GEOFF TATE: 'My Vision Of QUEENSRŸCHE Is What Propelled The Band For Many, Many Years'

QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate was recently interviewed on "The Classic Metal Show", which is heard live on Saturdays from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. EST at TheClassicMetalShow.com. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below.

Tate, who was fired from QUEENSRŸCHE in June after fronting the group for three decades, recently sought to prevent his former bandmates from touring and operating under the QUEENSRŸCHE name without him. While ruling against Tate, the presiding judge determined that there was no legal hurdle in Tate also using the name with an all-new lineup of musicians. "I don't see any reason that Mr. Tate can't have the benefit, if he gets other members, of whatever name he uses of using the brand," Superior Court Judge Carol A. Schapira said during the July 13 court hearing. "I think [doing that would be] inherently confusing, although I'm sure the market can get these things sorted out," she added.

On September 2, Tate announced that he was launching his own version of QUEENSRŸCHE with RATT drummer Bobby Blotzer, former QUIET RIOT, OZZY OSBOURNE and WHITESNAKE bassist Rudy Sarzo and former MEGADETH and KING DIAMOND guitarist Glen Drover. Also on board in the new group are returning QUEENSRŸCHE guitarist Kelly Gray — who played with the band from 1998 until 2001 and also produced several of their albums — and keyboardist Randy Gane, who has toured and recorded with QUEENSRŸCHE and Geoff's solo group in the past.

When asked if he truly believes that his new version of QUEENSRŸCHE is the "true QUEENSRŸCHE" compared to what his former bandmates are doing, Geoff said, "That's a good question. It's kind of tough to answer. I truly believe that my vision of QUEENSRŸCHE is what has propelled the band for many, many years. When Chris [DeGarmo, guitar] was in the band, we shared a common vision together, and we were a very strong writing team, and a very strong musical team, directing the band and pushing in a certain direction — that kind of thing. Now, when he left, there wasn't anybody but me to do that, and so I've led the band and pushed and pulled and cajoled and bribed and tried to get everyone on the same page for all these years to keep the integrity of the band intact and to keep moving ahead with our vision for what the band was, which was 'no limits.' Let's not put a box around ourselves, let's not give in to some category that somebody assigns us, let's not be who other people think we should be, let's be who we are. And that's the motto I've always followed with the band. And I was instrumental in building this band all these years — this band is mine. I built this thing — all those songs, a majority of them are my thoughts, my ideas, my creativity, my passion. And who other to sing those songs but me? So I am taking QUEENSRŸCHE on the road this next year for that reason — and the main reason is I don't know what else I can do. It's me, it's my music, it's my words, it's my dreams, my passions. And especially [the classic QUEENSRŸCHE album] 'Operation: Mindcrime', that is my baby and my work, and I'm gonna go out and present that the best way that I can."

Tate's second solo album, "Kings & Thieves", will be released on November 6 via InsideOut Music.

Interview (audio):