One aspect of 80’s music that fans often detest is the inconsistency within band lineups. Just about every front man in 80’s hair metal has at one point in time let their ego get in the way of the fans and the band. This ultimately leads to having two versions of the bands that we grew up loving as well as sowing division amongst their fanbase. This week’s blog looks at why two versions of Great White, and Queensryche exist and why bands tend to do this to their fans. This is a tale of two (versions of) two bands.
- Once Bitten Twice on the Road with Great White
In 2011, Great White singer Jack Russell announced a new version of the iconic 80’s band called Jack Russell’s Great White. The other members of the original line up of the group claimed that Russell did not have the necessary rights to start his own version of the group. Prior to this announcement, Jack Russell has had issues with substance abuse that prevented him from being in the original version of Great White. The members of Great White made it clear that Russell had to get off drugs including Xanax and Prednisone before rejoining the group in 2012.
After a year of legal battles, the group reached a settlement regarding the rights to the band’s names. Jack Russell was allowed to tour under the Jack Russell’s Great White moniker while the rest of the band were allowed to record under the name Great White. Currently the original version of Great White has been touring regularly with a new singer in the form of Mitch Malloy. They have released 2 LPs since the naming rights issue. 2012’s Elation and 2017’s Full Circle. Jack Russell’s version still tours regularly as well with a tour starting at the end of April and has released 3 LPs since their inception.
- Queensryche
For progressive metal band Queensryche, their sound has become well known during a thirty-year stint on the road. The group has released well known singles such as “Jet City Woman” and concept records such as 1988’s Operation Mindcrime. The group like many from the 80’s, has had to battle relevancy once the 90’s came around. During this time guitarist Chris DeGarmo, one of the bands primary song writers quit. The band then began coincidentally releasing underwhelming records and had a revolving door of guitar players to fill that void.
Despite declining album sales, the group was still a massive draw at concerts. For singer Geoff Tate, Queensryche became a family affair. His wife managed the band, and his daughter oversaw merchandising. While seemingly everything on the outside was fine, the members began to resent Tate over how much control he had over the band.
In 2012 Geoff Tate made it public that he was unhappy with the direction of the band and audience turn out for their concerts. In 2012’s Rocklahoma festival, he publicly addressed the audience telling them that “they suck” due to poor participation. Things got worse from there and during a show in 2012, Geoff Tate drew a knife on his band mates. This incident came after they fired Tate’s wife and daughter from the band.
Following Geoff Tate’s Departure, the group reformed as Rising West, fronted by Todd La Torre. The new group was a success bolstered by the lack of Tate’s presence and song writing that was described as “a return to form” for the new version of Queensryche.
Rising West, after having successfully integrated Todd La Torre into the lineup changed their name back to Queensryche. This did not sit well with Tate, who made his own version of the group featuring a revolving door of 80’s hair metal legends. A Washington judge in 2012 allowed for Tate to continue using the Queensryche name as well as the original members. While confusing for fans, both the La Torre Version and the Tate version have been churning out records regularly since 2012.
For the 1980’s, it was a decade strife with big egos, and even bigger separations of core members from their respective bands. Queensryche and Great White proved that rock and roll while fun, does have its moments of sheer hubris that result in these great bands being torn down by ego and pride. These two bands are not the first example of this happening but will also not be the last.
Alongside being a gifted songwriter, world class drummer, and humble human being, Mick Fleetwood also makes his own wine. Mick Fleetwood does not own his own winery or vineyard; he instead works with different winemakers on the east and west coast. He produces several varietals and distributes them on his own label, Mick Fleetwood’s Private Cellar. One of his wines includes a Cabernet Sauvignon rated 4.4 stars out of five on Vivino.com
