Queensryche guitarist Michael Wilton posted the following press release on his Facebook page:
With the Queensrÿche canvas wiped completely clean and the band’s easel the strongest and most stable it’s been in years, Eddie Jackson, Todd LaTorre, Parker Lundgren, Scott Rockenfield and Michael Wilton forge ahead to create yet another QR masterpiece. The band has already begun writing new material for the follow up to their critically acclaimed self-titled 2013 Century Media Records release, Queensrÿche. The new album is tentatively scheduled for release in early summer 2015.
“The Queensrÿche internal dynamic has certainly changed in terms of musicianship. It’s more of a cohesive team and the chemistry we have now is making what we can do creatively limitless. For Queensrÿche, it was always about being able to write together as a band. We didn’t have that for a long time but now that it’s back, we feel extremely liberated,” states founding guitarist Michael Wilton. “We’ve already begun the writing process for the next album and have a few songs demoed that we feel really good about. We’re taking the songs in the classic Queensrÿche direction but maybe a little more progressive and heavier at times. The thing is, you never know what you really have until it’s complete. We can’t wait for the final outcome. Writing with such a dynamic group of individuals has been nothing short of amazing.”
Queensrÿche recently reached a settlement in their dispute over the ownership of the Queensrÿche name and brand. Century Media is pleased to announce that Eddie Jackson, Scott Rockenfield and Michael Wilton have successfully agreed to purchase Geoff Tate’s portion of the Queensrÿche name. The band will buy out their former lead singer’s share of the Queensrÿche corporation while allowing him the ability to be the only one to perform Operation: Mindcrime and Operation: Mindcrime II in their entirety. He will no longer have use of the TriRyche logo or any other album images aside from the Mindcrime releases. He can only refer to himself as the “Original Lead Singer of Queensrÿche or “Formerly of Queensrÿche” for a period of two years and that text must be at least 50% smaller than his name in all materials. After this two year period passes, he can only refer to himself as Geoff Tate with no mention of Queensrÿche at all. Geoff Tate will be able to finish any confirmed dates billed for his Queensrÿche lineup scheduled to terminate on August 31st, 2014. As of September 1st, there will be only one Queensrÿche entity and that will consist of Eddie Jackson, Todd LaTorre, Parker Lundgren, Scott Rockenfield and Michael Wilton. This lineup will continue to perform selections from their entire musical catalog including songs from Operation: Mindcrime. The band will be able to use all TriRyche logos and previous album artwork for any purposes as needed by the corporation.
Queensrÿche is:
Todd La Torre – Vocals
Michael Wilton – Guitars
Parker Lundgren – Guitars
Eddie Jackson – Bass
Scott Rockenfield – Drums
15 Responses
Thought their last release was solid, bought the vinyl copy and I wasn’t disappointed. Really enjoying the Todd La Torre fronted Queensryche, the band is hitting its stride and playing better than ever in my opinion. Bring on the new album!
Can you imagine when Tate no longer can use the name? He is going to be playing to 40 people that are too busy drinking to worry about the music coming from the stage.
Operation Pro-Tools-Crime
I would rather pay to see the singer of the band, then the band with a new singer. That goes for
any band. You take away the voice…..its not the same. It might sound good, but still not the same.
You must hate Dickenson in Maiden then.
Or Dio-fronted Black Sabbath. Or Ian Gillan Deep Purple.
Or Joey Belladona in Anthrax. Or John Bush in Anthrax. Or Dan Nelson in Anthrax. Or Joey Belladona in Antrhax. Or John Bush in Anthrax. Or Joey Belladonna In Anthrax.
Still wish they could have worked things out as I love Geoff’s voice in this band since the day I bought their EP on vinyl because I thought the name was cool.
Hope Tate dose not incorporate the Queensryc name in any way that would so stupid. He has been around long enough that his name should have some weight in the music world without shaming the band just fill seats! As long a music is good Tate will do alright
If Queensryche didn’t already have their best years behind them, a new singer wouldn’t be a huge deal. Bruce Dickinson wasn’t the original singer for Maiden, Brian Johnson wasn’t the original singer for AC DC. You can’t come in during the 9th inning and pretend the previous 8 didn’t happen.
Lets be honest, Queensryche is not Maiden or AC DC. They were a thinking man’s hair metal band that had some decent songs in the late eighties and early 90’s. I was a huge fan back in the day, but their best work was quite a while ago. The new Queensryche album is ok, but sounds like a cover band trying to relive the glory years. It has about 3 songs on it I’d listen to more than once. Tate’s Queensryche release certainly had some issues, but was nowhere near as bad as the internet hit squad has led people to believe.
Really, it’s just music, I and wish these guys could just make music together, or do something new, instead of regurgitating the past. At least i can give credit to Tate for trying something new, artistically, instead of living in the past.
Singers matter, and it’s not Queensryche without Tate, and never will be.