QUEENSRYCHE

Eyesore wrote:

Wow!

"Of course, they launched a lawsuit against me that I won, basically..."

Quote :

John Parks of Legendary Rock Interviews recently conducted an interview with QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Legendary Rock Interviews: This whole situation and court battle over QUEENSRŸCHE is something most of us could never have forseen back in the '90s, but yet here we are talking about it, sadly enough. Is there ever a day where the whole drama just doesn't even enter your head?

Geoff Tate: Oh yeah, quite often. [laughs] Yeah, yeah….You know, initially, the first few months that this all started happening was a very difficult time but I've kind of gotten past that now and am in a much better place now where things seem a lot more brighter. I had my new solo album, "Kings & Thieves" and the tour supporting that and that helped, just playing shows and supporting that. I never even think about the former lineup at this point. Of course, they launched a lawsuit against me that I won, basically, and from then on, I really haven't thought about it too much. Our court date isn't until November 2013, so I basically have until then until all of that is officially decided, which is quite aways from now. A lot of water is going to go under the bridge before then, definitely.

Legendary Rock Interviews: You surprised more than a few fans in recent months with your statements that you wouldn't be opposed to sitting down in a room and just trying to talk rationally with those guys. On an obviously much less important note I have noticed that those guys are often not that accessible from a publicity end. We have reached out numerous times to both Michael Wilton and were actually scheduled to talk to Scott Rockenfield, but both times have come up empty-handed. Have you also found a series of unending emails or found them pretty difficult to reach directly? [laughs]

Geoff: [laughs] Yeah, that's pretty much been my experience over the years. That doesn't surprise me. You, John, you've probably recognized the fact that I have probably done 99 percent of the interviews over the course of QUEENSRŸCHE's career. There's a reason for that, there was a reason for that when I talked to you for the last album and there's been a reason for that our entire career; I've been incredibly careful and diligent about presenting our image in a certain way. I'm recognized, pretty universally, as the spokesperson for the band and there's a reason for that. [laughs] I can reliably do my interviews and put a sentence together and I think I have a very good handle on what it is that I am trying to do within the band as the band leader. I have always thought that we were collectively on the same page about this over the years, so when they fired me, it came as a complete shock. It was like a kick upside the head that I wasn't expecting at all, especially at this point in our career where we've been a successful band for 30-plus years and have a very respected name around the world. Why in the world would any sane people launch this whole shakeup and fire everybody who is your support system and everyone who's involved with you, cancel all your income for the year and cut your head off by firing the face and voice of your band. They have basically sliced their own throat and rubbed the name of the band in the dirt in this quest of theirs and have no sane reason why such madness was necessary. It doesn't make any sense. I'm still trying to wrap my head around what their whole plan is, what is their plan after the court date, it just doesn't make any sense.

Legendary Rock Interviews: I have heard you say that you think the whole lawsuit really has a lot to do with money and they have mentioned it was also creative differences. Your wife and daughter worked for the organization and were also fired. Did they just get the feeling there were too many Tates in the kitchen?

Geoff: You know, when you have a group of people, you need a leadership in place and set up efficiently. Somebody has to do it.

Legendary Rock Interviews: So they were comfortable with it for a number of years and then at some point it just started messing with them?

Geoff: Yeah, yeah, I think so. Again, some of that verbiage from them is just down to "created perceptions" or the picture they want to present. The fact is that they wanted to fire me and then split up my shares of the corporation, and typically, true to form for them, they went about it totally half-cocked, unprepared and shortsighted. You can't just do that so easily, you can't just fire a corporate member of your company — it's illegal to do that — but, of course, true to fashion, they didn't research any of that or look into it or talk about it with us they just did it. The fallout of all of that is that we have a lawsuit. It's not like a bunch of guys got together and formed a band and play a bit on the weekends. It's a business, it's a very successful business, and it involves corporate and legal procedures. There's a way you have to conduct yourself business-wise and you have to follow the rules and the law is very explicit in that. That's why we have a court date and a lawsuit. They can't just fire me; it doesn't work that way in corporations or in the business world.

Read the entire interview from [url=http://www.legendaryrockinterviews.com/2013/03/04/queensryche-singer-geoff-tate-on-the-state-of-the-ryche-mindcrime-tour-former-bandmates-more]Legendary Rock Interviews[/url.

Tate is delusional. How, exactly, did he "win" that lawsuit?

