Ex-QUEENSRŸCHE Guitarist MIKE STONE On Band's Split With GEOFF TATE: 'It Makes Me A Little Sad'

Former QUEENSRŸCHE guitarist Mike Stone, who was in the band for six years, has commented on the current legal battle between singer Geoff Tate and the group's other members over the rights to the QUEENSRŸCHE name.

Stone joined QUEENSRŸCHE for the 2003 album "Tribe" and stayed with the band for six years. He was eventually replaced by Parker Lundgren, a former member of Tate's solo group who was also briefly married to Geoff's stepdaughter Miranda.

During an appearance on the latest episode of the Internet radio show "Rockin' Metal Revival" with hosts Red and Jerry, Stone was asked for his "take" on the current QUEENSRŸCHE situation and the public way in which it has played out.

"I heard about all this a bit late," Stone began. "I've been buried in a number of projects. I have three new records coming out this summer, [and I've been] getting all the music together and the promotional end and the artwork and all that stuff — I've been just immersed in that. I kind of started hearing stuff [about problems in the QUEENSRŸCHE camp] a few weeks ago. And I have to say, I just think it's really kind of unfortunate. As someone who's been with the band, played in the band, had a history with the band, I have to be honest, it makes me a little sad. I think there's a legacy there, and when I think of QUEENSRŸCHE, I think of all the guys. When I was in the band, no one was fighting with each other like that. So I don't think of them in those terms. I don't know if it will happen, but I hope they can work it out. And I wish them all the best."

When asked who should eventually be awarded the rights to the QUEENSRŸCHE name — Geoff Tate or the other members of the band — Stone replied, "I guess, apparently, the legal system will sort that out. That's not for me to make the call."

He added, "I just think it's unfortunate for a band that's been around for that long, they've put out so many records and had so many dedicated fans, that they couldn't work it out somehow. But, you know, that's rock and roll, and such is life, and things change and that's just a part of life."

On the topic of whether he still keeps in touch with his former bandmates, Stone said, "I talk to everybody occasionally. I've been really out of the QUEENSRŸCHE world for over three years now, so it's not like we're chatting every day. Another thing, too, even when I was in the band, the band was based in Seattle, but I still lived in the Midwest. I'd come in for rehearsals, for tours and recording and that kind of thing. [But] I wasn't in Seattle all the time with them."

Hour two of current "Rockin' Metal Revival" can be streamed using the audio player below (Mike Stone interview can be heard starting at around the 20-minute mark):