So to humor this situation, from my point of view on this speculation of Scott Rockenfield rejoining up with Geoff Tate, and even Kelly Gray in a supposed second version of Queensryche. Which by the way, I'll believe when I see it. I'm going to re-post here a few posts that I put up on my site under a thread I titled,
A Two Queensryche Scenario.
So, given the rumor that our feathered friend (blackbird, aka samsara) has put forth in conjunction with the facebook caption from Kelly Gray that Bgs1972 posted, lets humor this situation just for shits and giggles, shall we. As to what that might look like and how that might play out. Because I kind of already know the answer, if by some miraculous twist of insanity Scott completely lost his marbles and did such a thing.
So, lets say that some way and some how. Scott decided to join forces with Geoff Tate and Kelly Gray was going to be in the fold along with Scott Mouton as the guitar tandem. and we'll throw the current dude that is playing bass on the European tour ( I don't know his name off the top of my head) in the mix for the sake of completing the lineup. Now, in addition to that, we need some sort of legal scenario to unfold to somehow give them the rights to also call themselves Queensryche. So lets assume that that somehow happened. So now we have our lineup, we have them going out as Queensryche #2.
Now, we have to really get into some kind of further impossibility in order for this to take place and happen as soon as later this year to capitalize on this whole 30th Anniversary of Mindcrime thing, since that is Geoff's bread and butter and would probably be the reason for this crazy scenario to even unfold. Can the legalities involved in getting court approval to use the name be sorted out that fast, I highly doubt it, but again lets pretend it did. So they are going to go out and play the North American tour for the Operation Mindcrime 30th Anniversary. We'll say in the fall.
Here are some facts real quick. I don't care what he calls the band, and I don't think it would matter much of a hill of beans that Scott were playing the drums. Because the fact of the matter is he is playing an album that has been done to death, so much so that most of the biggest fans of that record residing on the earth no longer bother to go see it live. Especially with that guitar tandem (which has been done pretty much, and whoever on bass). Scott would be an improvement on the drums. The rest of the production would be the same.
The same one that is lucky to draw two hundred/ two hundred fifty people to a bar. Which is what I witnessed when I went to see him do it five years ago on the 25th anniversary (when he was also permitted to use the Queensryche name mind you) at a little side bar in the now closed Revel Casino in Atlantic City, which there may have been two hundred and fifty people at (and that is a conservative high side number).
Now it's five years later, I think there is less of a draw for it now, with all the bad publicity it gets every time the you tube vids go up, read the comments. This would be a small to mid size bar/club tour with empty seats/or plenty of elbow room to spare. Scott is not going to do that kind of tour itinerary that Geoff has been doing with a slew of dates strung together in succession the last couple years (hence I'm sure he is one of the major factors for the fly in shows, I doubt it's Todd or Parker), especially for the peanuts that that tour would pull in cash wise after just having his kid that he wants to stay home with (another dilemma, unless that was all a farce, but I kinda doubt that is how it started if this were true).
Geoff Tate's credibility in the public eye has been in the toilet for some years now, with little improvement on that front that I have witnessed reading comments around the net. Kelly Gray's playing has been absolutely crucified from the bdr to blabbermouth and all points in between by the fan base since he first stepped foot in the band on Q2K, to the Oven Mitts nickname, to the Operation Mindcrime trilogy. This reputation by my observation has not improved any in recent times. There are also a lot of people who do not like Scott Mouton due to his past legal indiscretions. There will also be people who, believe it or not, will not go because Scott sold himself to the devil in joining back up with Tate, that may have otherwise went because they have adapted to enjoying the two entities as separate animals. There are also purists who won't go to either because it is not the original, or enough of the original lineup in either band. So what kind of cash exactly is this tour going to bring in to be able to rub two nickels together having to pay Scott his fair share?
That's the tour...
Now lets really get a laugh here and lets say they record a new album, the lineup stated above with the ability to call themselves Queensryche. We've been here before. Frequency Unknown was one of the most lambasted records in heavy metal history by my observation, so much so that it led to a " why I hate Frequency Unknown" campaign and the ridiculous rant contest or whatever that horseshit was. and I actually liked the record. It also didn't sell worth a shit.
Since then Geoff has released three more albums in his trilogy set over the last three years, each of which hasn't been represented live, have been all but disregarded by most at best , crucified by many at worst, and haven't sold worth a shit either. And again, there's no animosity here, I actually liked the fuckin records.
So you tell me how the simple addition of being able to have the name Queensryche on it (for the second time) and having Scott Rockenfield in the band on drums (who arguably isn't even a primary songwriter) is going to make some miraculous difference? Geoff will still write the same kinda stuff as he has been with the help of Kelly Gray and outside writers with some assistance from Scott, and they will release a subpar shitty album along the lines of the four aforementioned that barely anybody bought and nobody besides me and a few hundred other people evidently even liked with a heaping sprinkling of yes...wait for it, Dedicated To Chaos sprinkled in for good measure
Man that will sell like hot cakes, people will be lined up out the door at the shows too.... at Franks Pub.
What are your thoughts???
Now, lets discuss the fallout and ramifications of what would be left of the real Queensryche lineup if this were to occur.
The Lineup would still contain two original members, much as the other one. Featuring Michael Wilton and Eddie Jackson, they would have the bonus of still enjoying Parker Lundgren in the band for their guitar tandem completion (he who has been with the band now for ten years and has played on three studio albums, four if you count the upcoming release, which is two more than Kelly Gray did without counting the upcoming release). Todd LaTorre remaining on vocals having two (three if you count the upcoming release) albums under his belt. For drums since he would be the likely candidate at present, we will go with Casey Grillo (who the fans seem to be warm to and like as the temporary fill in and seems to be doing quite a competent and professional job at the task at hand).
This lineup is about to release a new record later in the year, which by all estimations should, at a minimum be pretty fucking good by most peoples expectations, given the performance and reviews of the last two. Not to mention if the speculation holds true Scott's playing will not even be on the damn thing, so ya won't even be able to say he had anything to do with what comes out of your speakers. All props or detractions will go to whoever the hell played the drums on it, and there will be some, I'm sure. But if the songs are good and kick ass, well then the songs are good and kick ass. I for one suspect that they will, with or without Scott's drums.
This lineups live show, and I've looked and done the research is still getting rave live reviews with Casey on the skins. So that would continue to be the case. Todd, well what can ya say the dude can flat out belt it, and he will do the same thing he has been doing for the last, about six years now bringing it live, bringing a resurgent energy, and belting it out. Blowing away by leaps and bounds Tate's current vocal state and anybody that argues to that contrary is fucking deaf. I recommend you go see a show, go see them both (I have) then come talk to me.
So by my estimation the real Queensryche would be the more established live entity, would still draw more people, would outsell the other lineup's record (no, neither will set the world on fire with sales, but would out sell theirs none the less). This Queensryche lineup would by far be the better and more energetic live band. This band would blow that band off the stage with technical playing skills, albeit a nod to Scott on the drums for the other lineup (but he can't fix the vocals or the guitar work) and this lineup's album would smoke the other Queensryche's record in an embarrassing manner, mark my words.
* I thought this applied in this rumor mill speculation and would offer a view point on if this were to happen by some crazy circumstance