Queensryche-Interview

Jenn Cohen | July 1, 2013 | 1 Comment

Queensryche: Todd Lundgren, Michael Wilton, Todd LaTorre, Ed Jackson, Scott Rockenfield

by Mark Sundermeier

Queensryche are a quintessential mainstay within the progressive rock movement and have been for over 30 years. They have been nominated for Grammy Awards for such ground breaking discs as Operation: Mindcrime & Empire and have a very decorated and respected place in halls of Rock-n-Roll history. The band parted ways with original vocalist Geoff Tate in 2012, and have replaced him with vocalist Todd LaTorre (formerly of Crimson Glory). They have recently released the self-titled Queensryche disc on Century Media Records and it is clearly (in this writers opinion), their best work since 1990’s Empire. I sat down to speak with the band at a Festival in Sheridan, Wyoming, at the end of June, this is how our conversation went…

Queensryche are Scott Rockenfield (drums), Michael Wilton (lead guitar), Todd LaTorre (vocals), Eddie Jackson (bass), Parker Lundgren (rhythm guitar).

CMB: Why did the band decide to part ways with Geoff Tate?

SR: This really began several years back and has been has like a divorce for us. It started by stemming from musical differences in songs that we were writing, and songs from our catalog that we wanted to play live that we were not doing. Michael, Eddie and I started in this band, and had even worked together prior to that. We all used to have a common goal musically, and it just became a struggle working together many years back. So people ask “Why didn’t you just part ways years ago?” The truth is, that years pass by and you hope things will get better when everyone is not on the page. It’s a marriage, ya know? Bottom line is that we really wanted to be able to get back to playing music from our early days, and work stylistically toward what we think Queensryche is best at doing musically.

CMB: How do you guys feel about how he [Tate] has reacted publicly about the split and his usage of the name “Queensryche” with a new band?

MW: We do hear what is going on in the press with him through friends and whatnot, but we are really focused right now on rebuilding the Queensryche brand. Things for the band were just not running at an optimal level anymore. Very scattered business decisions were being made at the 11^th hour, and we were not feeling good about it. We have a new record label, a new publicist and a new booking agent. That is what we are very excited about. Our new business is running on all cylinders and this is a good thing.

SR: To tag onto what Michael was saying, we really do feel like there is only one Queensryche, and that is what we are doing now. This band has always been about the collective, creative energy that we make together. For any one of us to walk away and call themselves Queensryche is kind of a ridiculous situation in our eyes, so we just don’t really focus on it. The unfortunate part about all of this is the confusion for the fans and the media, but the benefit for us is that this is now a good positive working situation. When a judge makes a decision about this whole thing later this year, we feel pretty confident that we are doing the right thing.

CMB: How did the band come about meeting Todd La Torre?

TL: Craigslist (band laughs collectively). No, I met Michael at the NAMM convention last January (2012). He was working on musical pieces for television and film, and he asked me to write with him as a side project. This built a great repore between us very quickly. Geoff was off working his solo record at the time and Queensryche was on the back burner. In their downtime, this eventually brought up an idea to have me come in and sing with the guys, and play tunes that the band wasn’t doing currently. We played a couple of shows as Rising West mostly just for the fans last June. As you know, certain events unfolded and it wasn’t working out with Geoff. This opened the door for me to continue on with these guys as Queensryche…and here we are.

CMB: You guys sound re-invigorated on the new disc. What was it like for the band and for Todd writing music together in this new environment?

SR: It was fantastic! With Todd and Parker’s creative input on this disc, it was the best time I’ve had writing in at least 20 years. With these guys on board, we were able to say, “Wow, we now have a team of people who are on the same plain as us”.

EJ: Todd is also a guitarist and drummer so it really helped us to communicate much better as a team within the writing process.

PL: Things have actually gone so well writing the new record, that new recordings are already in the works! We already have 4 or 5 tunes ready to go for a new disc. It’s a very exciting time for us all.

TL: In this band, there are really no egos, so it is very easy to pitch a part to another person in the band if it’s a cohesive or better idea. We have all collaborated on each other’s parts, and everyone in the band has brought vocal melodies to the table as well. The new disc is really a true representation of everyone pouring their ideas into the pot. There has been so much enthusiasm on all sides, and it just reaffirms that we are doing things the right way.

CMB: Jim “Jimbo” Barton, who engineered the band’s most commercially successful discs, Operation: Mindcrime, Empire and Promised Land was on board to produce the new disc. How was it for you to work with him again?

EJ: It’s been great having Jimbo back around for the new album for sure.

SR: Jimbo is like a 6th member in this band. He really knows us well and we have a great relationship.

TL: From day one, working on this record with Jimbo was mind blowing. He remembered exact settings and amp configurations used on those records. He knew exact guitars and amps that Michael used on certain tunes, and because of this, [he] really knew how to get the correct tones needed for these recordings. The songs are no nonsense in part because Jim would say, “This part is really doing nothing for me, so let’s talk about changing it.” It was a true collaborative effort on everyone’s part.

CMB: Some of the disc sounds very dark tonally. Was this intentional, and were there a lot of Alt tunings used on the recordings?

MW: Yes, some of the songs have “different” tunings (band laughs collectively). Take “A World Without” for example.

SR: I write many things with pianos, computers and sound effects. So in this case, I gave a demo to Michael and said, “I have no idea what fuckin key this is in,” (band laughs) but I like the idea.” He always finds a way to make things work!

CMB: Todd, tell our readers a bit about your musical background please…

TL: I started playing guitar when I was ten, drums when I was 13. I have always enjoyed singing, but am not a formall- trained vocalist. I’ve always sung for fun, but have only done it professionally for three years. I had a friend who introduced me to Jon of Crimson Glory a few years back. I jammed with them, and ultimately did their 25^th Anniversary European Tour. We were working on a concept album that eventually fell flat…then I was introduced to these guys through Michael Wilton.

CMB: Todd, how does it feel to be the new front man for Queensryche?

TL: It’s amazing. It’s a thousand dreams come true. For this situation to come along…it’s surreal, very hard to put into words. I have been accepted into the family both personally, and as a writer, and it feel’s fantastic.

CMB: What sort of songs can fans expect to here on the current tour?

SR: You will certainly hear tunes from the new disc. You will also hear many tunes from the EP and The Warning, as well as a decent selection of Queensryche’s catalog.

Online: queensrycheofficial.com