No idea. Sounds like a lot of misdirection, and that interview seems setup, like the interviewer was paid to ask specific questions and make specific, almost derogatory comments about the other guys.

I got a chuckle from that album cover, with the big "F" "U" rings.

Fat Freddy wrote:

Dark Horseman wrote:

I was hinting at that. Maybe Cleopatra is thinking this will put them on the map.

Well, y'know, Cleopatra's done such great things with Paul DiAnno's solo career in the U.S... Haha.

Dunno if you read the entire article I linked above, but it sez oddly enough, Tate's last solo album came out on InsideOut, which is a Century Media sub-label. I wonder if he offered them TateRyche?

Geoff: "Hey guys, thanks for putting out my solo album, I really appreciate it. Say, would you be interested in this all-new Queensryche record I'm putting together? It's got dudes from Night Ranger, King's X, Judas Priest and Slayer playing on it."

Label Dude: "Ummm...hey, y'know, that sounds great, Geoff, but..."

(Phone Rings)

Secretary: "Todd LaTorre and Queensryche are here to see you, sir."

Label Dude: "Crap! Do me a favor, stall'em for a couple of minutes till I can get rid of this guy?"

Post of the day!!!!

Sounds like Century Media wants nothing to do with Tate at this point (from the article):

The paperwork Tate submitted with his lawsuit included a declaration from Century Media A&R/product manager/InsideOut Music label manager Paul Gargano. Gargano's declaration supported a preliminary injunction request (sought by the Tates) that would have prevented Queensryche and Tate from working under that moniker until the matter is settled in Seattle's King County Superior Court. (Superior Court Judge Carol A. Schapira denied that request in July.)

When asked if there was any concern about the potential for conflict with Tate or Queensryche in relationship to Gargano, Robertson wrote, "Our employees' personal opinions in no way reflect the opinions of Century Media as a company. We expect there to be no conflict with any of our artists."

Robertson also stated that Joh, not Gargano, will oversee Queenryche's A&R/product manager responsibilities.

Eyesore wrote:

No idea. Sounds like a lot of misdirection, and that interview seems setup, like the interviewer was paid to ask specific questions and make specific, almost derogatory comments about the other guys.

The Geoff seems to keep hitting new all time lows with his interviews..... He seems to be be screaming in the interview and the album title "FU You can't fire me, I am Queensryche" He seems to be surpassing Axl in ego and douchiness at this point!

If he possessed the "balls" that is prevalent in his interviews and press releases, Geoff would of flipped the bird on the cover.

He insults "everbody's" intelligence by stating he won a court case that hasn't even been heard in front of a judge yet,

S.D. wrote:

I got a chuckle from that album cover, with the big "F" "U" rings.

Real classy.

Dammit, I just updated my HubPage about the Queensryche mess w/the news about the Century Media signing, I go and eat dinner, and now I have to go update it again with Tate's latest douche move! Haha.

I hope Chris DeGarmo is somewhere laughing his ass off at all this absurdity...and continuing to collect his royalty checks for the much-better version of the band he was a member of.

With all the guests on Geoff's version. Wouldn't it be interesting if there were a "surprise" guest appearance on "original-ryche" recording by Chris in both playing and writing ? And "if" that were to happen (I know doubtful) would it have any credence in forthcoming legal matters over the other side ?

James B. wrote:

If he possessed the "balls" that is prevalent in his interviews and press releases, Geoff would of flipped the bird on the cover.

He insults "everbody's" intelligence by stating he won a court case that hasn't even been heard in front of a judge yet,

The Geoff just can't help himself.... he has to be the center of attention. I am willing to bet that The Geoff called up his new record company as soon as Billboard called him for comment on the article and said "Put the new album release out today, I am The Geoff!!!! I am Queensryche!!!!!"

James B. wrote:

With all the guests on Geoff's version. Wouldn't it be interesting if there were a "surprise" guest appearance on "original-ryche" recording by Chris in both playing and writing ? And "if" that were to happen (I know doubtful) would it have any credence in forthcoming legal matters over the other side ?

It wouldn't have any credence in the legal matters.... but would be cool. I listened to an interview that Rockenfield did with Eddie Trunk last week and Trunk asked him about DeGarmo's take. He responded that Chris is friends with "most of us" and that he is supportive of what they are doing.


