GEOFF TATE Says QUEENSRŸCHE Split Is 'All About Money'

Ruben Mosqueda of Oregon Music News recently conducted an interview with QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Oregon Music News: Since we last spoke, there was a falling out with QUEENSRŸCHE and you. There had been rumblings that things were "tense" within the band. When did things begin to sour between you and your bandmates?

Tate: [pauses] Uh, it all came down in May (2012); that was the "big explosion," I guess. It just came out of the blue and from out of nowhere and bah-boom! It came out of nowhere. I wasn't expecting it. It caught me off guard and since then I've been rolling with it. [laughs] Life goes on and I was readying this album so I just put all my energy and positive thoughts into [my new solo album] "Kings & Thieves".

Oregon Music News: How much of a factor in the break-up was communication between you and Michael [Wilton] with Scott [Rockenfield] and Eddie [Jackson]?

Tate: (pauses) Uh, honestly, Ruben, I don't know. It hard for me to speculate how they are or were thinking, you know what I mean? It's all a mystery to me. Up until this happened in May, we had touring plans for this year, plans to make a new record and plans for to tour in 2013. Everything was business as usual. It all changed drastically and I've been playing "catch-up" since.

Oregon Music News: Currently you can use the name "QUEENSRŸCHE," as can Scott, Michael and Eddie. You put together an all-star line-up that will tour under the name QUEENSRŸCHE. How confusing do you think this will be to the casual fans and will this hurt the brand?

Tate: Oh, yeah, it will be. That's why I tried to file an injunction to stop everyone from using the name until we settled our differences. They didn't want that they wanted to keep touring. They couldn't sell their other project without the name "QUEENSRŸCHE." I think that is what caused them to fire me and go through such extreme measures. They're operating in "survival mode,"' which is really too bad. This isn't the way I envisioned the ending of the band. I do think this will be confusing for the "casual fan," but I think most QUEENSRŸCHE fans are very intelligent people can go to Queensryche.com or GeoffTate.com and get a clearer picture of what's happening. I think this will allow them to make an informed decision on what they'd like to do.

Oregon Music News: So, Geoff, how much of the breakup has to do with money?

Tate: Oh, it's all about money! It's all about money. It's unfortunate that some people are able to see the picture of where they are at. They have this misinformed of idea of what "reality" is. So these people make these bad decisions on this "misinformation" and then they have to justify their actions. I really believe that is what is happening here.

Oregon Music News: Out curiosity, have you heard or viewed any of the clips of Todd La Torre performing "classic" QUEENSRŸCHE material? If so what did you think?

Tate: Oh, no. I'm not even interested in that.

Oregon Music News: Do you hope to at some point reunite with QUEENSRŸCHE in the future or are things beyond repair at this point?

Tate: I never like to say never. [Long pause] I will tell you that there will have to be a lot of discussion before there could be any decision like that. Honestly, Ruben, I feel completely free right now. I love the feeling of being able to work with people that I like. I get to work people that are happy and that really love to be doing what they are doing. I get to work with some very creative people that I don't have to drag along because they can't be bothered to show up. I like not having to operate with my hands tied behind my back.

Read the entire interview from Oregon Music News.

Photo credit: Stephanie Cabral