Ex-Queensrÿche singer Geoff Tate recently shared his thoughts on his replacement Todd La Torre. He revealed details about seeing his former band perform without him, in an interview with Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk.
Tate explained whether he still maintains contact with his former bandmates. He offered his perspective on the current Queensrÿche lineup.
“No, I haven’t had any contact, no. I went and saw Queensrÿche play in Copenhagen last year,” Tate said. “That was interesting to see, ’cause I’d never seen them live before — without me. It was quite interesting. I actually went front row at their show and was hanging out on the barricade. And it was quite an interesting experience.”
The former frontman then shared his respect for his replacement. He described their interaction at the Copenhagen show.
“I know there’s a lot of weird press about myself and [current Queensrÿche singer] Todd La Torre, but I have to say mass respect for the guy for stepping into my shoes, for one,” he continued. “And when I went to Copenhagen, I’m standing on the barricade there. And the first thing he did when he came out was straddle the barricade and fistbump me, acknowledging that I was there. And he said, ‘Hey, good to see you, man. Stick around. I’m gonna blow you away.’ [Laughs] And he did. He was great. He was wonderful being on the stage that night. It was just really a treat seeing him play.”
This positive interaction between the two singers marks a significant moment in Queensrÿche’s turbulent history. The band’s history has been marked by legal battles and public disputes since Tate’s departure from the band.
Wikipedia reported that Queensrÿche fired Tate on June 20, 2012, following a backstage altercation in Brazil where he assaulted bandmates. The incident created a toxic atmosphere within the band. It led to his replacement by Todd La Torre, who was formerly the vocalist of Crimson Glory.
The dismissal sparked a complex legal battle that lasted two years. Pure Rock noted that Tate sued for wrongful termination and claimed rights to the Queensrÿche name. The remaining members recruited La Torre and continued performing under the band’s original moniker.
The legal dispute created an unprecedented situation in rock music history. Ultimate Classic Rock documented that from 2012 to 2014, two competing Queensrÿche lineups toured simultaneously. One featured La Torre with the original instrumentalists, and another with Tate leading his own version of the band. This confusing arrangement lasted until a 2014 settlement finally resolved the split.
The settlement granted full band rights to guitarists Michael Wilton and Eddie Jackson, along with drummer Scott Rockenfield. Tate retained sole performance rights to the Operation: Mindcrime albums. This arrangement effectively ended the era of two separate Queensrÿche bands. It allowed both parties to move forward with their respective musical careers.
