Y&T; frontman Dave Meniketti will make a guest appearance on the new album from GEOFF TATE's QUEENSRŸCHE. A photo of Tate and Meniketti in the studio can be seen below:

Geoff Tate recently checked in with the following update:

"My good friend, Brad Gillis with NIGHT RANGER, stopped by the studio today to play a solo on the new Queensrÿche record. Brad is an amazing player and completely shredded through the entire track."

Tate's current incarnation of Queensrÿche have signed a worldwide record deal with Los Angeles-based independent record label, Cleopatra Records.

Although a band line-up was originally announced in the fall of 2012, things have changed.

The band will now feature Tate along with bassist RUDY SARZO (OZZY OSBOURNE, WHITESNAKE), guitarist KELLY GRAY (Queensrÿche 1998 - 2001), keyboardist RANDY GANE, and new additions in guitarist ROBERT SARZO (QUIET RIOT, HURRICANE) and drummer SIMON WRIGHT (AC/DC, DIO).

Wright takes over for previously announced drummer BOBBY BLOTZER, who will be returning to RATT as an integral part of the band that made him famous.

"I'm very much looking forward to being involved in the Queensrÿche project with Geoff," states Wright. "I've always admired his singing and songwriting and working with Rudy Sarzo again is going to be cool! Between this and my other project, DIO DISCIPLES, I look forward to a very busy year!"

Queensrÿche, with all members cited above, will soon be entering the studio for the first Cleopatra effort due out later this year.

The recording will mark the band's thirteenth studio album and its first with this particular line-up.

Legendary guitar slinger K.K. DOWNING of JUDAS PRIEST fame will be making a special guest appearance on the forthcoming CD, as will KING'S X guitarist TY TABOR and Blotzer.

Tabor comments: "I'm very happy that Geoff considered me for this record. It will be great to play with all of these great musicians."

The Operation: Mindcrime 25th Anniversary tour is slated to begin in April (see below) with the new line-up.

"It's great to be performing with all of these guys who have been true friends for years," comments Geoff. "Kelly, Randy and I formed Myth more than 30 years ago and I've known Rudy and Bobby for several years as well. I think we are all inspired by the collaboration and couldn't be more excited to bring it to our fans next year."

In 2006, Queensrÿche brought the theatrical interpretation of the Mindcrime saga to audiences all over the world.

A year later, the band would release Mindcrime at the Moore, a double DVD featuring the theatrical performances of both Operation: Mindcrime I & II albums that debuted at #1 on the Billboard Music DVD Chart.

The DVD set would mark the band's first #1 chart debut, quickly achieving gold status, selling over 50,000 units.

The performance of Operation: Mindcrime next spring will cover all fifteen songs from the album including such fan favorites as 'Revolution Calling', 'Operation: Mindcrime', 'I Don't Believe in Love', and the closing track, 'Eyes of a Stranger'.

It will also feature other selections from the Queensrÿche catalog including songs from Operation: Mindcrime II.

The news of the 25th Anniversary Mindcrime Tour came just a few weeks after Tate's eagerly-awaited sophomore solo release, Kings & Thieves, was released on InsideOut Music.

His first solo release in more than a decade, Kings & Thieves is a journey into the mind of one of rock's most dynamic vocalists.

"My goal with this record was to make a solid rock album," says Tate. "I wanted it to be an album that I could play live that would be both satisfying and fun because, as a singer, you need to create a show that has a lot of dynamics to it and takes people on a ride."

25th Anniversary Operation: Mindcrime Tour 2013

April

6 - Peppermill Casino in West Wendover, Nevada
11 - Paramount Theatre in Denver, Colorado
12 - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico
13 - Chrome in Las Vegas, Nevada
14 - Marquee Theater in Tempe, Arizona
16 - Rialto Theatre in Tucson, Arizona
18 - The Canyon Club in Agoura, California
19 - 4th & B in San Diego, California
20 - Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California
21 - Fillmore in San Francisco, California

More dates to be announced.