Geoff Tate on Queensryche Sacking: ‘I Didn’t Even Think It Was Possible’

The ink has dried on the settlement and former Queensyrche vocalist Geoff Tate is currently playing his farewell dates using the "Queensryche" name, but in reflecting on the events of the past couple of years, Tate admits he's still rather surprised to be no longer part of the band he fronted for years.

In a new interview with GoUpstate.com, Tate says, "I didn't see it coming. I didn't even think it was possible. Why would you fire the main writer? Why would you do that -- and the person who is the face of the band and is the identifying key figure in the success of the group. I don't mean that to sound egotistical because it's not. It's just the truth. Why on earth would you do that? It sounds like career suicide, especially at our ages. We're all in our 50s for God's sake. Why would you break apart this successful thing at this point in life?"

After a period in which Tate and his former bandmates splintered off into two different versions of Queensryche, the two sides eventually worked out a legal settlement back in April. Tate, who already had dates booked, is finishing out his final tour utilizing the Queensryche name, but he cautions that "farewell" doesn't mean he's hanging it up altogether.

"It's only a farewell to the name, which is kind of monumental to me, at least. I've performed throughout my professional career with the name Queensryche, so this will be kind of putting a period on the end of the Queensryche sentence," says Tate. It should be noted though that Tate did retain the rights to perform the band's hugely successful 'Operation: Mindcrime' album and its sequel. Tate has also renamed his band Operation: Mindcrime for future usage.

As for the future, Queensryche featuring Tate's former bandmates are now working toward a new album, while Tate's Operation: Mindcrime band also has a new conceptual release that they're planning to work on over the winter months.