Vocalist GEOFF TATE (QUEENSRŸCHE) is featured in a new interview with SonicAbuse.com. An excerpt is available below:

Q: Aside from your solo record (Kings & Thieves) you are putting together, or have put together a new version of Queensrÿche. Does not that problem of expectation come with reassembling a band under that name?

Tate: "Yeah it does. Yeah – it’s definitely something we have to think about. It’s too bad really, but I guess it’s the nature of the beast."

Q: It sounds as if that’s a very frustrating thing to deal with – and obviously you have all this solo material – is that going to cross over into the new version of Queensrÿche or are you keeping the two fairly separate?

Tate: "Well I see them as separate projects really. Primarily the new Queensrÿche is getting together for touring purposes and we’re going to hit the road in April with our live presentation. Now, whether our association together is a creative one, where we can actually make some music together, really remains to be seen. I hope it does. I hope we’ll all get in one room and all of a sudden everyone’s getting ideas and we’re all throwing them out and hitting the record button as fast as we possibly can – I hope that happens, that’s always something that I look forward to when collaborating with people. But I would hate to come to some sort of ‘jump the gun’ situation and say 'Oh yeah – we’re going to make a record' or whatever before the chemistry is really tested. I mean I know Rudy (Sarzo / WHITESNAKE, QUIET RIOT) and Bobby (Blotzer / RATT); I’ve known those guys for thirty years and we’ve talked a lot about music over the years and actually made plans to make music together before, so I think there may be a possibility there to make something new. But I’m hesitant about jumping the gun and saying whether we’re going to make a record because I just don’t know, honestly."

Go to this location for the complete interview.

Further laying down the gauntlet and keeping the music he's created over the past three decades alive, Tate will be taking the newly-announced line-up on the road next year to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the band's epic 1988 release, Operation: Mindcrime.

The tour - with dates slated to begin in April (see below) - will feature the arsenal of bassist Rudy Sarzo, drummer Bobby Blotzer, guitarist Kelly Gray (Queensrÿche/MYTH) and keyboardist Randy Gane (Myth) along with special guest appearances and plenty of surprises.

"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 comes 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.