{"id":49658,"date":"2016-10-21T00:00:58","date_gmt":"2016-10-21T00:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.metalforcesmagazine.com\/site\/?p=49658"},"modified":"2016-11-20T16:08:18","modified_gmt":"2016-11-20T16:08:18","slug":"feature-operation-mindcrime-10-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.metalforcesmagazine.com\/site\/feature-operation-mindcrime-10-16\/","title":{"rendered":"OPERATION: MINDCRIME – Taking On The Music World (October 2016) | Features \/ Interviews @ Metal Forces Magazine"},"content":{"rendered":"

OPERATION: MINDCRIME – Taking On The Music World<\/strong><\/span>
\nAnthony Morgan<\/span>
\nOctober 2016<\/span><\/p>\n

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Operation: Mindcrime (l-r): Randy Gane, John Moyer, Geoff Tate, Brian Tichy, Scott Moughton, Simon Wright and Kelly Gray<\/b><\/em><\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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\nSeattle, Washington-based progressive metal group Operation: Mindcrime, spearheaded by erstwhile Queensr\u00ffche vocalist Geoff Tate, adopted its chosen moniker on September 1st, 2014 \u2013 taking its cue from the May 1988 album of the same. Debut full-length studio album The Key<\/em> arrived a year later in September 2015, the inaugural instalment in a trilogy of concept affairs. Follow-up effort \u2013 and second overall \u2013 Resurrection<\/em> \u2013 saw the light of day in September 2016.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wrote all three records of the trilogy \u2013 The Key<\/em>, Resurrection<\/em>, and the third one, which comes out next year \u2013 all at the same time, and recorded them all at the same time as well,\u201d Geoff Tate remembers. \u201cI wrote not so much sequentially. The way I work is I\u2019ll write a story… for example, this trilogy story I wrote several years ago while I was hiking on the Camino De Santiago trail. When I got back home to Seattle, I started composing music for the entire story, so some music came sooner than others. Some pieces of the story on the albums came together at different times, so there wasn\u2019t so much of a sequential order. I can\u2019t remember exactly the dates. I would say probably two years ago, I guess it\u2019s been now \u2013 somewhere around there. I think it was September or October 2014. So, it\u2019s been a while since I worked on them (laughs).\u201d<\/p>\n

Inaugural instalment The Key<\/em> naturally introduces the audience to the tale\u2019s respective characters. \u201cIt gets set up as far as what\u2019s going to happen,\u201d the singer offers. \u201cIt introduces the conflict which happens within the group of characters involved… Oh gosh… What else?… It kind of just sets the tone for what happens next, really. I don\u2019t like to give away too much of the story, because I like for people to figure it out for themselves as they go along. It\u2019s kind of a revealing mystery, and the third album wraps up a lot of the questions that someone might have with the first two albums.\u201d<\/p>\n

And naturally, second studio record Resurrection<\/em> resumes the concept trilogy following the conclusion of The Key<\/em>. \u201cAt the end of the first album, the main character called H has been \u2013 we think, at that time \u2013 been killed,\u201d Geoff informs. \u201cHis murderers leave him buried in a box in the middle of the desert, and the beginning of the second album, Resurrection<\/em>, starts with him not being dead. He is regaining his consciousness, and starts breaking out of the box and digging his way out, and beginning the task of putting his life back together after being horribly betrayed and abused. <\/p>\n

\u201cReally, the second record is about the main character H gaining his strength back and his sense of purpose, and formulating a plan as to how he can recover the missing code from the people that took it. He never actually loses the key; he has it at all times, but just can\u2019t use it until he gets the sequential code back again. In the overall story arc, the second album is really him coming back to life basically; him getting his life back together, and figuring out how he can get all of his life\u2019s work back together again and continue on with his plan.\u201d<\/p>\n

As H returns to life, Resurrection<\/em> delves into a number of themes. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of self-evaluation,\u201d the frontman lists. \u201cThere\u2019s some feelings of hopelessness, and the betrayal that he went through, and how he has to put those feelings into perspective as to how he\u2019s going to deal with them. There\u2019s a theme of him sort of getting his life back in order, questioning his past, the routes in the past that he has taken, questioning himself quite a bit, asking if he did the right thing, and if he\u2019s doing the right thing, and how did he get to where he is. There\u2019s a song called \u2018Invincible\u2019 that happens halfway through the record, where he realises that he\u2019s strong and that he can overcome the circumstances that he\u2019s found himself in. From then on until the end of the record, it\u2019s about him getting himself together and moving in a constructive way.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Lead character H is neither based on a specific individual, or a composite of different individuals. \u201cI think it\u2019s just a character that I needed to tell the story,\u201d Geoff observes.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the concept trilogy as a whole draws influence from the lyricist\u2019s life as well as the man\u2019s observations. \u201cI think probably the biggest influence on the story for these records has just been my life, and looking at how human beings react to each other \u2013 just looking at life in general,\u201d he augments. \u201cI\u2019m kind of interested in human development and what makes us do the things we do, and how we get on these certain life paths. Based upon our experiences, that shapes quite a bit of who we are and what we are. Our childhood and our upbringing really shapes quite a bit of who we are, and most of the stuff that we learn as children we question as we get older. We just accept it as reality and we go with that though, and use those tools that we learn as children all through our lives. In fact, our whole reality is based upon what we learn. <\/p>\n

