Former Queensrÿche vocalist Geoff Tate, 66, recently shared a pivotal piece of musical advice he received, likely from KISS icon Gene Simmons, that has guided his extensive career: to always “follow your heart” and write authentically. Speaking on a new episode of the “Monsters, Madness And Magic” podcast with Justin Young, Tate also discussed his ongoing busy touring schedule, which includes the “Operation: Mindcrime – The Final Chapter” tour, where he performs the classic concept album in its entirety for the last time.
Recalling the influential advice, Tate said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth): “I don’t know who told me this, actually, but I think that it was Gene Simmons from KISS. We were talking about writing music and that kind of thing, and he said, ‘I think the best thing you can do is always just follow your heart. Follow what’s interesting, write about what’s interesting to you, and don’t try to please people. Don’t try to write something for somebody else. Write what you know.’ And maybe that doesn’t sound like something Gene would say, but I think he’s very right about that.”
Tate elaborated on how this has shaped his artistic philosophy: “You really have to write for your own stake of writing and write the music you hear in your head and not try to please your genre or try to make everybody else happy, because you’ll never be happy on your own if you’re always trying to make other people happy. And you’ll never really show your own voice or find your own voice artistically if you’re always trying to please other people. So, I don’t know. That’s the route I’ve always taken. And it’s the advice I give people as well: follow your heart.”
True to this mantra, Tate remains actively engaged with his fanbase through extensive touring. “Oh, gosh. Yeah, it’s festival season here in Europe, and so I’m playing a few festivals around the region,” he explained. “And kind of gearing up for my U.S. tour, which begins again in September. [I’m going out for] another sweep through North America. I’m gonna be going into Canada this time, which I’m excited to see all the Canadian fans, since I haven’t been there in a few years. So, yeah, that’s pretty much it. Tour. Tour, tour.”
Much of his current live activity is centered around the “Operation: Mindcrime – The Final Chapter” tour, which reportedly kicked off its U.S. leg on March 18, 2025. This special tour sees Tate performing Queensrÿche‘s legendary 1988 album Operation: Mindcrime in full for what is being billed as the final time.
Fans have numerous opportunities to catch Geoff Tate live throughout 2025.
Geoff Tate – Upcoming Live Performances 2025:
Europe – Festivals & “Big Rock Show” Dates (June/July/August):
- June 06 – Gelsenkirchen, Germany – Amphitheater Gelsenkirchen (Rock Hard Festival)
- July 04 – Goleniów, Poland – Goleniowski Dom Kultury (Rock Hard Ride Free Festival featuring Geoff Tate’s Big Rock Show)
- July 05 – St Julian’s, Malta – Eden Arena (2025 Malta Metal Weekend featuring Geoff Tate’s Big Rock Show)
- July 12–15 – Civitavecchia, Italy (Port) – Rock N Roll Experience Cruise
- July 19 – Venice, Italy – Zattere – On a Barge (Operation: Mindcrime – The Final Chapter European)
- July 26 – Chania, Greece – East Moat Theater (Chania Rock Festival featuring Geoff Tate’s Big Rock Show)
- July 31 – Glasgow, UK – Classic Grand Ballroom (Operation: Mindcrime – The Final Chapter European)
- Aug. 16 – Deest, Netherlands – Festival Zeeltje Rock (Geoff Tate’s Big Rock Show)
- Aug. 30 – Campulung Muscel, Romania – Posada Rock Festival (Geoff Tate’s Big Rock Show)
- Sep. 13 – Torreilles, France – Pyrenan Warriors Open Air IX (Operation: Mindcrime – The Final Chapter European)
North America – “Operation: Mindcrime – The Final Chapter” Tour (USA & Canada – September/October/November):
- Sep. 05 – Peoria, IL – TempleLive
- Sep. 06 – Des Plaines, IL – Des Plaines Theatre
- Sep. 07 – Iowa City, IA – First Avenue Club
- Sep. 09 – Thunder Bay, ON – Thunder Bay Community Auditorium (Canada)
- Sep. 23 – Memphis, TN – Minglewood Hall
- Sep. 24 – Franklin, TN – Franklin Theatre
- Sep. 25 – Greenville, SC – Radio Room
- Sep. 26 – Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues
- Sep. 27 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre
- Sep. 28 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore
- Sep. 30 – Rocky Mount, VA – Harvester Performance Center
- Oct. 01 – Hopewell, VA – Beacon Theatre
- Oct. 02 – Glenside, PA – Keswick Theatre
- Oct. 03 – Greensburg, PA – Palace Theatre
- Oct. 04 – Jim Thorpe, PA – Penn’s Peak
- Oct. 05 – Harrisburg, PA – XL Live
- Oct. 07 – Derry, NH – Tupelo Music Hall
- Oct. 08 – Hartford, CT – Infinity Hall
- Oct. 09 – Newton, NJ – Newton Theatre
- Oct. 10 – Red Bank, NJ – Count Basie Theater
- Oct. 11 – Tarrytown, NY – Music Hall
- Oct. 12 – Fairfield, CT – Sacred Heart Theatre
- Oct.1 14 – Providence, RI – The Strand
- Oct. 15 – Boston, MA – The Wilbur
- Oct. 16 – Patchogue, NY – Patchogue Theatre
- Oct. 17 – Homer, NY – Center for The Arts
- Oct. 18 – North Tonawanda, NY – Riviera Theatre
- Nov. 06 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
- Nov. 07 – Las Vegas, NV – Theatre at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
- Nov. 09 – Fresno, CA – Tower Theatre
- Nov. 11 – Roseville, CA – Goldfield Trading Post
- Nov. 13 – San Diego, CA – Observatory NP
- Nov. 14 – Beverly Hills, CA – The Saban Theater
- Nov. 15 – Agoura Hills, CA – The Canyon Club
- Nov. 16 – San Juan Capistrano, CA – The Coach House
- Nov. 18 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
- Nov. 19 – Bremerton, WA – Admiral Theatre
- Nov. 20 – Airway Heights, WA – Northern Quest Casino
- Nov. 21 – Edmonds, WA – Edmonds Center for the Arts
- Nov. 22 – Crescent City, CA – Elk Valley Casino
Special Event:
- Dec. 31 – San Antonio, TX – Deco Ballroom and Event Center (New Year’s Eve hosted by Geoff Tate – Acoustic Greatest Hits)
