QUEENSRŸCHE Frontman On RONNIE JAMES DIO: 'He's A Gentleman In The Classic Sense Of The Word'

QUEENSRŸCHE frontman Geoff Tate was interviewed on this past Sunday's (December 27) edition of the "Long Live Rock" podcast (web site). He spoke about a wide range of topics, including Ronnie James Dio; the writing process in QUEENSRŸCHE; challenges of working in an album-length format in a digital download age; the changes in the music business marketing model; his upcoming movie role; his wine Insania and wine culture; the changing way the rest of the world views America; and QUEENSRŸCHE's upcoming album and live shows.

When asked if he has been in contact with Ronnie James Dio since it was announced that the legendary HEAVEN & HELL/BLACK SABBATH/RAINBOW singer was diagnosed with stomach cancer, Geoff replied, "I haven't talked to Ronnie, but I talked to Wendy, his wife... I guess it's been 12 days ago, before I went to Europe; I just got back yesterday. And he was going into the hospital. I'm assuming everything is good, 'cause I haven't heard anything else.

"He's a wonderful musician — very giving and inventive and clever. He's a great guy. Ronnie is one of those guys that is kind of an exception to a lot of people I've met in the industry. He's always very civil; he's a gentleman in the classic sense of the word. He really treats people with dignity and honor and respect, even if you're just a regular guy, or in my situation, when we were just starting out, he inivited us to tour Europe, which was our first tour with him and of Europe. So it was a big deal for us; we were all just kids starting out. And he inivited us into his dressing room and met the whole band, and we had cocktails and it was all very civilized. And I thought, 'Oh, OK, this is how it all works.' And then that never happened again with anybody else. So it was really the exception to the rule."

The entire interview is available for streaming using the audio player below.

QUEENSRŸCHE has scheduled two "cabaret shows" at the Snoqualmie Casino in Snoqualmie, Washington on February 4-5, 2010.

Queensrÿche Cabaret is described as Geoff Tate, Scott Rockenfield, Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson and Parker Lundgren performing a show-of-shows with a bunch of their friends who have a tendency to only come out late at night.

The Queensrÿche Cabaret will be art, lust, dancing and naughty fun with the band performing their hits and never-heard-before selections accompanied by go-go dancers, burlesque dancers, drag queens, a juggler, ballet dancer, aerial artist, contortionist and much more.

There will be fan-club-only parties and events Thursday Friday and Saturday nights, including a Super Bowl party on Sunday for those staying the weekend.