\u201cIn fact, you could say that reality is a learned experience. We learn from childhood the definitions of everything, and those definitions define what our reality is. We learn that this is a chair, that this is a dog, a cat, a tree, an apple, the sky. We learn the laws of physics \u2013 we learn about gravity \u2013 and once we learn about those things, we just accept them and move on. Hardly do we ever ask ourselves \u2018Is this really real, or is this somebody\u2019s perception of what reality is?,\u2019 and that concept in itself is what initially inspired the main theme of the records. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe main theme of the records is to question reality, and reality is the subject that the lead character of the story is interested in developing. He develops this algorithm that allows one to use a code, a computer program, to see a new version of reality. Due to the implications of that and what that means, he feels that it\u2019s an incredible, valuable tool for humankind to use, because it\u2019ll change everything. It\u2019ll change the way we perceive everything, and because of that, that\u2019s where the split happens within the group of people that he\u2019s working with. <\/p>\n

\u201cSome want to take that tool, and they want to exploit it for wealth. He wants to give the tools to the world to use, because he thinks that it\u2019s gonna make things better for everyone. So, there\u2019s a split, a division. Of course, the people that want to exploit it for wealth move to take over the technology and use it for their own ends, and have him killed. So, it\u2019s kind of a study of human nature. Why we do the things that we do, what motivates us, and how we get to where we\u2019re at.\u201d<\/p>\n

Resurrection<\/em> shares musical traits with The Key<\/em>. \u201cThey\u2019re similar in the fact that they were written at the same time,\u201d Geoff muses. \u201cSo yeah, they\u2019re going to be similar. All of the same players are involved with all three records, so there\u2019s a similarity there. The music is designed to tell a story, so it moves, changes and morphs just like life does. Life doesn\u2019t remain static; it doesn\u2019t remain the same. It\u2019s different every day, and music I think should reflect the changes that are happening within the story arc, and so it does. It gets moody at times, and it has a triumphant feeling at times. Sometimes it\u2019s introspective and sometimes it\u2019s downright scary and unnerving, like life can be, and definitely how life can be within the context of this story \u2013 where there\u2019s a lot going on. There\u2019s strife and there\u2019s jealousy, and there\u2019s rage and there\u2019s betrayal, and there\u2019s conquest going on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Guesting on the composition \u2018Taking On The World\u2019 are vocalists Blaze Bayley and Tim \u2018Ripper\u2019 Owens, formerly of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest respectively. \u201cI never thought of them at all when I wrote the song,\u201d the songwriter remembers. \u201cThat wasn\u2019t in my mind at all. I didn\u2019t think of adding them to the song until the song was written. I was listening back to the song and the story arc and where it was, and then I thought \u2018Oh.\u2019 Blaze was in town, and I started talking to him about the project that I was doing. The idea just hit me, like \u2018Hey… Why don\u2019t you sing on this record?\u2019 We\u2019ve known each other for quite a while, and it was fun.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, that just kind of started it. That\u2019s kind of the way my life is. Things come about, and I find myself in a situation, and just kind of go with it. It\u2019s called improvisation. You see that there\u2019s a situation involved that you could involve yourself in or somebody else and it feels right, so you go with it. It was great; it was a wonderful recording experience. We had a great time doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blaze Bayley and Tim \u2018Ripper\u2019 Owens guesting on the track \u2018Taking On The World\u2019 led to the Trinity tour package which unites the pair alongside Geoff, the Trinity tour package visiting the East Coast of the United States from mid-November until late November 2016. \u201cWe had such a great time singing together that we talked about how it would be fun if we toured, so we started leaning in that direction and seeing how we could put something together for touring,\u201d he reveals. \u201cSo, we came up with the Trinity idea, and that\u2019s coming up. I\u2019m looking forward to that. I\u2019m playing material that I wrote with Queensr\u00ffche over 30-some odd years. I\u2019m singing that, and of course Blaze is singing the songs that he performed with Iron Maiden over the years, and the same with Ripper and Judas Priest.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mainman hopes to expand the Trinity tour package across several territories. \u201cOur biggest challenge is that all three of us have different schedules, and have different touring commitments,\u201d he stresses. \u201cThe challenge is getting us all in the same place at the same time (laughs), which is quite a job. So yeah, we\u2019re looking into expanding the touring.\u201d<\/p>\n

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In the interim, a music video was issued for \u2018Taking On The World\u2019. The clip was filmed at Bubba\u2019s Roadhouse Bar & Grill in Geoff\u2019s hometown of Monroe, Washington. \u201cThe roadhouse is not far from where I live,\u201d he shares. \u201cIt\u2019s owned by a friend of mine who has a lot of live music at his venue, and he\u2019s a real wonderful supporter of live music in the area. It\u2019s called Bubba\u2019s Roadhouse, and they have great food as well (laughs).\u201d<\/p>\n

