Former Queensrÿche frontman Geoff Tate recently opened up about the logistical challenges of building a setlist, particularly when considering the prospect of performing all three installments of the legendary Operation: Mindcrime saga in a single live setting.
The veteran vocalist sat down for a brand new interview with V and Metalhead Fred on the “Creativity Talkin” podcast where he talked about the possibility of taking all three Operation: Mindcrime chapters (including the upcoming Operation: Mindcrime III) on the road, and also highlighted the sheer volume of material he wishes he could include in his live shows.
“It’s so difficult. I wish I could play everything I ever wrote. I really do. At least I’d like to do a concert, like a series of concerts, of just playing different stuff that I don’t normally play. There’s music on albums I’ve never played live. I would love to do that at some point. It’s just time in the day. What do you do?” Geoff said.
Delving into the practical limitations of live performances, he explained the stamina required from both the band and the audience to endure such a massive undertaking.
“Concerts are usually like around an hour and a half,” he continued. “That’s pretty much what audiences can withstand, really, at least for hard rock and metal shows. So, I don’t know. Mindcrime I, for example, is 60 minutes [long]. Mindcrime II is, like, 65 [minutes]. And actually, I haven’t timed the third one yet to know what it is. But it’s around that same [length]. It’s 13 songs, so it’s right around the same time, So there’s no way I could play all three back to back with an audience. I’d have to split ’em up. Do I do a matinee show, like an afternoon show, and then an evening show? Wait a minute. That’s a great idea.”
Operation: Mindcrime III is officially slated for release on May 3. The album’s explosive lead single, “Power“, will be made available this Friday, March 20.
During a recent appearance on the “Let There Be Talk” podcast hosted by comedian Dean Delray, Tate shared his enthusiasm for the lead track.
“It’s a cool track. ‘Power‘ is the first — I don’t know — we call ’em singles nowadays. It’s the first release on the album. And, yeah, it’s a really cool song — very, very energetic, very up, and kind of says a lot in a very short time, which I like,” he said.
The new track was co-written by Geoff Tate and his guitarist and producer, Kieran Robertson. The recording features a powerhouse lineup of musicians, including drum work by Rich Baur, bass lines laid down by Disturbed bassist and album co-producer John Moyer, and intricate guitar performances by Dario Parente and Amaury Altmayer. Furthermore, Geoff Tate and Kieran Robertson handled the song’s synth and string arrangements. The final mix and mastering were expertly executed by Juan Urteaga at Trident Studios in Pacheco, California.
