The battle for Queensryche rages on. After being booted from the band earlier this year and then engaging in legal battles with the former members over the rights to the name, former Queensryche singer Geoff Tate has posted the lineup for his version of the band. This situation is turning into a soap opera.

Tate is planning to embark on an anniversary tour, backed by an all-star cast of musicians. While that would seem to be at odds with the idea of an anniversary tour, since it’s not the other original members of the band, the singer is planning to move forward with the Tate version of the ‘Ryche regardless.

Tate posted a banner on his personal website, referring to himself as “The Voice of Queensryche.” Tate still controls the band website, so a photo of him singing is all that is featured on the main homepage. He shared details of the new lineup on the official band site and the entirety of his text is below.

He claims to be positive and excited, despite the drama that has enveloped the band for the past several months.

I’m sure the last few months have been very frustrating for you.

I know they have been for me.

There are so many questions and so few answers. It is said that adversity makes one stronger.

Well, I’m definitely in a better place now than I’ve ever been before. I feel very positive and excited.

The challenge, when you’re in a creative environment, is keeping things fresh and invigorating, and after working with the same people for thirty years, it gets very difficult—You walk into the room, and everybody knows what everyone is going to do. There’s no spark, the chemistry is very tried and true and you just keep coming up with the same ways of expressing yourself.

Today is a new day and I am thrilled to announce the new Queensrÿche.

Joining me are: Rudy Sarzo, Bobby Blotzer, Glen Drover, Kelly Gray and Randy Gane.

Together we shall embark on a new musical journey that will be a greater extension of where Queensrÿche has ever been.

With this new project, with these new people, it’s a whole new scene. There are new ideas, different musical backgrounds and a whole new set of parameters. Everyone has ideas you haven’t heard before, and everyone is throwing them against the wall and suddenly … the music has a whole new life.

I look forward to this new life and I hope to see you on tour as all of us come together and begin this new era.

Geoff Tate

So Tate has recruited artists with serious metal cred and history. Sarzo (bass) has done time with Ozzy and Dio, while Blotzer drums for Ratt. Glen Drover was once a member of Megadeth and played with King Diamond!

Meanwhile, Tate’s former bandmates have replaced him in their version of the band with Todd La Torre of Crimson Glory fame.

More From Classic Rock 105.1