Reporting for Canada’s The Metal Voice, Scott Wark sits down and talks to former singer of QUEENSRYCHEGeoff Tate at the end of Operation Mindcrime’s final tour date in Ottawa, Canada at The Brass Monkey.
On how far along the recording process they are for Part 2 and 3 of The Key trilogy
“Part 2 is primarily finished we just have to mix it which we will do when we get home next week. We have to turn the album in June 1, 2016. Part 3 is pretty far along, again it’s just doing overdubs and a lot of mixing.”
On the Musical direction on The Key Part 2 and 3
What we try to do for each record in this trilogy was to advance our perception of music to a different level each time kind of get more progressive as we go. For instance on the second album, that is coming out, there is longer arrangements on the songs, more movements, separate movements, rather than it being kind of being a standard arrangement that maybe people are used to. We kind of went more with are early influences of YES and King Crimson, early Genesis as a kind of model but infuse that with the modern technology, modern instruments that we have now.”
On whether he would consider going back to Queensryche
“No. When you betray somebody so badly, when you hurt them so badly, it’s really hard for the other person to forgive to the extent where hey everything is fine let’s make music. Making music is very personnel and you just don’t do that with everybody.”
On if he would ever release the demos by his first band MYTH
“A lot of those tracks turned into Queensryche tracks. No Sanctuary, Take hold of the flame, Walk in the shadows. Actually the intro to the show that we are doing now is taken from that demo from a song called LET US PRAY. Maybe, to answer your question. There are a couple of tracks that I really still quite like.”
On his thoughts on AC/DC touring without Brian Johnson
“I don’t know everything about it, just through Simon our Drummer who played with AC/DC for years that Brian can’t tour and they have this massive tour booked and the need a replacement singer and I heard something about Axl Rose.”
“Brian is one of the nicest guy that I ever met in the music business. When we toured with him every night he would hold a party in some local pub and basically packed with people and he would buy everybody drinks all night long, you weren’t allowed to take your wallet out. It was awesome.”
On Operation Monderime’s future tour plans and release date of the new album, The Key part 2
“We are going to Europe in June 2016 for a festival or two. But we won’t be touring again until winter with the release of the new album.”
Geoff Tate, the original singer of Queensryche and the current singer of the band Operation: Mindcrime, announces the release of his wine, “Insania” in Europe. He will be working with Friedhelm and Anne Rinklin of the Rinklin Winery to release an amazing white wine.
The Rinklin Winery is in the small village of Eichstetten, Germany in the Kaiserstuhl hills. The farm has existed since 1713 and were pioneers in the organic movement in Germany. Insania is an organic white wine made from the Pinot Gris or Grauer Burgunder grape. Geoff states, “I have always loved German white wines and the Rinklin wines are some of the very best.”
Geoff chose to work with Friedhelm Rinklin and his wife Anne because he felt that they care so deeply about their wines. They intentionally reduce yield which increases the quality. The wine matures with as little intervention or technology as possible. Geoff says, “Rinklin wines are such a product of nature with all the natural variations. They deliberately emphasize these variations which makes the wines more exciting. They run the winery according to old artisanal tradition believing nature provides everything a good wine needs.”
Geoff’s U.S. version of Insania red and white wines were released annually in the US starting with a 2007 vintage. The wines are made by Holly Turner of Three Rivers Winery in Walla Walla, Washington. Geoff’s U.S. Insania is almost completely sold out with a few bottles of red left at the Three Rivers Winery and a few cases scattered across wine shops in California. http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/Wine-Talk-Geoff-Tate_4436
British metallers I.C.O.N are confirmed to support OPERATION: MINDCRIME, the new musical project fronted by Geoff Tate, in Europe and the UK from 1st – 18th December 2015.
This part of OPERATION: MINDCRIME’s tour includes Slovakia, Italy, Germany, England, Austria, Switzerland, and France, and will see I.C.O.N branch out into new territories as they continue to promote their latest release ‘The Blacklist’.
Following the release of their critically acclaimed debut album ‘New Born Lie’ in 2009, I.C.O.N have consistently gone from strength to strength, continuing to build their fanbase across the UK and mainland Europe. The band have toured with and supported many international bands, while their music can also be found on the smash PC off-road driving game MOTORM4X.
