Anthology

GEOFF TATE is the lead singer of the progressive metal band Queensrÿche. He joined the band in 1981, and in 1983, they released their self-produced EP. Since then, the band has released eleven studio albums and additional EPs and DVDs. The band has sold over 20 million albums worldwide.

Tate is ranked fourteenth on Hit Parader’s list of the 100 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All Time, and is listed as the 12th greatest male vocalist in the rock genre by Digital Dream Door. He cites Rob Halford of Judas Priest and Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden as his main influences.

In 2002, Tate released his self-titled solo album with Sanctuary Records. Of the experience, Tate commented, “The problem when you’re in a creative environment is keeping things fresh and invigorating, and after working with the same people for twenty years, it gets very difficult-You walk into the room, and everybody knows what everybody is going to do,” explains the frontman. “There’s no spark of new blood, the chemistry is very tried and true, and you just keep coming up with the same ways of expressing yourself. What’s nice about doing a side project with new people, is that it’s a whole new breed, and a bunch of new ideas, musical backgrounds, emotional baggage, and whatever else it takes to create. It’s a whole new set of parameters, so it’s all new, everyone has ideas you haven’t heard before, and everyone is throwing them against the wall. It takes on a whole new life.”

Queensrÿche just wrapped up their 30th anniversary tour. Their most recent release, Dedicated to Chaos, sees the band stepping outside of their traditional conceptual format and into a more melodic collection of songs.

Tate recently made his film debut acting in the Fires at Midnight Films’ movie “The Burningmoore Incident.”