How did he get burned with Tribe? I wasn't impressed with that album and didn't pay a lot of attention to what might have been going on behind the scenes. I do remember people thinking they were going to see him on the tour with DT, even though I never had that impression myself.
Very long story short -- Chris rejoined the band to finish writing and recording Tribe in fall 2002. They booked a date in Anchorage, Alaska for New Year's Eve that was supposed to be a bit of a "soft launch" of the reunion. During the recording sessions, allegedly, like on past albums, Chris was beginning to work with Tate on vocals, experimenting with different approaches to find the best delivery for the songs. Tate, however, had called the shots on his own vocals since Chris had left in 1997, and Susan Tate fanned the flames a bit, allegedly pushing Geoff to strong arm DeGarmo into letting Tate do what he wanted, and tell him that Queensr˙che now operated differently.
That attitude supposedly soured Chris, who packed up his gear and left the studio, and Queensr˙che once again. Mike stone, who Tate had been working with a bit that year prior to DeGarmo, came on to play the gig. They smoothed things out with Chris in early 2003 again, and delayed the album the first time, and it was announced DeGarmo would tour that summer in support of the record. But things flared up again, as allegedly it became a power struggle, and DeGarmo simply up and left. They delayed the release of Tribe twice more, as they attempted to finish it without Chris, and get his permission to use his songs and performances. Stone then came on to help finish it, and tour with the band, and stayed with them through 2008.
Simply put, the Tates wanted to proceed the way they wanted to, and DeGarmo had notions of a more long term approach (again, don't take as gospel, this stuff is pieced together from info learned over the years). The rest of the band did what they always did and buried their heads in the sand, and Chris walked away from it all.
He tried again in late 2006/early 2007, when they finally completed "Justified," a song meant for Tribe, but not finished before Chris left, but similar issues arose again, particularly after QR was successful with Mindcrime II. So Chris walked away again.
Add me to the list of those who don't want a reunion. If Queensryche can get 250-750 people on a full headline tour, they can do more than just break even. Not saying they're going to be rolling in dough, but there are bands where 250 is the highest attendance they get, and they come from overseas in some cases, and they break even. QR would/could get a buy on from an opening band, are based in the US, and would have bigger crowds than a lot of bands can hope for.
I am not in the music industry, but I have quite a few friends who are. You're mistaken. The guarantees per show promoters are offering are lower than ever -- even for bands more respected than QR. Trust me on that. That's why you're seeing a lot more co-headline tours that are shorter. Or solo headline runs of a month. The money just isn't there. Because so many acts or touring, promoters lowball the guarantees, because they know they can get another act to fill a night. No, Queensryche cannot do more than break even on their own headline trek of clubs. That's why they aren't doing it. That's why they have elected to do all these casino fly-ins and festivals.
It isn't about building their brand or any of that nonsense. It is about making the most money they can, as quickly as they can. It sucks, but that's honestly what it is all about.