QUEENSRŸCHE Members Get To Keep Band Name With New Singer, For Now

According to Billboard.com, QUEENSRŸCHE members Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, Scott Rockenfield and Parker Lundgren defeated singer Geoff Tate's motion for a preliminary injunction on July 13 that would have kept them from touring and operating under the band name,

Tate filed a lawsuit against his former bandmates on June 22 in King County Superior Court in the state of Washington over whether he should be awarded the QUEENSRŸCHE name after being fired from the group in June.

"We are excited that the Washington courts saw what we and the fans have always known, that QUEENSRŸCHE is more than any one member," AGPS Management senior manager Glen Parrish said in a statement. "We are sorry we had to go to court to show this, but we are determined to bring back the quality product QUEENSRŸCHE was known for. We can't wait to unveil to the fans what [the band creates] next musically."

AGPS Management is overseeing QUEENSRŸCHE affairs after the band was previously managed by Tate's wife, Susan.

In his sworn declaration, Wilton stated about QUEENSRŸCHE's current legal dispute with Geoff Tate, "Geoff Tate has never written an entire song. He only writes lyrics. QUEENSRŸCHE is a sound; a sound that comes from the music and that music comes from us, not Geoff Tate alone. And, Geoff Tate has refused to be a part of that for some time. Instead, he wants QUEENSRŸCHE to be something else, something that's not guitar-driven and sold millions of albums, but something that fits his tastes alone. And, now that the rest of us will no longer go along with that alternative vision anymore, which is so unpopular with the fans and has had such dismal record sales, he wants the name all for himself, or for no one. As seen in the latest interview of Rolling Stone magazine and Billboard.com, he is doing everything in his power to tarnish any QUEENSRŸCHE credibility and to stop any momentum the new lineup has had. Through his lack of remorse towards his physical assault on us (that was not provoked as he alludes to in his interview),he is a detriment to the band. His blatant use of the media for his own agenda with no regard for the integrity of the band as an entity alone is grounds for the remaining band members to own the name. We have always shown respect for the brand and name QUEENSRŸCHE. We want to rebuild the name to the respect of our fans and peers.

"The enthusiasm for the new QUEENSRŸCHE, doing the songs that made us popular, that have not been performed in years due to Geoff Tate's refusal, is tremendous. The critical response to new lead singer Todd La Torre and his chemistry with the band at the RISING WEST shows in early June has been wildly positive as well.

"QUEENSRŸCHE and Geoff Tate can co-exist; it's simply Geoff Tate that cannot accept that. But, that is not what is best for the band, our companies, or our fans."

In his own declaration, Rockenfield said, "Geoff Tate's continued lack of interest in original QUEENSRŸCHE music or playing the older QUEENSRŸCHE music is resulting in damage to the brand of QUEENSRŸCHE. His recent and ongoing threats and assaults continued to place a great amount of stress on the remaining band members and their crew. Geoff Tate was no longer allowed to travel with the band, stay in the same hotels, participate in any band interviews, and had to be escorted at the venues with security. This was a very damaging form of business and had left the band with no choice but to move on without him."

In his declaration, Jackson said, "Geoff Tate's continued random threats and irrational, violent behavior still poses a threat to Scott Rockenfield, Michael Wilton and me, and has caused a significant amount of stress and we therefore cannot continue working with him in the future."