QUEENSRYCHE Drummer: 'We Tried Multiple Times' To Talk To GEOFF TATE Before Firing Him

QUEENSRŸCHE drummer Scott Rockenfield and new singer Todd La Torre taped a guest appearance on VH1 Classic's "That Metal Show" in April for an episode which will premiere this coming weekend (Saturday, June 29). During the chat, Rockenfield was asked about the comments his former bandmate Geoff Tate made on "That Metal Show" last August in which the vocalist said about the group's decision to fire him: 'I'd like to sit in a room with those gentlemen and have them tell me face to face what the situation is. Explain their actions. I'd like to know, and actually understand, their point of view. I'd like to see them talk to me face to face rather than through the Internet. . . Communication is a big part of any kind of relationship — you've gotta have it. And if nobody's talking, then nothing's getting settled. And that’s where we're at right now — nobody's talking."

In a preview clip (see below) of this coming weekend's episode of "That Metal Show", Rockenfield responds to Tate's comments in the following way: "Listen, there's a really actual simple answer to that whole thing. We tried multiple times [to sit down and talk face to face] before it got to the point of making the transition. But we tried on multiple occasions to have meetings. And even during that process, Geoff was the first one to hire an attorney and then start corresponding with us about these meetings through an attorney."

He continued: "It's kind of live a divorce; when you go through a divorce, it doesn't just go, 'Wow, I don't like you anymore. Here's the big 'D' papers.' You kind of go through things and deal with things and then they start to build and become to a point where you've gotta address them.

"The last meeting that we actually did have was in Brazil, and we had to play that show, which was on April 14 of 2012. We had a meeting just prior to the gig in the dressing room. And, you know, we got through the meeting — it wasn't the best meeting, but we got through it — and then two hours after that, going on stage, the result of that meeting is what everybody probably knows about on the Internet."

Rockenfield and fellow QUEENSRŸCHE members Eddie Jackson (bass) and Michael Wilton (guitar) claim that they legitimately fired Tate due to a pre-show incident at the above-mentioned concert in Brazil where, after learning the three had fired Susan and his step-daughter (another band employee),Tate punched Rockenfield and Wilton, attempted to go after Jackson and spit on the band throughout the ensuing performance.

The new self-titled album from the Todd La Torre-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE, was released on Tuesday (June 25) via Century Media Records. The cover artwork was created by Craig Howell, who has previously worked on designs for "Star Wars", SLIPKNOT and "American Idol", to name a few.

"Queensrÿche" marks the debut release from the lineup comprised of La Torre (vocals; ex-CRIMSON GLORY),Michael Wilton (guitar),Parker Lundgren (guitar),Eddie Jackson (bass) and Scott Rockenfield (drums). The drums for the album were recorded at London Bridge Studios in Seattle, Washington with producer James "Jimbo" Barton — the man who engineered and mixed the band's classic 1988 LP, "Operation: Mindcrime", and its 1990 follow-up, "Empire", and co-produced 1994's "Promised Land". The rest of the music and vocals were laid down at several different facilities on the West Coast.