Geoff Tate Recruits Sarzo, Blotzer for New Queensryche Lineup
The latest episode of the ongoing Queensryche soap opera could be titled ‘A Tale of Two Queensryches.’ Singer Geoff Tate has announced the musicians he’s chosen for an entirely new lineup of the group that he is launching, while his former band mates also continue to use the name.
The singer, who was ousted from Queensryche in June after fronting the band for three decades, recently lost a court ruling in which he sought to prevent his former band mates from performing under the Queensryche name without him, but the judge in that case found that there was no legal reason why Tate couldn’t also use the name in a new lineup. So now the singer has announced a new group that includes former Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne and Whitesnake bassist Rudy Sarzo, ex-Ratt drummer Bobby Blotzer, and former Megadeth guitarist Glen Drover.
Rejoining Tate are former Queensryche guitarist Kelly Gray – who played with the group from 1998 until 2001 and has also produced several of their albums — and keyboardist Randy Gane, who has worked with Queensryche live in the past.
In a statement Saturday, Tate lauded the new lineup, saying, “Together we shall embark on a new musical journey that will be a greater extension of where Queensryche has ever been.”
There is no work quite yet on whether Tate’s new lineup plans to record immediately, and no live dates have yet been announced. Tate’s former band mates are currently working with former Crimson Glory Todd LaTorre in their “official” lineup of Queensryche.
Here is Tate’s entire statement:
I’m sure the last few months have been very frustrating for you.
I know they have been for me.
There are so many questions and so few answers.It is said that adversity makes one stronger. Well, I’m definitely in a better place now than I’ve ever been before. I feel very positive and excited.
The challenge, when you’re in a creative environment, is keeping things fresh and invigorating, and after working with the same people for thirty years, it gets very difficult—You walk into the room, and everybody knows what everyone is going to do. There’s no spark, the chemistry is very tried and true and you just keep coming up with the same ways of expressing yourself.
Today is a new day and I am thrilled to announce the new Queensrÿche.
Joining me are: Rudy Sarzo, Bobby Blotzer, Glen Drover, Kelly Gray and Randy Gane.
Together we shall embark on a new musical journey that will be a greater extension of where Queensrÿche has ever been.
With this new project, with these new people, it’s a whole new scene. There are new ideas, different musical backgrounds and a whole new set of parameters. Everyone has ideas you haven’t heard before, and everyone is throwing them against the wall and suddenly … the music has a whole new life. I look forward to this new life and I hope to see you on tour as all of us come together and begin this new era.
Geoff Tate