The last time we checked in with Queensrÿche, there were two of them, and they’d just settled a lawsuit. Under the terms of the agreement, Geoff Tate, the band’s original singer, lost the right to call himself Queensrÿche, and would have to refer to himself as “formerly of Queensrÿche” or something like that for two years. He’d already started referring to himself as the “the voice of Queensrÿche.” Now it turns out that he won’t even be using that name for that long. According to Blabbermouth, after Tate’s headlining tour as Queensrÿche Starring Geoff Tate that starts tonight wraps up, his band will have a new name.
Operation Mindcrime will be the band’s name, which makes sense, given that Tate’s the only one of the two incarnations of the band that will be allowed to perform Operation Mindcrime 1 and 2 in their entirety. And it goes in keeping with what Tate says he’ll be doing next. He says that in September, he’ll be recording a trilogy project he’s been working on for the past two years.
“I tried to reduce the story and eventually got it down to 37 ideas that needed representing to complete the story,” comments Geoff. “I knew that one record wouldn’t cover it and that it would have to be a trilogy. It’s an exciting project and one we’d like to release the first part of sometime next spring.”
So there you have it, the guy known for making two concept albums that will continue to be known for making two concept albums is now making three concept albums. The band also consists of Rudy Sarzo, AC/DC drummer Simon Wright, former Queensryche guitarist Kelly Gray and Randy Gane, formerly of Myth.
