Queensryche Set New Album for June Release

Queensryche this spring will release their first new album since a messy split last year with former singer Geoff Tate. The band’s still-untitled album is due out June 11th, and features Todd La Torre on vocals.

The 10 Messiest Band Breakups: Queensryche

Tate and Queensryche split last April after an altercation during a band meeting while they were on tour in São Paulo, Brazil. Tate said the band fired his wife as their manager, and claimed drummer Scott Rockenfield smirked at him and commented, “We just fired your whole family, and you’re next.” In response, Tate tried to punch him, and a lot of shoving ensued. The rest of the band denies Rockenfield instigated the brawl and claimed Tate was unprovoked. “These are my ideas, my concepts,” Tate told Rolling Stone last June. “Are they gonna hand it to some kid to sing?”

Tate and his wife, Susan, filed a lawsuit in June alleging the band illegally fired him, and sought sole rights to the band’s name as part of the damages, according to Billboard. Their request was denied in July, but last September, the band filed a motion in Washington’s King County Superior Court to prevent Tate from using the Queensryche name. He had made reference in social media posts last September to “the Queensryche.”

A judge ruled Tate could use the Queensryche name for the time being until his lawsuit is settled. If the case goes to trial, it’s set for November 18th. The Tate-less Queensryche kick off a North American tour tomorrow in Dubuque, Iowa, and wrap up on March 30th in Uncasville, Connecticut.