QUEENSRŸCHE's TODD LA TORRE On Replacing GEOFF TATE: 'I Don't Want To Be A Mimic Or A Clone'

During a brand new chat with Australia's Heavy, QUEENSRŸCHE frontman Todd La Torre was told by the interviewer that his voice walks a very fine line between being close enough to that of original QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate to not cause too many ripples with the band's existing fans, while not being so close as to be accused of being a clone.

"I would say that that is the best comment — and compliment — that I could get," Todd responded. "I would consider your comment very complimentary.

"If you take ANTHRAX for example, when John Bush went into ANTHRAX, I loved John Bush's voice in ANTHRAX, and obviously, I loved Joey Belladonna's voice. They were so different, but for me, it worked. I think that, with QUEENSRŸCHE, because the vocals were so unique, if you did an 180-degree change like the ANTHRAX example, I don't think that would have been embraced. I think you have to have that operatic, vibrato — the full range with being able to hit some of the higher notes. Plus the nuances, the little 'isms' and phrasings that were so unique to Geoff Tate's voice, I think that what you said is the best situation you could ever ask for, or have, if in fact, I do have that position. Because I don't want to be a mimic or a clone, I even do some death growl stuff live, in 'Guardian' and at the end of 'Queen Of The Reich'. I like to do a lot of that stuff too, and he never did that, which is fine. I sing it in a way that it's close, but not so close that I don't have my own thing at the same time."

Todd also spoke about the difficulty of step into Tate's shoes twenty years into QUEENSRŸCHE's career. "[Geoff has] been hailed as one of the greatest of all time of the genre," Todd said. "In my opinion, he created a sound and style of singing.

"At first, I knew I was going to be harshly criticized. Even if I sounded perfect, I am not him. And because I'm not him, people will say, 'You're never as good as him in his prime,' and blah fuckin' blah. And I say, 'At almost 43 years old, I'm hitting notes that he wasn't.'

"Nevertheless, Geoff Tate is legendary," Todd continued ."He doesn't have to prove anything; he's done more than most will ever even dream to achieve. He carved a path for many and was very influential in my vocal styling and was a reason why I enjoy this kind of singing. I didn't invent it, I put my own little twist on things, but that guy was very innovative and unique. He should be immensely respected for that."

QUEENSRŸCHE will embark on a month-long headlining tour of the United States in November. Support on the trek will come from ARMORED SAINT and MIDNIGHT ETERNAL.

QUEENSRŸCHE's latest record, "Condition Hüman", debuted at No. 27 on The Billboard 200 chart, having shifted 14,000 equivalent album units in the week ending October 8, 2015.

The band plans to enter the studio in January to write and record the follow-up to "Condition Hüman" for a late 2017 release.