Stunning, exciting live festival appearances, coupled with a strong work ethic, and literally hundreds of live shows have firmly established I.C.O.N as one of the UK’s fastest rising, hardest working, genuine, gritty metal acts.
‘New Born Lie’ has sold consistently well and the much anticipated follow-up album ‘The Blacklist’, was released in June 2015 as the band continue to hit the road within the UK and Europe.
01.12.2015 – Majestic Music Club, Bratislava, Slovakia
02.12.2015 – Teatro Miela, Trieste, Italy
03.12.2015 – Traffic, Rome, Italy
04.12.2015 – Circolo Colony, Brescia, Italy
08.12.2015 – Markthalle, Hamburg, Germany
09.12.2015 – Pumpwerk, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
10.12.2015 – River Rooms, Stourbridge, England
11.12.2015 – Chinnerys, Southend-on-Sea, England
12.12.2015 – Tivoli, Buckley, England
13.12.2015 – The Haunt, Brighton, England
15.12.2015 – Rockhouse, Salzburg, Austria
16.12.2015 – Komplex 457, Zurich, Switzerland
17.12.2015 – Matrix, Bochum, Germany
18.12.2015 – Le Forum, Vaureal, France
I.C.O.N are: Mark Sagar – Vocals, Scott Knowles – Guitar, Reece Bevan – Bass, Larry Paterson – Drums
In January, AVANTASIA‘s 7th studio album “Ghostlights” will be released via Nuclear Blast. After Jorn Lande, another guest star can be announced: OPERATION MINDCRIME vocalist Geoff Tate!
Tobias comments: “I am proud to announce a very special guest today: Mr. Geoff Tate! I have been fortunate enough to meet many amazing classic metal vocalists. Whenever we’ve talked about our influence as vocalists the name Geoff Tate was brought up. Throughout his incredible career of more than 30 years Geoff has constantly explored new territory as an artist and vocalist, while he has always managed to maintain this distinctive signature vocal sound that makes him stand out. His contribution sounds nothing but amazing, and you will immediately know why the man had such a huge impact on vocalists and fans around the globe! Enchanting, unique, amazing, progressive in the purest sense of the word! Thank you for joing the AVANTASIA family, Geoff Tate!”
AVANTASIA – »Ghostlights« World Tour 2016
04.03. D Berlin – Huxley´s*
05.03. D Hamburg – Große Freiheit*
06.03. D Bremen – Aladin*
08.03. UK London – The Forum*
09.03. F Paris – Le Trianon*
11.03. E Barcelona – Razzmatazz 1*
12.03. E Madrid – La Riviera*
15.03. D Frankfurt-Langen – Stadthalle*
16.03. CZ Prague – Forum Karlin*
18.03. D Kaufbeuren – All-Karthalle*
19.03. D Bamberg – brose-Arena*
20.03. D Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle*
22.03. I Milan – Alcatraz*
24.03. CH Pratteln – Z7*
25.03. CH Pratteln – Z7*
27.03. SK Banska Bystrica – Ice Stadium*
28.03. SK Bratislava – Sportshall*
29.03. A Tröpolach – Full Metal Mountain Festival
31.03. D Saarbrücken – Saarlandhalle*
01.04. D Ludwigsburg – Arena*
02.04. D Fulda – Esperantohalle*
*AVANTASIA play at least three hours, no more bands!
More dates in other countries in the works!
Jimmy Kay and Alan Dixon from Canada’s The Metal Voice recently spoke to Geoff Tate (Ex Queensryche) who’s current musical project called Operation Mindcrime will be releasing a concept album called “The Key” on September 18, 2015 on Frontiers, the first of three album installments.
Tate spoke about, the concept behind “The Key”, as well as the recording highs and lows of Queensryche‘s critically acclaimed albums “The Warning” and “Operation Mindcrime” and the closing of the infamous Le Studio Morin Heights where “Operation Mindcrime” was inspired and recorded.
When asked about Operation Mindcrime’s new concept album The Key
“When you write a concept record it definitely gives you the opportunity to do some different things that you normal wouldn’t do with a record of standalone songs because you are telling a story. So stories aren’t static they are very dynamic, there is lots of different moods you can explore within any given story. I like variance and variety. I go into it with single purpose of writing an entertaining story that is interesting and the challenge of matching music to that story so the listeners are transported on a musical route.”
