Parker Lundgren

Parker Lundgren

Parker Lundgren with Queensrÿche in 2012
Background information
Birth name Parker Lundgren
Born (1986-12-28) December 28, 1986
Port Townsend, Washington, United States
Genres Progressive metal, punk rock
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter
Instruments Guitar, vocals
Years active 2000–present
Associated acts Queensrÿche, Sledgeback
Notable instruments
Caparison Angelus and Orbit
Gibson SG Standard and Custom
Fret King Parker Lundgren Exige
Dean Cadillac
ESP Standard Series Eclipse

Parker Lundgren (born December 28, 1986) is an American guitarist, best known for being in the progressive metal band Queensrÿche, which he joined in 2009.[1]

Career

Lundgren was born in a musical family to Julie Clouse and Scott Lundgren in Port Townsend, Washington, where he also grew up.[1] He started playing acoustic guitar, but later switched to jazz guitar,[1] taking both lessons and working through guitar books.[2] Since all his friends played guitar, he always was in three or four bands,[2] including the Port Townsend High School Jazz Band and the rock band The Nihilists, which he co-founded and played with for six years.[1] He names Django Reinhardt as a major influence in the jazz genre, and as a fan of Chris DeGarmo, he was learning Queensrÿche songs in high school.[2] After graduation, Lundgren moved to Seattle to build a career in music,[1] where he played in the punk group Sledgeback.[3] In the summer of 2008, Lundgren also joined the touring band of Geoff Tate's solo project,[1] while dating Tate's stepdaughter Miranda Tate. During that time, he had already become friends with the members of Tate's band Queensrÿche.[2]

Queensrÿche

A falling out between Queensrÿche and their then-guitarist Mike Stone opened up the position of guitarist in Queensrÿche.[2] Lundgren became his replacement, because he had the best papers. He was a fan, he already knew most of their material, and he was tipped that the upcoming tour would consist of the albums American Soldier, Rage for Order and Empire, which he learned the songs of before auditioning with Queensrÿche's lead guitarist, Michael Wilton, who was surprised at Lundgren knowing the whole set, and possibly also relieved he wouldn't have to teach the new guitarist all the parts.[2]

Because of his new appointment with Queensrÿche, Lundgren left Sledgeback in February 2009.[1] On July 18, he married Miranda Tate,[4] but they divorced about six months later.[5] Lundgren plays the original guitar solos by Wilton and original lead guitarist Chris DeGarmo verbatim.[6] He was recommended to do so by Wilton, because Kelly Gray and Stone (his predecessors replacing DeGarmo) played their own solos, to the fans' displeasure.[6]

Internal struggles between Tate and the other band members led to Tate being expelled from the band in June 2012. Lundgren was aware of creative differences about the little things, but did not know there were serious problems, explaining: "I just wanted to be there and do a good job. Whatever they had going on, it was all behind closed doors. (...) I just kinda tried to stay out of it."[5] He only got the details after the court documents became public.[5] Queensrÿche continued with a new vocalist, Todd La Torre, while Lundgren (not one of the founding members) was free to choose whether or not he wanted to stay in the band.[6] Guitarist Wilton praised Lundgren for being wise and making "a good decision" to stay.[6] This is why in 2013, Lundgren was actively involved in the writing process for the album Queensrÿche, writing the song "Where Dreams Go to Die"[7] and writing a guitar solo for "Don't Look Back".[8] According to Wilton, it was because the band members told him: "you're in a different situation now. In the last situation you weren't allowed to write, you were just a hired guy, you were just a player who had no say in any matter. This is completely different, you are part of the band, you are a writer, you can sing, you can do anything – we want you to just go for it. Show us what you've got."[6] He is appreciated for his drive to be "ever growing as a musician" and that "he has different influences than everybody else, which makes him a unique character in the creative process."[6]

Lundgren also teaches guitar to students.[2]

Discography

Sledgeback

Queensrÿche

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Lockhart, Melanie (August 12, 2009). "Living a rocker's dream: Parker Lundgren tours with Queensrÿche". Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Wood, James (June 27, 2013). "Queensrÿche Guitarist Parker Lundgren Discusses New Album, Influences and More". Guitar World. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
  3. ↑ "Queensrÿche Tickets in San Diego". San Diego Ticket Finder. Retrieved 2012-12-24.
  4. ↑ "Queensrÿche Guitarist Marries Geoff Tate's Daughter – July 18, 2009". Blabbermouth.net. July 18, 2009. Retrieved 2012-12-24.
  5. 1 2 3 Hickman, Jody (June 2013). "In Words: Queensrÿche". Ice Vajal. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Conley, Tony (July 15, 2013). "Michael Wilton of Queensryche: The Rock Guitar Daily Interview". Rock Guitar Daily. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  7. ↑ "Entrevista Todd La Torre (Queensryche) 12 de Junio 2013". Puro Rock Radio. June 22, 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
  8. ↑ "Parker – I wrote two.". AnybodyListening.net. June 24, 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-26.
Preceded by
Mike Stone		 Queensrÿche guitarist
2009 – present 		Incumbent
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