Stick a fork in them, they're done. When the war of words starts in public it's over.
Miranda Tate — stepdaughter of QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate and daughter of the band's manager, Susan Tate, as well as the former wife of the group's guitarist Parker Lundgren — has addressed much of the criticism that is being leveled at her stepfather over QUEENSRŸCHE's recent musical direction and the circumstances that have led to an apparent falling out between Geoff and his bandmates.
As previously reported, QUEENSRŸCHE members Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, Scott Rockenfield and Parker Lundgren recently teamed up with powerhouse vocalist Todd La Torre of CRIMSON GLORY in a brand new band called RISING WEST. The group played its first two shows ever this past Friday (June 8) and Saturday, June 9 at the Hard Rock Café in Seattle, Washington, where they performed rare and classic hits from the first five QUEENSRŸCHE albums — from the 1983 EP through 1990's "Empire".
Several days prior to RISING WEST's live debut, the members of the group claimed in an online posting that they were "being denied access to [QUEENSRŸCHE's] Facebook page and website" while they were attempting to spread word about about RISING WEST's upcoming shows.
Earlier today (Monday, June 11), it was announced that QUEENSRŸCHE was canceling its appearance tonight at USANA Amphitheatre in West Valley City, Utah as the support act for SCORPIONS because "some of the members" of the band could not make the gig "for personal reasons." Rather than scrap the show completely, Tate decided to play the concert with his solo band, with which he has been touring for the past few months.
On Thursday, June 7, Miranda Tate — who has apparently been assisting her mother and stepfather in handling some of QUEENSRŸCHE's business affairs — posted the following message on Facebook:
"It's about time to get some truth on the table.
"1. No one...not Geoff or anyone else in QUEENSRŸCHE has posted on the Queensryche.com in months. Posting by all members was stopped at the same time. This was not Geoff's doing.
"2. Geoff and the other members of QUEENSRŸCHE can post any sort of event on the QUEENSRŸCHE Facebook just in the same fashion as they always have.
"3. Geoff is on the defensive and all the truth as to how hostile he has been treated will be known soon.
"4. Look back at who wrote the songs for QUEENSRŸCHE since Chris [DeGarmo, guitar] left. The heavy majority of the songs has been Geoff with an outside writer. This is due to very little to no material being submitted by the other members of the band.
"5. Geoff originally wanted to go in a different direction for the last QUEENSRŸCHE album... heavier. But for the first time in years the other guys were submitting songs. So Geoff used their material and 'Dedicated To Chaos' is what they together came up with. Don't believe me... check the credits.
"6. Geoff does the majority of the writing, the majority of the interviews, is there every day for the mix, produces with every producer while the other members are hardly ever in the room. I have watched this with my own eyes since I can remember. Geoff never complains and splits album sales royalties equally.
"7. Susan, as the band's manager, negotiated with outside writers (pissing them off) to give part of their publishing royalties to the other non-writing members of QUEENSRŸCHE.
"8. My family worked tirelessly and happily to keep QUEENSRŸCHE working.
"9. I e-mailed endlessly to get photos and words or anything to post (on the app or Facebook) for the fans from all the members in QUEENSRŸCHE and got little to nothing from any of them except Geoff.
"10. When our business attorney wrote an e-mail to the band stating how some of our employees did a fantastic job and thanking them... one of the other members of QUEENSRŸCHE (not Geoff) wrote back saying that he didn't want our employees thanked since they were being paid.
"11. No one has checked the fan club email or taken care of giving away one meet-and-greet pass since the Tates were stopped by the other members of the band from doing it. However, Geoff has honored the QUEENSRŸCHE fan club and given away meet-and-greet passes to his solo shows.
"12. Every fan club event was planned by my family for the last several years and Geoff happily attended all while other members complained.
"13. Every concept for every tour was voted on by the band (including the cabaret). All members of QUEENSRŸCHE happily split equally, all the money made from each tours although some (not Geoff) complained later when some of the tour concepts were received with less-than-open arms. Geoff stood by the creative decision and took the good with the bad.
"So before you think the man that worked the hardest by a long way for years and years is a tyrant then think again. You don't know the facts."
Shortly after Miranda posted the above message, Misty Rockenfield, wife of QUEENSRŸCHE drummer Scott Rockenfield, replied with the words "This is all a flat-out lie." This was followed by another online missive by Miranda, written in part as a response to some of the other questions raised by QUEENSRŸCHE fans on various Internet forums.
Miranda wrote: "The Facebook has always been run by an [administrator], NO member has ever had 'direct' access to the Facebook page. I used to update the QUEENSRŸCHE app. I sent countless emails to ALL members of the band asking for content and received little to nothing from everyone except [Geoff Tate]. This is the same with the Facebook page. Not one e-mail, text, phone call etc. has been made from any member of RISING WEST asking to promote their shows. Instead they came out with they are blocked from the site. Geoff Tate, on the other hand, sends his info to the admin to update with his events.
"The reasons that comments are banned is because too many people were writing profane things so instead of someone having to monitor posts 24/7 posts were banned for the time being.
"By Misty stating that 'this is ALL a flat-out lie' is untrue she is saying that the members don't vote, that passes are still being issued, etc. Many of the things I stated in my original post can be proven true by looking at CD credits, the fan club etc.
"Also most of 'Operation: Mindcrime 2' [QUEENSRŸCHE's 2006 album] was recorded in my basement — I was there every day so I saw first-hand who really shows up and did work everyday and that was [Jason] Slater [producer], Mike Stone [former QUEENSRŸCHE guitarist] and Geoff. The other members were not very involved and this was true for many recent endeavors as well. That being said, Misty's comment doesn't hold up.
"Also I know Geoff Tate is doing some interviews this week that will also give his point of view."
