Despite having fronted the band for over thirty years, Geoff Tate has officially stepped down as the singer of Queensrÿche and has been succeeded by Todd La Torre, vocalist for fellow progressive metallers Crimson Glory. Queensrÿche first emerged in the early 1980s with an eponymous four-track EP, but it would be their 1988 masterpiece Operation: Mindcrime, a concept album about a heroin addict and secret assassin who lies in a hospital bed reflecting on his sordid life, that they are most celebrated for. Two years later they released Empire, an inferior-yet-still classic record that included the hit power ballad Silent Lucidity. The band’s last studio album, Dedicated to Chaos, was released in 2011 to a mixed response.
In a statement published by Billboard drummer Scott Rockenfield explained the reason behind Tate’s departure; “Over the past few months, there have been growing creative differences within Queensrÿche. We want our fans to know that we hoped to find a common resolution, but in the end parting ways with Geoff was the best way for everyone to move forward in a positive direction. We wish him the best of luck with all of his future endeavors. We can’t wait to bring Queensrÿche to our fans with Todd behind the microphone.”
There has been speculation for some time over the future of Queensrÿche, as last month it was revealed that the remaining members had joined La Torre to form a new project called Rising West, in which they were they intended to tour classic Queensrÿche material, as well as record new tracks.
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