Boston-based writer Deb Rao spoke with QUEENSRŸCHE frontman Geoff Tate recently about a number of topics including their new double CD disc and double DVD, Mindcrime At The Moore. Here are a few excerpts from the chat:

Deb Rao: Queensrÿche are opening for HEAVEN AND HELL and ALICE COOPER on your current tour. How is it going so far?

Tate: "Well, we are very excited to be part of it. We pretty much dropped everything we were planning on doing at that point in time so we could be part of the tour. It is monumental for us. We were all very influenced by that Black Sabbath line-up. That particular line-up for me is some of the most influential rock music. I am very excited about Alice Cooper. Alice Cooper was the first rock show, I ever saw when I was a kid. I saw the Billion Dollar Babies tour in 1973. I thought that was all rock shows were supposed to be like. (Laughter) I think it very much influenced my ideas of staging and production. Because of that. So we are every excited on different levels to be part of it."

Deb Rao: I noticed the band is performing with a strip down stage show on this current tour, unlike the mega-production of Operation: Mindcrime.

Tate: "First of all, we are opening for the two bands, Alice and Heaven and Hell. So, no we will have a very sparse set-up production wise. We are pulling from all of our different records for this tour. We are going to be playing different sets every night. Different set ups, so we kind of rotate some of our songs around. So fans that come to multiple shows, can see a different show and a different set from us."

Deb Rao: Do you think you will find it hard to pick out the songs every night?

Tate: "Yes, it is always difficult to put together a set list. I don't know why. It is difficult on one level because, well we have a lot of songs. We have over 135 published songs to choose from. Not all of that work very well lives. But quite a few of them do. It is always a challenge to pick what is going to be in the set."

Deb Rao: Actually, you worked with Ronnie James Dio on Operation: Mindcrime II. He was Dr. X. How did this transpire?

Tate: "I called him up. I played him the song, over the phone. He really likes it. He said send it to me, and I let me wrap my head around it. He called me back, and said, 'Let’s do it.' That is how it all happened.

Deb Rao: His voice fits in so well with the character and theme. Do you agree?

Tate: "Oh yes, very much. It was wonderful working with him. He really gave the character of Dr. X a certain sinister quality that I don't think any one else could have down."

Deb Rao: Now Queensrÿche recently wrapped up a huge North American tour. It has been almost twenty years since the debut of Operation: Mindcrime. What made you choose this period in time to unveil the sequel to Operation: Mindcrime?

Tate: "As a songwriter you kind of go where your inspiration takes you. The Mindcrime sequel was originally slated to follow The Empire album in 1993 or so. We had gone off on some sort of musical direction at that point. We honestly couldn't wrap our heads around coming up with a sequel at that time. In retrospect, I am kind of glad that it took so long to come out because I think we all needed a little bit of life experience in order to conclude the story. I think too, the record coming out this time also kind of fits the circumstances of where the country is right now. Where our leadership is. It is very similar now to what it was back in the late 80's when that album was written. It is a very similar time. It is kind of strange. The kind of parallel each other along the way."

Deb Rao: Was it hard as a songwriter to approach the song-writing and theme for Operation: Mindcrime ll? I know you said you have evolved so much since the debut release.

Tate: "Well in some ways, we approached it in a very similar way. We really wanted to first and fore most to capture the mood with the songs. We wanted the songs to have a certain sound that was reminiscent of the first album. We looked at the sound as being sort of a sounds cape or a backdrop to what the story was doing. We rented a lot of vintage equipment and brought it into the studio and kind of relearned how to use it all. We tried to dial up a similar sounds cape so that we could set the story in it. We put together a story outline. We would sit around, and I would say this song is a bout a chase. It is about these two characters Dr. X and Nikki, who are having this argument. The argument is of course being sung, as a musical figure. The music needs to sound real energetic and needs to have sort of a conflicted feel. Everyone would throw out examples of how he or she felt and how the piece should sound like. We chose what we liked the best and developed it into a song. We did that for each piece."

Deb Rao: It is exciting too, because you also had actors portray the parts too. How hard was it to find the right actors for the production?

Tate: "It was kind of fun to try them out and see what worked and didn't work. The whole part about putting together a production like this is you try to explain it to people and you say this is your character and this is kind of the way we think. This is what they look like and this is what they would do if they were in this kind of situation. There is a lot of communication that takes place, where you are describing the character. Some people can really wrap their heads around that and other people have no idea what you are talking about. They didn't of course get the job. (Laughter)"

Deb Rao: Let's talk about your new CD that is now available, Mindcrime At The Moore. It is a live double CD and DVD featuring both Operation: Mindcrime and Operation: Mindcrime II in their entirety. Also there is documentary in which you discuss your work with VH1 Save The Music. Queensrÿche is performing in your hometown of Seattle. How rewarding is it as a musician to have this product recorded and unveiled, especially in your hometown of Seattle?

Tate: "It is rewarding. It is wonderful to look at it finally finished. The project has been going on a long time. The whole Mindcrime project is 18 years old. The sequel has been bouncing in back of my head for many years. To finally see it all on film and finished is a wonderful feeling. It is kind of sad in a way that it is over. But on the other hand, I am very happy that it is over, as well so now the fans can enjoy it."

Deb Rao: It is perfect timing. It is so ironic to, when you first released Operation: Mindcrime did you have in the back in your mind that you would indeed write a sequel? You definitely left the story line open.

Tate: "Yes, that is exactly it. It is kind of like a two part story. Where you have your set up and character development and then you have an antagonist, which is Dr. X, and then you have the conflict between the characters and then there is an action that happens, and then a pause or intermission. In this cause the intermission was 15 years. (Laughter) before Act II."

Deb Rao: As an artist, what inspires you to write a song. So much of Queensrÿche material is written from the heart.

Tate: "Life is the inspiration. Things that happen to you. People that you meet. Circumstances that you find yourself in. World events and social politics. Everything is really fair game, when it comes to song-writing, there is so much inspiration out there."

Deb Rao: How do you feel about the music industry today? Do you feel that there is a whole new generation of fans discovering the band for the first time?

Tate: "Yes, most definitely. We have age ranges from 15 to 45. It is pretty amazing. Our fans, have had children. Those children have come to the shows and they bring their friends. It is a whole new thing, in some respect. In fact, I was talking to a group of young people backstage one night after the show and I said, 'What brings you to the show?' They said you guys are legends. We really wanted to see you before you are all dead. (Laughter)"

Deb Rao: Also Queensrÿche is kind of responsible for the MTV unplugged phenomenon and have appeared on many Metal Mania releases.

Tate: "Yes, that is the basic for a song right there, the chord changes and the melody. I really love doing acoustic renditions of songs. I love stripping things down to a real basic form. It is very satisfying. Also playing acoustically, it is very different than playing with the band. In that I can hear it myself, so damn well. I love hearing the intricacies of what is going on musically. Sometimes when you get volume involved, and big distorted guitars it kind of steps on a lot of the subtleties that are going on within the music."

Deb Rao: Geoff, you have had such an extensive career. Is it the completion of Operation: MIndcrime ll the highlight of your career and the thing you are most proud of ?

Tate: "I am happy every day, I wake up. It is a wonderful life. It is a wonderful career. I play music with people I really love. We are very lucky to be still doing this. But also on the other hand, luck has something to do with it, but it is a lot of hard work. It takes a lot of energy and focus to get everybody together on the same page and write a record. It is hard to put together the promotion for the record and get out there and support it on the tour. It is a lifestyle that you have to dedicate yourself to. Thank you for the support."