Gotta love how The Geoff says this in that interview:

Of course, they launched a lawsuit against me that I won, basically, and from then on, I really haven't thought about it too much.

Then an hour after the interview is published, the man who attacked and punched his bandmates releases a picture of the album cover of a fist with a FU on the rings.....

At first, I figured the version putting out a new recording before the other would benefit most. Then, common sense told me that the judge gave both parties a year to do their thing and perhaps base any decision on the merits of a succesful business model. One is gonna do better than the other. I imagine sales of both recordings will be poor in the U.S and Tate's version will have a somewhat disadvantage in the world market due to the company that signed his version. So that leaves touring as a major litigating factor. I forsee Geoff doing alot of county fairs and casinos. The other version, again due to record company advantage. Will probably do well in those European "metal" festivals. This is all speculation, of course. Have I "gone goofy" or what ?

thejokeriv wrote:

It wouldn't have any credence in the legal matters.... but would be cool...

The only reaon i asked is that would make another person in the original corp. attaching themselves to one of the claimants. Maybe I 'm digging a lil too deep ?

I'm glad he basically won. Now shut up!

James B. wrote:

thejokeriv wrote:

It wouldn't have any credence in the legal matters.... but would be cool...

The only reaon i asked is that would make another person in the original corp. attaching themselves to one of the claimants. Maybe I 'm digging a lil too deep ?

I'm not an attorney, but I did take some business law classes in college and from what I learned, DeGarmo's input doesn't matter since he was already bought out. They also had articles of incorporation which helps Queensryche big time in the case. They can fire The Geoff, but they have to buy him out. With the judge allowing 2 Queensryche currently, The Geoff would also have to distribute any profits that he makes from tour revenue, merch sales and album sales to the other 75% just as Queensryche would have to pay Tate 25% of any profits until the law suit is settled.

S.D. wrote:

I got a chuckle from that album cover, with the big "F" "U" rings.

Ha! Totally missed that.

This is silly ass business, makes Axl seem down right humble. Hard to believe that Geoff Tate could be so classless.

I remember when he got fired, I thought for sure he would not sue or use the name without the other guys, boy was I wrong.

If anyone is dragging the name Queensryche into the mud, it is his solo band and his guns for hire musicians. Also he keeps losing members left and right.

"F U"? Yeah, this is "thinking man's metal".

Temple of Blood wrote:

"F U"? Yeah, this is "thinking man's metal".

Stupid, deluded men think too! They just think stupid deluded thoughts.

Has anyone got suggestions for a name that theGeoff could use if he loses. I think that something that reminds people of his role in Queensryche history would be cool.

' Drama Queen of the Ryche' anyone?

I'm now actually starting to get curious to hear Geoff's version of Queensryche. More for the train-wreck aspect of the whole thing, not because I think it will be good.

This is a guy that's gone out-of-his way to distance himself from "heavy metal", then assembles a hodge-podge of musicians from every genre to quickly throw together an album to spite his former bandmates that he claims will be "heavy" and "old school QR".

Have any of these musicians even been in the same room together? I imagine everyone recording their parts seperatly all over the country, then sent out and assembled in Pro-Tools. I don't doubt that's the way plenty of bands operate these days, but it just seems like this project is going to be a disaster.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I'm now actually starting to get curious to hear Geoff's version of Queensryche. More for the train-wreck aspect of the whole thing, not because I think it will be good.

If it's anything like DTS or K&T, it'll be half decent, half suck.

I thought that cover was a MetalSludge joke or something at first...

Orion Crystal Ice wrote:

I thought that cover was a MetalSludge joke or something at first...

I scanned this thread last night and I thought the same thing when it first popped up. I thought it was a goof.

What? Thegeoff is clever and erudite and spent hours thinking of that cover.

The Queensryche saga keeps getting more and more ridiculous...

Quote :

Former MEGADETH and KING DIAMOND guitarist Glen Drover — who left Geoff Tate's version of QUEENSRŸCHE before playing a single show with the band — will join the Todd La Torre-fronted QUEENSRŸCHE on stage this coming Thursday, March 7 at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada to perform the QUEENSRŸCHE classic "Take Hold Of The Flame".

In a posting on his Twitter account, Glen wrote: "Going up onstage with the REAL QUEENSRŸCHE and play 'Take Hold Of The Flame' this thursday at the Phoenix in Toronto. Going to be fun stuff!"

You can't make this kinda sh*t up.