History Music / OperationMindcrime

A RockOpera by {{progressive metal}} band Music/{{Queensryche}}, released in 1988, focusing on a drug-addicted street kid who, brainwashed by a charismatic demagogue, becomes the assassin for an underground revolutionary movement. The sequel, released in 2006, continues to follow this kid as he attempts to deal with the demons that have been haunting him.

A RockOpera by progressive metal band Music/{{Queensryche}}, released in 1988, focusing on a drug-addicted street kid who, brainwashed by a charismatic demagogue, becomes the assassin for an underground revolutionary movement. The sequel, released in 2006, continues to follow this kid as he attempts to deal with the demons that have been haunting him.

* CallBack: The precursor of [=OM1=], ''Rage for Order'' ended with the song ''I Will Remember''. [=OM1=] begins with ''I Remember Now''.

* LastNoteNightmare: "Eyes of a Stranger" on [=OM1=] ends with a one-two punch: a heavily distorted, demonic voice screaming '''''REVOLUTION!!!!!!!!''''' and a reprise of "I Remember Now".

'''Operation Mindcrime I'''

'''Operation Mindcrime II'''

[[caption-width-right:350: ''Operation Mindcrime I'']]

[[caption-width-right:350: ''Operation Mindcrime II'']]

The story explores such topics as governmental and religious hypocrisy, love and sex (and the differences between them), and personal responsibility for one's own actions and one's lot in life. All of this is placed in a believable, NextSundayAD-esque world which is very overtly modeled on the socio-political climate of each album's time.

'''Note:''' ''Operation: mindcrime'' is deliberately sparse on details of Mary's death, especially pertaining to the identity of her killer. The video compilation ''Video: mindcrime'' included several possible interpretations; and a Queensrÿche concert show from the late 90s provided further extrapolation, while a 2004 concert show [[http://www.apollowebworks.com/russell/mindcrimefaq.html#whokilled explained it outright]]; however, for purposes of this page, only the original album is being considered canon.

!!Tropes of a Stranger:

* DownerEnding: At the end of [=OM1=], Nikki pretty much loses his mind and has to live in the horrible memories of his past day after day. The end of [=OM2=] ''could'' be considered [[BittersweetEnding bittersweet]] since [[spoiler: Nikki and Mary meet in the afterlife]].

* GriefSong: "I Don't Believe In Love". See HeroicBSOD right below.

* OminousLatinChanting: Used in [=OM1=] in "Suite Sister Mary." It also includes some BilingualBonus. [[spoiler: Voiceless Latin chanting is also used when Nikki begins to break down in [=OM2=].]]

* ProtestSong: "Revolution Calling, "Speak", and "Spreading the Disease".

-> ''[[{{BookEnds}} I remember now...]]''

* HeroicBSOD: Mary's death causes Nikki to almost completely shut down.

* AuthorTract: The lyrics are pretty explicit about identifying what the band sees as political problems, but this will fall into SomeAnvilsNeedToDropped for listeners who are inclined to agree.

* BookEnds: "I remember now" and "Eyes of a Stranger" both end with the phrase "I remember now".

* HowWeGotHere: [=OM1=] is told in flashback form; we first meet Nikki in hospital as a [[CoincidentalBroadcast background news broadcast]] fills us in on backstory; then, after Nikki's little monologue ("I remember now... I remember how it started..."), the instrumental "Anarchy-X" marks the transition into the flashback proper. (Similarly, the later instrumental "Waiting For 22" marks the transition ''out'' of the flashback.)

* LastNoteNightmare: "Eyes Of A Stranger" on [=OM1=] ends with a one-two punch: a heavily distorted, demonic voice screaming '''''REVOLUTION!!!!!!!!''''' and a reprise of "I Remember Now".
* MadnessMontage: the coda to "Eyes Of A Stranger".

* BigNo: Used at the end of "Breaking The Silence" in [=OM1=]. Nikki is accused of her death by the voices in his head, causing him to scream this.

* DressRehearsalVideo: "Breaking The Silence".

'''Note:''' ''Operation: mindcrime'' is deliberately sparse on details of Mary's death, especially pertaining to the identity of her killer. The video compilation ''Video: mindcrime'' included several possible interpretations; and a Queensrÿche concert show from the late 90s provided further extrapolation; however, for purposes of this page, only the original album is being considered canon.

-> I remember now...

----

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/OM1.jpg
'''''Operation: Mindcrime'''''

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/OM2.jpg
'''''Operation: Mindcrime II'''''\\

!!These Rock Operas provide examples of the following Tropes:

* RockOperaPlot

* TheVillainSucksSong: "The Needle Lies" on [=OM1=]. Refers both to Dr. X and to Nikki's drug addiction.
* WorldHalfEmpty

* (Former) HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Mary

* LastNoteNightmare: "Eyes Of A Stranger" on [=OM1=] ends with a one-two punch: a heavily distorted, demonic voice screaming '''''REVOLUTION!!!!!!!!''''' and a reprise of "I Remember Now". This troper listened to this album on a regular basis when he was barely five years old, and ran out of the room every time Scott's drum rolls started after the last chorus until he was at least eight.

'''''Operation: mindcrime'''''

Nikki is in love with Sister Mary, a [[HookerWithAHeartOfGold prostitute-turned-nun]], and decides to leave the revolution and clean up his life. But then [[ItGotWorse it gets worse]]: Dr. X, for reasons all his own, orders Nikki to kill Mary. Nikki tries to comply, but his love for Mary prevails and he decides instead to confront Dr. X. However, Dr. X holds Nikki's heroin addiction over his head; Nikki is trapped.

* ItGotWorse: In [=OM1=], after some time as an assassin, Nikki's conscience begins to catch up with him. And then--
-->'''Dr. X:''' Kill her [Mary]; that's all you have to do.

* BookEnds: "I remember now."

* HeyItsThatVoice: RonnieJamesDio as "Dr. X" in [=OM2=].

* KillEmAll: Regarding all the named cast. In [=OM1=], [[spoiler:Sister Mary is murdered]] ("Suite Sister Mary") In [=OM2=], [[spoiler:Dr. X is killed by Nikki]], ("The Chase") and [[Nikki commits suicide]] ("Fear City Slide").

* TalkingToHimself: In [=OM1=], vocalist Geoff Tate sings the parts of several characters. Contrary to what some believe, "Suite Sister Mary" ''averts'' this as Pamela Moore plays the Mary part in talking and singing both on stage and on the studio album.