QUEENSRYCHE SIGNS WORLDWIDE RECORD DEAL WITH CLEOPATRA RECORDS
FOR AN EFFORT THAT WILL FEATURE GUEST APPEARANCES BY
K.K. DOWNING OF JUDAS PRIEST FAME, TY TABOR OF KING’S X AND BOBBY BLOTZER OF RATT
LINE-UP FOR FORTHCOMING CD AND 25TH ANNIVERSARY MINDCRIME TOUR NOW SET
IN STONE WITH ADDITION OF DRUMMER SIMON WRIGHT AND GUITARIST ROBERT SARZO
QUEENSRYCHE — featuring original lead singer GEOFF TATE at the helm — have just signed a worldwide record deal with Los Angeles-based independent record label, Cleopatra Records.
Although a line-up was originally announced in the fall of 2012, things have changed.
The band will now feature GEOFF TATE along with bassist RUDY SARZO (Ozzy/Dio/Whitesnake/Quiet Riot), guitarist KELLY GRAY (Queensryche 1998 – 2001), keyboardist RANDY GANE and stellar new additions, guitarist ROBERT SARZO (Quiet Riot/Hurricane) and drummer SIMON WRIGHT (AC/DC /Dio/Rhino Bucket).
WRIGHT takes over for previously announced drummer BOBBY BLOTZER, who will be returning to RATT as an integral part of the band that made him famous.
“I’m very much looking forward to being involved in the Queensryche project with Geoff,” states SIMON WRIGHT. “I’ve always admired his singing and songwriting and working with Rudy Sarzo again is going to be cool! Between this and my other project, Dio Disciples, I look forward to a very busy year!”
QUEENSRYCHE, with all members cited above, will soon be entering the studio for the first Cleopatra effort due out later this year.
The recording will mark the band’s thirteenth studio album and its first with this particular line-up.
Legendary guitar slinger K.K. DOWNING of Judas Priest fame will be making a special guest appearance on the forthcoming CD as will King’s X guitarist TY TABOR and RATT drummer BOBBY BLOTZER.
TY TABOR comments, “I’m very happy that Geoff considered me for this record. It will be great to play with all of these great musicians.”
Beginning in early April, QUEENSRYCHE will be hitting the road to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the band’s epic 1988 release, Operation: Mindcrime, performing all fifteen songs from the album (including “Revolution Calling,” “Operation: Mindcrime,” “I Don’t Believe in Love” and “Eyes of a Stranger”) along with other well-known hits and rarities from the catalog they’ve compiled over the past 30 years (see list of scheduled dates below).
“I try to surround myself with the best players available and feel our longtime fans deserve nothing less,” says long time QUEENSRYCHE front man GEOFF TATE. “I expect the forthcoming effort to be one of our best yet.”
Last November, TATE released his first solo CD in over a decade titled, Kings & Thieves (InsideOut Music) and toured with his solo band in support of the CD, which included dates with the legendary Alice Cooper.
For additional information, please see QUEENSRYCHE’s official website at www.queensryche.com.
25TH ANNIVERSARY OPERATION: MINDCRIME TOUR 2013*
April 6 – Peppermill Casino in West Wendover, Nevada
April 9 – Belly Up in Aspen, Colorado
April 11 – Paramount Theatre in Denver, Colorado
April 12 – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico
April 13 – Chrome in Las Vegas, Nevada
April 14 – Marquee Theater in Tempe, Arizona
April 16 – Rialto Theatre in Tucson, Arizona
April 17 – The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, California
April 18 – The Canyon Club in Agoura, California
April 19 – Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, California
April 20 – Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California
April 21 – Fillmore in San Francisco, California
April 22 – Ace of Spades in Sacramento, California
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