When asked about being learning experiences in the early days in Queensryche from other bands such as Twisted Sister and Ronnie James Dio
“I wasn’t really aware of Twisted Sister at the time, so it was kind of an eye opening experience sharing the stage with these very tall New York guys who wore really elaborate makeup and hair, costumes and it was kind of an eye opening experience. They had a really cool presentation and I learned a lot from them as far as stage craft and just the way they handled themselves.”
“And some people that you meet on the way are very open to sharing their philosophy and there mindset their way of doing things, Ronnie Dio for example is a guy that was very helpful in the beginning stages of the Queensryche career, giving us advice helping us out he was a very giving person.”
When asked the bands mindset during the recording of Queensrcyhe first Full length album The Warning
“It was a real disappointment to everybody in the band at the time, cause of course it was taken out of our hands and mixed by somebody who didn’t care about it and and didn’t want the input of the band and it was quite a shocking experience.”
When asked what Geoff Tate spoken word was in the middle of the song Roads to Madness off the Warning Album
“It’s kind of strange I wrote what I was saying on a scrap of paper in the studio and then walked away from the microphone and never picked up the paper again, so it’s lost.”
On how the city Montreal, Canada inspired the story and characters of Operation Mindcrime
“Montreal Canada is a wonderful city very inspirational a lot of the Mindcrime story was written in Montreal. The story line came from my time I spent in Montreal. I used to go to this little club on St-Denis called Le Saint-Sulpice. At the time it was a dark dingy little place, the clientele was a mix of all these different kinds of people and that’s where I met some of the people that became characters in my story. And that’s where I used to spend all my time. Dr X character came from a guy that I met at Le Saint-Sulpice. Sister Mary was a composite of couple of different characters I met one was in Montreal the other was in Amsterdam.”
When asked if the whole album The Key will be played during the tour
“I plan on playing the entire album and then probably book ending the new album with songs from my past.”
Geoff Tate‘s OPERATION: MINDCRIME to unlock part one Of epic musical trilogy with release of “The Key” On tuesday, September 18 on Frontiers Music srl.
“The Key”, a twelve-song disc featuring such songs as “Burn,” “Re-Inventing the Future,” “Life or Death?” and “The Fall”, to expand minds through music by pondering the discovery Of “The Key” that could change the way we perceive the world.
Perhaps one of Tate’s most ambitious recordings to date, The Key examines what one might do if they discovered “the key” to changing the way we view the world, the way we look at time, the way we travel, and could essentially change the human condition… for better or for worse.
Fresh from the creative mind of Geoff Tate, The Key features a dozen songs (see entire track listing below) and marks part one of an epic musical trilogy that initiates that very question within a web of international politics, the world economy and social ethos.
The Key is the debut album under Tate’s new Operation: Mindcrime banner, a creative platform that continues in the spirit of the historic album of the same name, spawning concepts as grand as the music, and intertwining the intensity of the former Queensryche vocalist’s iconic past with the provocative, progressive mindset that has made him one of music’s most resolute forces and frontmen.
Geoff Tate has sold more than 25 million records at the helm of Queensryche, the band he fronted for 30 years from their inception through 2012, earning three Grammy nominations, five MTV Music Video Award nomimations, and one MTV Music Video Award along the way.
The landmark concept album Operation: Mindcrime thrust Tate’s unique social consciousness, style and expertly crafted lyrics into the national spotlight in 1988, and was followed by Empire in 1990, the album that delivered Queensryche to arena-headlining status and sold more than three million albums on the back of hit singles and radio staples “Silent Lucidity” and “Jet City Woman.”
By the time the band released Promised Land in 1994, Geoff Tate was universally acknowledged as one of the greatest frontmen in rock and metal, and a driving force behind one of the most innovative bands in mainstream music.
From Mindcrime and Promised Land through 2009’s overlooked gem American Soldier – Tate’s ambitious concept album that explores the consequences of war as told through the voices of veterans – Tate’s 13-album tenure with Queensryche was marked by exploration, intrigue, bold risks and gratifying results.
The Key continues in that fine tradition.
