GEOFF TATE's QUEENSRŸCHE To Perform Entire 'Operation: Mindcrime' Album On Upcoming Tour

QUEENSRŸCHE vocalist Geoff Tate will take his newly assembled version of the band on the road next year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the group's epic 1988 release, "Operation: Mindcrime".

The tour — with dates slated to begin in April — will feature the arsenal of bassist Rudy Sarzo (OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT, WHITESNAKE, DIO),drummer Bobby Blotzer (RATT),guitarist Kelly Gray (MYTH) and keyboardist Randy Gane (MYTH),along with special guest appearances and plenty of surprises.

"It's great to be performing with all of these guys who have been true friends for years," comments Geoff. "Kelly, Randy and I formed MYTH more than 30 years ago and I've known Rudy and Bobby for several years as well. I think we are all inspired by the collaboration and couldn't be more excited to bring it to our fans next year."

The performance of "Operation: Mindcrime" next spring will cover all fifteen songs from the album including such fan favorites as "Revolution Calling", "Operation: Mindcrime", "I Don't Believe In Love" and the closing track, "Eyes Of A Stranger". It will also feature other selections from the QUEENSRŸCHE catalog, including songs from "Operation: Mindcrime II".

Confirmed dates so far, with more to be announced:

April 06 - Peppermill Casino - West Wendover, NV
April 11 - Paramount Theatre - Denver, CO
April 12 - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Albuquerque, NM
April 13 - Chrome - Las Vegas, NV
April 14 - Marquee Theater - Tempe, AZ
April 16 - Rialto Theatre - Tucson, AZ
April 18 - The Canyon Club - Agoura, CA
April 19 - 4th & B - San Diego, CA
April 20 - Club Nokia - Los Angeles, CA
April 21 - Fillmore - San Francisco, CA

Stated Sarzo: "Geoff and I first met in 1983 when QUEENSRŸCHE toured with QUIET RIOT. I immediately admired his voice and dynamic stage presence. It's truly an honor and privilege to join the new QUEENSRŸCHE lineup on its wondrous musical journey."

Added Blotzer: "Geoff and QUEENSRŸCHE and RATT have a long history of touring together and I'm very excited about this new project with Geoff and the guys."

Said Gray: "I'm really amped! This is an awesome group of people who are all very skilled in the craft of making music. I feel very fortunate to be a part of it!"

Gane offered: "After not only being great friends with, but also a huge fan of QUEENSRŸCHE since their beginning, and for years working behind the scenes for this groundbreaking and quintessential progressive rock band; it is such a honor to now be working within the band, especially with the incredible level of musicianship and amazing talent of the new lineup!"

Former MEGADETH and KING DIAMOND guitarist Glen Drover, who was originally supposed to tour with the Geoff Tate-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE, announced his departure from the group this past weekend before playing a single show with the band. He said in a statement: "I was very excited about doing this gig initially, but learned in the past week or so that it's in my best interest not to do this right now. I feel really bad for those who were excited about the idea, and to Geoff himself, who, I have to say, was very nice to me on my past trip to Seattle. I, of course, am very disappointed for arriving at this point, and making this decision, to say the least. I sincerely wish the Geoff and the band all the luck on what they do in the future."

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.