Further music videos to promote Resurrection<\/em> might potentially be filmed. \u201cThere might be, yeah,\u201d the musician ponders. \u201cThere might be one more coming out. I\u2019m not sure yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

As was the case with The Key<\/em>, cover artwork duties for Resurrection<\/em> were handled by Randy Sappo. \u201cThe cover art is a frame of the comic book that we\u2019re putting out in conjunction with the third album,\u201d Geoff tells. \u201cThere\u2019s gonna be a comic book of the entire trilogy, and the covers for The Key<\/em> and Resurrection<\/em> are both part of the comic book.\u201d<\/p>\n

Albeit devising thematic musical concepts throughout the years, the vocalist has never lent thought towards authoring a book of fiction. \u201cNo, never have,\u201d he confirms. \u201cMaybe one day, when I retire (laughs).\u201d<\/p>\n

Having yet to retire, Operation: Mindcrime\u2019s third studio full-length is due to arrive in the future, concluding the trilogy. \u201cI can\u2019t really talk about the third one yet,\u201d Geoff cautions. \u201cI\u2019d really like to refrain about talking about the third one right now. I know it\u2019s coming out next September \u2013 I can tell you that (laughs).\u201d<\/p>\n

Following the completion of the trilogy, the singer hasn\u2019t worked on other studio material, per se. \u201cMostly what I\u2019ve been working on is the live performances that I\u2019m getting ready to do,\u201d he divulges. \u201cI\u2019m getting ready to do a real interesting tour, starting in Europe in early December \u2013 in Cork, Ireland, actually. We\u2019re doing five weeks in Europe, and then after Christmas we move to South America, and then we start in North America after that. It\u2019s an acoustic tour. It\u2019s kind of a storytelling, intimate show where I talk a lot about the music that I\u2019m performing and the stories that correlate with the songs that I\u2019m performing. I\u2019ve had a lot of life experiences; I\u2019ve been doing this for 35-plus years, and I\u2019ve travelled to a lot of countries, and met a lot of really interesting people on the way. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo, I\u2019m gonna be talking about my life in the context of the music that I\u2019m performing. I\u2019m bringing a band of acoustic instrument players with me; we have two acoustic guitars, a cello, a violin, a mandolin, and me on saxophone, and everybody sings as well. So, it\u2019s a real, full sound that we have. I\u2019ve been rehearsing with that, and rehearsing with the music for the presentation that I\u2019ll be giving in December. The music actually covers almost all of my career, really.\u201d<\/p>\n

Geoff harbours plans to film footage from said performances. \u201cI think it would be interesting to film,\u201d he reckons. \u201cThere are definitely plans to do that. I film almost all of the shows that I do. I have an extensive catalogue of filmed live performances (laughs). Of course, video technology has changed over 35 years quite dramatically, so I have stuff that was filmed in 1985 on video camcorders, and then I have stuff that was filmed in contrast to that on GoPro cameras. It runs the gamut (laughs).\u201d<\/p>\n

Boasting a career spanning four decades, the prospect of penning an autobiography seems nigh for the frontman. \u201cI\u2019ve thought about it,\u201d he admits. \u201cI just haven\u2019t had the time. To do something like that requires a real focus, and obviously my focus has been on writing music and touring really over the last few years. Picking up after the split with Queensr\u00ffche has really been kind of a transition in my life. It\u2019s taken all of my focus to reinvent myself, to a certain extent.\u201d<\/p>\n

Operation: Mindcrime aside, Geoff intends to resume his solo musical endeavours. \u201cYeah, I do,\u201d he discloses. \u201cI plan on releasing more music in the future. I definitely plan on that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Resurrection<\/em> was released on September 23rd, 2016 via Frontiers Music Srl.<\/p>\n

Interview published in October 2016.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

OPERATION: MINDCRIME – Taking On The Music World Anthony Morgan October 2016 Operation: Mindcrime (l-r): Randy Gane, John Moyer, Geoff Tate, Brian Tichy, Scott Moughton, Simon Wright and Kelly Gray Seattle, Washington-based progressive metal group Operation: Mindcrime, spearheaded by erstwhile Queensr\u00ffche vocalist Geoff Tate, adopted its chosen moniker on September 1st, 2014 \u2013 taking its […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,1767],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-features","category-operation-mindcrime"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.metalforcesmagazine.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49658","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.metalforcesmagazine.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.metalforcesmagazine.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.metalforcesmagazine.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.metalforcesmagazine.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49658"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.metalforcesmagazine.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49658\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50447,"href":"https:\/\/www.metalforcesmagazine.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49658\/revisions\/50447"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.metalforcesmagazine.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49658"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.metalforcesmagazine.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49658"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.metalforcesmagazine.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49658"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}