TODD LA TORRE On GEOFF TATE Returning To QUEENSRŸCHE: 'I Don't See It In The Foreseeable Future'

Hayley Leggs conducted an interview with QUEENSRŸCHE singer Todd La Torre and guitarist Michael Wilton at this year's Hellfest, which was held June 16-18 in Clisson, France. You can now watch the chat below.

When asked if they could ever envision a scenario where former QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate would return to the band either for an album or a tour, Todd said: "We've been asked a lot of questions about the past. For me personally, I respect what those [other] guys [in the band] would ever decide to do.

"I think that this is a forward-thinking band," he continued. "I think that we're in a really good place and we're writing music that… The band has regained that sound that I think was — and I hate to say it, 'cause I love Michael — but was missing for a very long time. We play everything in standard tuning, and I always try to aim high and do the best that I can.

"But me personally speaking, if some crazy thing happened where [Geoff] came back or whatever… I mean, I think we would cross that bridge if we came to it. I don't see it in the foreseeable future, but crazy things have happened, so who knows?"

Todd added: "I have no personal issue — for the record — with him. I don't know him as a person, just as an artist, so I respect what he's done as an artist. And so I'm emotionally detached from him in that sense. I don't really care. I care about what I'm doing with the band.

"You kind of caught me off guard with the question. It's a valid question, though, but I don't have anything bad to say."

Michael also weighed in on the subject, telling Leggs: "I think, basically, Todd said it. We've got something really great right now, and we're letting it grow, we're letting it expand."

He went on to say: "I don't have a crystal ball or [a way to predict the future]. I kind of live in the now, and it's one show at a time. So I just don't think that way."

QUEENSRŸCHE is tentatively scheduled to enter the studio in September to begin work on the follow-up to 2015's "Condition Hüman" album, to be released in early 2018 via Century Media. Helming the record once again will be Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who previously worked on "Condition Hüman".

"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.

KAMELOT's Casey Grillo made his live debut with with QUEENSRŸCHE on April 1 at Sycuan Casino in El Cajon, California. He is filling in for regular QUEENSRŸCHE drummer Scott Rockenfield, who is taking time off from the band's touring activities to spend time with his newborn son, appropriately named Rockson.