Geoff Tate

Geoff Tate, 2002

Geoff Tate (born Jeffrey Wayne Tate, January 14 1959, in Stuttgart, West Germany) is an American singer and musician, best known for his work with the progressive metal band, Queensrÿche. He is regarded as one of the most skilled and versatile vocalists in the heavy metal genre, and cited as one of the most talented rock singers of all time. Hundreds of modern, popular artists cite him and his band as major influence. [1]

Career

Shortly after his birth his family relocated to Tacoma, Washington. Geoff started off his musical career with progressive band Myth, on lead vocals and keyboards, along with Kelly Gray (who later was Queensrÿche's first attempt at a replacement for guitarist Chris DeGarmo). He joined Queensrÿche (then called The Mob) in 1981. The band already had a full demo of songs, but there was one still left without lyrics. "The Lady Wore Black" became Geoff's first penned song with the band. In 1983 the band released their self produced and self titled debut EP. His 4-octave range, unique tone and intense expressiveness have permanently put him on the map as one of the finest vocalists of the Heavy Metal style. Tate has also separated himself from many other artists of his genre by writing with a social conscience as "the thinking man's metal band." Lyrics with these socially conscious themes were present on Operation: Mindcrime, developed more on Empire, and really came to fruition on the divergent work Promised Land.

In 2002, Tate released his first (self-titled) solo album on Sanctuary Records.

It has been rumoured for quite a while that Tate would be involved in a project with Judas Priest lead singer, Rob Halford (with whom he previously collaborated on Hear 'n Aid), and Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson, in a metal project resembling The Three Tenors. The project was to be called The Three Tremors. However, other than a few live performances, the project has not seen the light of day.

On January 22nd, it was reported that Queensrÿche frontman Geoff Tate would make his acting debut in an upcoming horror movie 'House of Eternity', alongside Candice Night of Blackmore's Night fame.

Geoff has three daughters: Sabra, Bella, and Emily.

Discography

Queensrÿche

• Queensrÿche – August 12, 1983
• The Warning – September 7, 1984
• Rage for Order – 1986
• Operation: Mindcrime – May 3, 1988
• Empire – August 20, 1990
• Operation: LIVEcrime – October 28, 1992
• Promised Land – October 18, 1994
• Hear in the Now Frontier – May 25, 1997
• Q2K – September 14, 1999
• Live Evolution – 2001
• Tribe – July 22, 2003
• The Art of Live – June 8, 2004
• Operation: Mindcrime II – March 31, 2006
• Mindcrime at the Moore - 2007
• Sign of the Times - August 28, 2007
• Take Cover - November 13, 2007

Solo

• Geoff Tate – June 25, 2002

External links

• Official home page
• Cleveland Disc Jockey Joe Kleon interviews Geoff Tate in 2006.