An End To The QUEENSRYCHE Saga
Monday, 28th April 2014
QUEENSRŸCHE members Eddie Jackson, Scott Rockenfield, Michael Wilton and Geoff Tate have released the following joint statement:
“We wanted to let QUEENSRŸCHE fans around the world know that an amicable settlement has been reached between Eddie Jackson, Scott Rockenfield, Michael Wilton and Geoff Tate with regard to the future of the QUEENSRŸCHE name. According to the agreement, original QUEENSRŸCHE members Eddie Jackson, Scott Rockenfield and Michael Wilton along with recent members, Todd La Torre and Parker Lundgren, will now be the sole entity recording and touring as QUEENSRŸCHE, performing selections from their entire musical catalog that spans over 30 years of material. Original QUEENSRŸCHE lead singer Geoff Tate will continue to record, perform and pursue a variety of other creative endeavors and, as part of the agreement, will have the exclusive rights to perform Operation: Mindcrime I and II in their entirety as a unique performance. Both sides wish each other well and are excited about what the future holds. We want to thank the fans for standing beside us through this ordeal and look forward to sharing our music with you for years to come.”
The QUEENSRŸCHE corporate assets will be evenly divided among Wilton, Jackson, Rockenfield and Tate.
According to The Seattle Times, Tate will embark on a brief QUEENSRŸCHE “farewell” tour this summer before launching a new chapter his career.
“It’s the rebirth of QUEENSRŸCHE and the way it used to be,” Wilton told The Seattle Times. “We’re rebuilding the QUEENSRŸCHE name.”
Added Tate: “One thing that’s really important for people to understand is that this never went to court. They [Wilton, Jackson and Rockenfield] bought the name from me. But I retain Operation: Mindcrime. It’s sort of similar to the PINK FLOYD situation where Roger Waters retained The Wall. Mindcrime was my thing and my story, so it’s appropriate that I keep that. So they will continue on as QUEENSRŸCHE, and I will continue on as me.”
