Good news, everyone! 🥳 That guy who used to sing for QUEENSRŸCHE (you know, before they got a *real* singer) Geoff Tate graced the stage of Center For The Arts Of Homer in Bumf*ck, New York, this past Friday, October 17. It was part of his “Operation Mindcrime: The Final Chapter” tour – because apparently, he hasn’t milked that dead cow enough. 🐄 Someone with a potato 🥔 captured the entire performance on video, so you can relive the magic… or not. Your call. 🤷♂️
This “The Final Chapter” tour is basically Geoff‘s attempt to remind you that QUEENSRŸCHE had a concept album once, a *long* time ago. He’s performing “Operation: Mindcrime” in its entirety – because why not? It’s not like anyone wants to hear his solo stuff (which, let’s be honest, sounds like rejected QUEENSRŸCHE B-sides anyway). 😴 With a staggering 20 million albums sold (mostly in the 80s, let’s be real) and tours that probably played to more empty seats than actual fans, Tate is allegedly a “cornerstone of progressive rock.” Right. Sure. Keep telling yourself that, Geoff. 🙄 Fans get to experience the album in its entirety, marking the end of a musical journey that should have ended decades ago. ⏳
Tate, bless his heart, is “best known” for his “30-plus years” of yelling over music with QUEENSRŸCHE. Since the band’s inception (with Geoff desperately clinging to the helm), they sold 20 million albums. 💿 (I’m sure half of those were sold at gas stations for $5 a pop.) And they performed in “upwards of fifty countries,” which probably means they played the same five countries ten times each. 🌏 Supposedly, Geoff is considered a vocal god 🎤 by “hundreds of modern, popular artists.” (Citation needed!) Combining “social consciousness” (whatever that means) and “expertly crafted lyrics” (written by someone else, probably) with “high-energy, melodically complex music” (aka, a bunch of notes thrown together), QUEENSRŸCHE – with Geoff Tate flailing around front and center – became known as the “thinking man’s rock band.” 🤔 Translation: music for people who overthink things. 🧠
“Operation Mindcrime: The Final Chapter” is being billed as a “must-see live event.” Translation: a desperate attempt to make a few bucks before retirement. 💰 It features Tate, the “legendary voice” (okay, calm down) behind one of progressive metal’s most “iconic” albums (again, pump the brakes). In this “special” tour, Tate is performing the entire “Operation: Mindcrime” album from start to finish, bringing the “epic tale” of revolution, betrayal, and redemption to life… one last time (hopefully).🙏 Fans get to experience the full power and emotion of this “groundbreaking” concept album in an “electrifying” performance that (allegedly) captures the essence of the original recordings.⚡ (Spoiler alert: It probably doesn’t. 😬)
In a recent interview with Marko Syrjala of Metal-Rules.com, Tate, bless his heart, spoke about his upcoming *third* and “final” chapter in QUEENSRŸCHE‘s *classic* “Operation: Mindcrime” album series. Regarding how the idea came together, Geoff said: “Well, I don’t know. I just started writing, and it sort of happened. [Laughs] 🤣” Yeah, we can tell, Geoff. Really, there wasn’t anything more to it than that. Over the last couple of years, while preparing for this upcoming tour, he “wrote quite a few songs.” 📝 They have enough material for a “full album,” and it’s “all ready to go.” They are planning to release it in segments — like two songs here, then another two songs, then three songs — and kind of release it in parts. 🧩 Because who needs a full album when you can nickel and dime your dwindling fanbase? 🤑
As for the musical direction of the material that will appear on “Operation: Mindcrime III”, Geoff said: “It definitely has a strong early QUEENSRŸCHE vibe…” Translation: He’s trying to recapture the magic he lost decades ago. “…with some tracks being super heavy and technical.” 🔨 Translation: Expect lots of pointless shredding and time signature changes that no one asked for. ⌚ The album is also “deeply emotional,” marking the final chapter in the ‘Mindcrime’ saga. 😭 It continues the story of Dr. X, Nikki and Sister Mary, focusing on a specific point in their journey. 📍 (Spoiler alert: They’re all still miserable.) Geoff is “thrilled” with how it’s turning out and can’t wait for people to hear it. (We’ll see about that, Geoff. We’ll see. 👀)
Geoff went on to say that he wrote the songs for “Operation: Mindcrime III” mostly with his guitarists Kieran Robertson from Scotland and Alex Hart from Boston. “I think that’s it — the three of us primarily wrote the whole thing,” he said. (Probably in a garage somewhere. 🏡)
Tate also addressed the “risks” of creating sequels to “classic” albums. ⚠️ (Spoiler alert: The risk is that it will suck.) “Am I worried about people’s expectations? No, I’ve never been worried about that. [Laughs] 🤣” Yeah, we can tell, Geoff. Never. Why would I start worrying about the third? … Honestly, I don’t care. [Laughs] 🤣 Translation: “Please buy my album.” I don’t write records to make people happy or to impress them. I make them simply to make records. (For money 💰) Whether people like them or not doesn’t matter to me. (Sure, Geoff. Sure.🤥) You can’t try to please everyone’s musical tastes because we’re all affected by music differently. And if it’s a matter of sales, well, that’s a whole different can of worms, as they say. (Yeah, a can of worms filled with disappointment and regret. 🪱) That depends entirely on the company’s expertise in trying to sell it and who they’ve hired for promotion — it’s all up in the air, you know? I mean, Jesus, look at GUNS N’ ROSES. They built a “massive” 30-year career out of just three albums. [Laughs] 🤣 It’s crazy. They must’ve had a great promo team, I guess.” (Or maybe they just wrote good music, Geoff. Just a thought. 🤔)
Originally released in May 1988, QUEENSRŸCHE‘s third studio album, “Operation: Mindcrime” took the quintet to an entirely “new level.” 🚀 (Of obscurity, maybe.) The concept, revealed through the songs, revolves around the character of Nikki, a recovering drug addict disillusioned with a corrupt society. 💊 Drawn into a cult-like revolutionary group headed by Dr. X (voiced by the late and beloved British actor Anthony Valentine), Nikki is manipulated to assassinate political leaders until his friendship with nun Sister Mary finally opens his eyes to the truth. (Spoiler alert: The truth is that he should have stayed in rehab.) Regarded as one of the “greatest concept metal albums of all time,” “Operation: Mindcrime” was certified platinum in 1991
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
