GEOFF TATE To Tour With His Own Version Of QUEENSRŸCHE?
August 13, 2012According to Billboard.com, it appears singer Geoff Tate is preparing to tour with his own version of QUEENSRŸCHE following his split with the band's original members, guitarist Michael Wilton, drummer Scott Rockenfield and bassist Eddie Jackson. Tate's personal web site, GeoffTate.com, was recently upgraded with a new banner that reads "Geoff Tate: The Voice Of QUEENSRŸCHE." He is also billed on the web site for booking agency Monterey International as "QUEENSRŸCHE Starring Geoff Tate: The Original Voice." The band's lineup isn't listed. A request from Billboard to Monterey to verify Tate's responsible agent was not returned by press time.
Wilton, Jackson, Rockenfield and Parker Lundgren (guitar) announced on June 20 that they were parting ways with Geoff Tate and recruiting La Torre of CRIMSON GLORY as his replacement.
Wilton, Jackson and Rockenfield defeated Tate's motion for a preliminary injunction on July 13 that would have kept them from touring and operating under the band name,
Tate and his wife, Susan, QUEENSRŸCHE's former manager, filed a lawsuit against Geoff's ex-bandmates on June 22 in King County Superior Court over whether he should be awarded the QUEENSRŸCHE name after being dismissed from the group in June. Their complaint states Rockenfield, Wilton and Jackson wrongfully fired the singer and are tarnishing the group's brand by attempting to move forward without him.
If the case goes to trial, the date is set for November 18, 2013.
In the meantime, Wilton, Jackson and Rockenfield, along with Lundgren and La Torre have launched a new web site at QueensrycheOfficial.com.
The new QUEENSRŸCHE lineup made its official live debut as the headliner of the last day of this year's Halfway Jam, which took place July 26-28 in Royalton, Minnesota.
Lundgren was briefly married to Geoff's stepdaughter Miranda; they have since divorced.
Pictured below: Geoff Tate (photo by Stephanie Cabral)
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