“Musically, this album is quite adventurous,” says Tate of his first release in a new worldwide deal with Frontiers Music SRL. “Of course there are key elements in the music, melody and phrasings that are really identifiable, but throughout my career I’ve opened my eyes and ears to new standards and arrangements, and that’s what keeps things fresh and exciting as an artist – we’ve thrown out the rules for this record, and it’s been really liberating. I’m a fan of old prog, and that music didn’t stick to rules. It’s inspiring and enjoyable to be able to explore, and it’s great being in a position to write without constraints.”
The results are a series of albums that don’t languish in nostalgia, instead offering listeners an opportunity to delve into a world of ideas and inspiration that Tate has been nurturing for the better portion of the last decade. Instead of asking, “Who killed Mary?”, Operation: Mindcrime now asks, “What are the implications of changing the world?”
“Like every album I’ve ever done, people will hear and experience it differently, and that is something that I look forward to,” continues Tate. “Music is an intimate experience – your inspirations are unique to you, and will be heard differently through every set of ears and experiences – but isn’t that really what makes art exciting? It inspires us all in different ways and for different reasons, and this album is no different. There are quite a few sections of this album that help propel the story with segues and dialogue, but the lyrics don’t lay out a breadcrumb trail and tell the story in a linear fashion, there’s a puzzle. We have several characters, and three other people singing lead vocals on the first album. That made it even more fun for me and helps give the album its own special character.
“Musically, there’s quite a smorgasbord, we’ve played with sound and established a sound palate – heavy guitar, obviously, cool drumming… all the music is very sophisticated, and there are interesting time changes, the band is playing with different countings and we switch throughout each piece. We can perform the verse in one feel, the bridge in another, and transition to a new chorus, very challenging stuff and lots of different sounds that people probably haven’t heard on one of my albums before – new and different guitar sounds and vocal treatments, very dynamic stuff.”
Joining Tate on The Key are a hard-hitting cast of familiar faces and new collaborators: bass players Dave Ellefson (Metal Allegiance) and John Moyer (Disturbed, Adrenaline Mob), drummers Simon Wright (AC/DC), Scott Mercado (Candlebox) and Brian Tichy (Billy Idol, Ozzy Osbourne), guitarists Kelly Gray (Queensryche) and Scott Moughton (Geoff Tate), keyboardist Randy Gane (Myth) and vocalist Mark Daly (The Voodoos).
Tate makes one point exceptionally clear – Operation: Mindcrime isn’t a band, it is a musical project of like-minded people uniting to achieve a common goal. While the songwriting rests predominantly on the shoulders of Tate, Gray and Gane, it’s up to every contributor to add their influence and help color the landscape.
“The songs on these records tell a story, and each song is a scene or chapter – every scene is different. The words tell the story, the musical bed, the chord progressions and melodies, they set the pace. That’s how I envisioned this album in total, very theatrical and definitely cinematic.
“How do we describe passion?” Tate asks in conclusion, cautiously answering his own question: “Music is a personal journey, and all you can do is write what moves you. That’s what passion is – it’s so difficult, yet it’s such an important human emotion. There are moments on this record that really impact me, the questions raised and the music those questions are set to… I don’t know if it will have that same effect on everyone else, but that’s where my passion and their passion meet. I do this because I love doing it. I love touring and I love playing live, performing with like-minded people in front of like-minded audiences, and being there in the moment together when all of our passions collide.”
And if, in the process, Geoff Tate can tell a story that turns people on end and keeps them talking long after the music has stopped playing? That’s not just icing on the cake, that’s what it’s all about…
That is Operation: Mindcrime.
And come this September, fans will have The Key.
With music videos currently in production and a first single that’s expected to be released by the end of this month, further mind expansion is yet to come.
OPERATION: MINDCRIME’S THE KEY TRACKLISTING:
Choices
Burn
Re-Inventing The Future
Ready To Fly
Discussions In A Smoke Filled Room
Life or Death?
The Stranger
Hearing Voice
On Queue
An Ambush Of Sadness
Kicking In The Door
The Fall
SNIPPETS OF “BURN,” “RE-INVENTING THE FUTURE,” “LIFE OR DEATH?” AND “THE FALL” CAN BE HEARD AT: https://youtu.be/zOEL6lc1Xsl
PRE-ORDER LINKS (GLOBAL) FOR OPERATION: MINDCRIME’S DEBUT ALBUM, THE KEY, ON AMAZON:
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