Apology: Geoff Tate
Geoff Tate has apologised to Queensryche fans for the way they discovered the details behind his dismissal from the band in 2012.
He was fired following a series of dramatic episodes that demonstrated how relationships between him and his colleagues had broken down – including an onstage altercation in Brazil known as the “Operation Knifecrime” incident, although it was later confirmed no weapon had been involved.
The battle over the band name went to court later in the year, with both parties citing previous examples of fall-outs to support their case. Scott Rockenfield, Eddie Jackson and Michael Wilton claimed Tate had been violent on a number of occasions and that he’d made a secret deal to work on a movie based on the band’s Operation: Mindcrime album without them. In turn, the singer alleged the rest of the band had failed to contribute creatively to albums, and that none of them appeared on their Operation: Mindcrime II release.
The legal case remains to be decided, with both Tate and the original members plus new singer Todd La Torre using the Queensryche title. They’ve been granted three continuations to reach an out-of-court settlement, but it’s due to go before a judge next month if they can’t finalise an agreement.
Addressing fans via the Eddie Trunk Rocks radio show, Tate says: “Thank you for all the amazing letters and support people have given me in the last couple of years – it’s been inspiring.
“I feel so sorry for people that have loved this band and watched this totally distasteful situation happen in the press. It’s so confusing for people. They can’t discern what’s hype and what’s internet rumour versus what’s truth and what’s a court case.
“In any court case there’s so much untruth that gets said because people are trying to win. The fans get caught up in the middle of it.
“I’m sorry it had to play out this way. But there will be a bright side, I promise everybody – and I’m looking forward to that as much as they are.”
In 2012 Tate expressed sorrow for the violent onstage altercation in Brazil, where fans saw him spitting on drummer Rockenfield after assaulting several members of the band before the curtain went up. The singer told Classic Rock it was a “very regrettable situation – I lost my head and I regret it very much.”
Last month he told 94.3 Loudwire of the legal proceedings: “Whatever the outcome, I hope that it’s settled in a good way, and everyone’s happy, and we can all part ways on good terms, and move on. There’s a lot of more music to come out; I’m looking forward to that.”
