YEARS

THE BEST OF 1988

Operation Mindcrime

-1-

Operation Mindcrime

Queensryche

1986 was a huge year. Van Halen had a new singer, Judas Priest played synth guitars, and heavy metal did their version of We Are The World in Hear 'n Aid with Stars. The floodgates had opened completely. The bands I started with were two or three albums into their career and the record companies were signing every long haired band they could find, hoping to nab the next Motley Crue. None did, but a few came close. It was another big year for MTV. Diamond Dave returned with his new all-star band, Kiss's best song writer Vinnie Vincent formed a new neon pink band, Ratt was back with a new album, and even Iron Maiden had a big hit with Wasted Years. But then ... Bon Jovi (and his hair) exploded on to the screen. With his big smile and catchy songs like You Give Love A Bad Name, Livin' On A Prayer, and Wanted Dead Or Alive, Bon Jovi became the new darlings of the day. Rumors of Bon Jovi discovering Cinderella, dragged them into the spotlight, and Cinderella and Poison wearing each other's t-shirts in their videos provided some great cross promotion for the new-comers. With the sheer amount of music reaching critical mass, the fans began to split into smaller categories: Glam rock or heavy metal, with very few bands able to appeal to both audiences. One of those was the new blue-collar rock band Tesla with their single Modern Day Cowboy. I continued to love it all, but despite my beginnings in good-time party rock, that was the year my tastes began to shift. I had spent the last couple years discovering more prolific guitar players like Yngwie, or Tony MacAlpine. And while Queensryche had already become one of my favorite bands, I simply wasn't prepared for Rage for Order ... the vocals, the layers of music ... it was unlike anything else I had ever heard. I was hooked. For the first time, I had to admit Motley Crue wasn't my favorite band anymore. It woud be years before anybody could touch Queensryche.

Winger

-2-

Winger

Winger

Transcendence

-3-

Transcendence

Crimson Glory

Fifth Angel

-4-

Fifth Angel

Fifth Angel

Odyssey

-5-

Odyssey

Yngwie J. Malmsteen

Thundersteel

-6-

Thundersteel

Riot

Bullet Boys

-7-

Bullet Boys

Bullet Boys

Open Up and say  ...Aahh

-8-

Open Up and say ...Aahh

Poison

Reach for the Sky

-9-

Reach for the Sky

Ratt

Lillian Axe

-10-

Lillian Axe

Lillian Axe

“Outta my way, I'm comin' like a freight train right on through ya, and if you thumb a ride I'll take you home. One million miles an hour of superficial power. We got nothin' to lose but lots to give. Don't kill yourself to live.”
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