Queensryche Future In Doubt?

While certain facts are a little sketchy at the moment, it seems that there will be at least a temporary parting of the ways for most of Queenrsyche and their singer.

What we do know is that the four current members, Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, Scott Rockenfield and Parker Lundgren, have recruited Crimson Glory singer Todd La Torre for a new band called Rising West. The band will hit the road later this year to perform material from Queensryche's first five albums, and they also have plans to record new material.

We also know that Tate is underway with a solo acoustic tour in North America, and while he has been performing occasional shows with Queensryche in recent months a bizarre incident occurred last weekend which saw Tate tell an audience that "they suck".

There are also some unsubstantiated rumours that Tate attacked his bandmates backstage at a show in Sao Paulo back in April.

According to Metal Talk, Tate overheard the rest of the band talking about firing him and after a heated discussion he supposedly pushed Michael Wilton to the ground and then apparently pointed a knife at Scott Rockenfield.

However, a publicist for the band suggested to Ultimate Classic Rock that these stories of a split were unfounded:

"There’s really no ‘situation’ other than the fact that Geoff Tate is concentrating on his acoustic solo performances this summer while the other members of the band have formed a new outfit called Rising West with Todd La Torre of Crimson Glory. Everyone wants to stay busy, try new things and do what they do best . . . and, of course, that’s rock in front of the masses. Queensryche are slated to perform select dates throughout the year."

In the meantime, Todd La Torre has released a clip of himself performing Queensryche's Queen Of The Reich to give fans a taster of what to expect of Rising West's forthcoming shows: