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Shockwave: You have a new album, "Frequency Unknown". There's a new lineup, obviously, and also a plethora of guest musicians on the album. Did the guests play on the new tracks or the remakes?
Geoff Tate: They played on the new tracks.
What was the motivation behind re-recording some of the classics?
The record company wanted it. I really had no interest in doing it at all. I did it to make them happy.
On this tour, you're playing all of "Operation:Mindcrime". 25 years after its release, the themes you sing about are still relevant today. In your world travels, have you observed any progress in the human condition?
I think being plugged into the internet worldwide is going to be a major catalyst for change. We can find out so much so quickly now. We can comment on current events so quickly, and I think that's a good thing. We can have a discussion about topics immediately and that is going to change people's perceptions and thinking about things a lot faster. You look at a topic like gay rights, for example. Man, it's snowballed now. Where 10 years ago people who didn't have an opinion about it, now are very opinionated about it. We are having discussions about it and legislators are changing the laws. Same thing with marijuana, now it's legal in several states and 10 years ago you would never dream that would happen. Perceptions shift when there is more information out there and there is more chance for things to change. I think things are shifting radically now, very quickly. I think that's a good thing.
I was in high school when "Mindcrime" came out, and you certainly opened my eyes to what politicians and religious leaders were really doing. You can't hide it any more.
It's certainly out there. The methods for hiding it have changed. Now the way to hide it is to create an avalanche of misinformation, which has been pretty effective. Now we know too much and it's hard to pick what truth is.
I am going through a divorce. Our only goal is to be the best parents that we can be, by respecting and supporting each other. You are going through a similar situation. If the fans are Queensryche's children, will they be forced to choose sides, or can they find a way to love both parents equally?
Well they don't have to choose sides. Some people decide to do that. I think it would be easier and they would be happier if they didn't choose sides, and just accepted that this situation is happening, and move on with their life.
There is definitely room to support each other through everything.
Yeah! It's a great opportunity for both, I hate to say "sides" but I guess that's what it is, to reinvent themselves and create something new, which is great.
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