Stephen (26 June 2020). "Queensrÿche's "Empire": The Heavy Metal Song that Argued for More Police Spending". LIVING LIFE FEARLESS. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
^ Rivadavia, Eduardo (April 25, 2017). "Queensryche Albums Ranked". Loudwire. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
^ Begrand, Adrien (October 6, 2010). "Queensrÿche: Empire (20th Anniversary Edition)". PopMatters. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
^ Cornell, Jeff (August 20, 2021). "31 Years Ago: Queensryche Unleash 'Empire'". Loudwire. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
^ "Queensrÿche Tour statistics - songs played total". setlist.fm. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
^ "Bubbling Down Under". bubblingdownunder. October 22, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
^ "QUEENSRYCHE [sic]". Official Charts Company. An archive containing all UK charts for Queensrÿche
^ "musicvf.com".
^ "Queensrÿche". Billboard.com. Single charts for Queensrÿche

[1] Silver, Stephen (26 June 2020). "Queensrÿche's "Empire": The Heavy Metal Song that Argued for More Police Spending". LIVING LIFE FEARLESS. Retrieved February 9, 2021.

[2] Rivadavia, Eduardo (April 25, 2017). "Queensryche Albums Ranked". Loudwire. Retrieved February 17, 2021.

[3] Begrand, Adrien (October 6, 2010). "Queensrÿche: Empire (20th Anniversary Edition)". PopMatters. Retrieved March 5, 2021.

[4] Cornell, Jeff (August 20, 2021). "31 Years Ago: Queensryche Unleash 'Empire'". Loudwire. Retrieved December 4, 2021.

[set-5] "Queensrÿche Tour statistics - songs played total". setlist.fm. Retrieved April 25, 2016.

[6] "Bubbling Down Under". bubblingdownunder. October 22, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2021.

[7] "QUEENSRYCHE [sic]". Official Charts Company. An archive containing all UK charts for Queensrÿche

[8] "musicvf.com".

[billboard-9] "Queensrÿche". Billboard.com. Single charts for Queensrÿche

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