GEOFF TATE On QUEENSRŸCHE Court Case: I Hope We Can All Part Ways On Good Terms

 

During a brand new interview with the Colorado Springs, Colorado radio station KILO FM 94.3, singer Geoff Tate was asked if he has seen the article on BLABBERMOUTH.NET where legendary bassist Rudy Sarzo — who plays for Geoff Tate's version of QUEENSRŸCHE — called Tate "the finest composer, singer, frontman that ever was, of [Geoff's] generation." "No, I didn't see that," Geoff replied (hear audio below), before adding, "Well, that's very complimentary. He's quite a gentleman, Rudy. It's a pleasure playing with that guy. He is an amazing individual. Not only is he a fantastic musician and player, but as a person, he's one of the most down-to-earth, spiritual guys you'll ever meet. He's always calm. He's the kind of guy that you can sit and have a couple-of-hour conversation with, easy."

Tate was also asked about the progress of the settlement talks with his former bandmates over the rights to the QUEENSRŸCHE name. "I can't really talk about the court case anymore, 'cause it's kind of coming down to the end of it now," he said. "But whatever the outome of it is, I just hope that it's settled, for everyone, in a good way and everyone's happy and we can all part ways on good terms, and move on. And there's a lot of more music to come out, and I'm looking forward to that."

Tate and his wife, Susan, QUEENSRŸCHE's former manager, filed a lawsuit in June 2012 asking the judge to award them the rights to the band's name in exchange for Tate paying Eddie Jackson (bass), Michael Wilton (guitar) and Scott Rockenfield (drums) the fair market value for their interests in the QUEENSRŸCHE companies. Wilton, Rockenfield and Jackson filed a countersuit against the Tates in which they accused Geoff of creative obstruction and violent behavior, and Susan Tate of questionable business practices.

While ruling against Tate, the presiding judge determined that there was no legal hurdle in Tate also using the name with an all-new lineup of musicians. "I don't see any reason that Mr. Tate can't have the benefit, if he gets other members, of whatever name he uses of using the brand," Superior Court Judge Carol A. Schapira said during the July 13, 2012 court hearing. "I think [doing that would be] inherently confusing, although I'm sure the market can get these things sorted out," she added.

Tate's QUEENSRŸCHE now features Tate along with guitarist Kelly Gray (QUEENSRŸCHE 1998-2001), keyboardist Randy Gane and the band's latest additions, guitarist Robert Sarzo (QUIET RIOT, HURRICANE), Rudy Sarzo and drummer Simon Wright (AC/DC, DIO, RHINO BUCKET).

"Frequency Unknown", the latest album from the Geoff Tate-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE, sold around 5,500 copies in its first week of release in the United States to land at position No. 82 on The Billboard 200 chart. Issued on April 23, 2013, the CD was produced by Jason Slater at a studio in Northern California.