SINGER GEOFF TATE WATCHES HIS FORMER BAND, QUEENSRYCHE, PLAY LIVE, AND SAYS FRONTMAN, TODD LA TORRE, “IS FANTASTIC”
During a July 16th appearance on the 92 Minutes Of Hair With Mel show on the Las Vegas, Nevada radio station KOMP 92.3, former Queensryche singer, Geoff Tate was asked if he has had any contact with his former bandmates since their split?
He responded, (via blabbermouth.net), “I just did, actually. It’s funny that you should mention that. Two weeks ago [on June 30th], I was in Barcelona, Spain and I was playing with a band called Avantasia. I did a guest appearance with them, and they were headlining the [Rock Fest Barcelona] festival. And I read on the roster list that Queensrche was opening the festival. So, I went out earlier in the day and watched their set. It was the first time I’d seen the band play without me. I’d never heard their new singer [Todd La Torre], but I watched them play and they were great, and that singer is fantastic. He’s amazing. He sounds just like me. It was eerie and weird. And then I met all the guys afterwards and shook hands with them, we hugged and said hello, and it was a really nice little reunion, you know, get-together.”
In April 2014, Tate and Queenryche announced, that both parties, had reached a settlement, over the rights to use the Queenryche name. Band members Michael Wilton, Scott Rockenfield and Eddie Jackson would continue as Queenryche, while Tate would have the sole right to perform the albums Operation: Mindcrime and Operation: Mindcrime II in their entirety live.
Nice to hear that Geoff and the other guys in Queensryche seem to be getting along better. Sometimes, you just have to walk away from a situation that isn’t working anymore for everyone, in order for everyone to be happy. I agree with Geoff that Todd L. is totally killing it as Queensryche’s new singer! Their last two records with Todd have been excellent! “Condition Human” is a KILLER record, sounding like CLASSIC Queensryche.
I agree, Keith. In my opinion, Geoff was acting like a dirt bag by spitting on band mates and in the business dealings. It’s nice to read that the guys were cordial with one another, and great to read that Geoff was very complimentary of Todd L.
Great to hear that Geoff Tate enjoyed seeing Queensryche with Todd singing. Of course it helps that Todd grew up listening to them and knows the music, which makes him the perfect replacement for him in the band. Would be interesting if someday, Geoff and Todd did a song together, hearing both of their voices together would be mind shattering.
He has a VESTED interest in staying on Queensryche’s good side.
How nice of Geoff to say how “fantastic” Todd is and to follow that up with “he sounds just like me.”
I caught that, too! Todd does sound eerily like Geoff on some of the songs, but it is the Geoff from 25 years ago, not the most recent Geoff vocals on Queensryche albums. For me, it makes sense to find a vocalist that can sing the classic Ryche catalog as close the original as possible, and Todd can definitely do that. I think Todd is doing a great job with Queensryche, as the two albums he has sang on with the band show. CONDITION HUMAN had several songs that showed him sort of carving out his own vocal style, while still sounding like classic Queensryche. I’m looking forward to their next album.
I’ve seen Ryche with Latorre twice (five times overall) and was blown away twice, and met Geoff Tate last year (along with his Trinity bandmates, Tim Ripper Owens and Blaze Bailey) and he was a perfect gentleman. Obviously they had a nasty breakup, there was a lot of frustration on both sides, no doubt, but it’s nice to see Tate not holding any animosity toward’s his former mates. It can’t be easy seeing your former band with a new singer. Halford praised Tim Owens for his time in Priest, seems as though Tate has taken the high road and has had similar sentiments towards his replacement.