Legendary bassist Rudy Sarzo (OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT, WHITESNAKE, DIO) says that he decided to join Geoff Tate's newly assembled version of QUEENSRŸCHE because the the opportunity to work with a "world-class vocalist" like Tate was too good to pass up.

"My motivation for joining the band is, you know… Working with great singers is always the toughest thing to find," Sarzo told Artisan News at the December 12 premiere screening in Los Angeles, California of "Randy Rhoads: The Quiet Riot Years", the first documentary film to be released on the late guitarist. "Of course, somebody that plays at the level of Randy Rhoads, of course, that's one in a million times that you're gonna find that. But a vocalist, a real word-class vocalist like Geoff Tate, they're very rare, especially the ones that happen to be available. So when he called me up and said to join forces, of course, I said 'yes' — immediately."

Tate's QUEENSRŸCHE also includes drummer Bobby Blotzer (RATT), guitarist Kelly Gray (MYTH) and keyboardist Randy Gane (MYTH).

Geoff Tate's QUEENSRŸCHE will hit the road next year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the group's epic 1988 release, "Operation: Mindcrime".

The performance of "Operation: Mindcrime" next spring will cover all fifteen songs from the album including such fan favorites as "Revolution Calling", "Operation: Mindcrime", "I Don't Believe In Love" and the closing track, "Eyes Of A Stranger". It will also feature other selections from the QUEENSRŸCHE catalog, including songs from "Operation: Mindcrime II".

Glen Drover (MEGADETH, KING DIAMOND) announced his departure from Geoff Tate's QUEENSRŸCHE last month before playing a single show with the band. He said in a statement: "I was very excited about doing this gig initially, but learned in the past week or so that it's in my best interest not to do this right now. I feel really bad for those who were excited about the idea, and to Geoff himself, who, I have to say, was very nice to me on my past trip to Seattle. I, of course, am very disappointed for arriving at this point, and making this decision, to say the least. I sincerely wish the Geoff and the band all the luck on what they do in the future."

Tate, who was fired from QUEENSRŸCHE in June after fronting the group for three decades, recently sought to prevent his former bandmates from touring and operating under the QUEENSRŸCHE name without him. While ruling against Tate, the presiding judge determined that there was no legal hurdle in Tate also using the name with an all-new lineup of musicians. "I don't see any reason that Mr. Tate can't have the benefit, if he gets other members, of whatever name he uses of using the brand," Superior Court Judge Carol A. Schapira said during the July 13 court hearing. "I think [doing that would be] inherently confusing, although I'm sure the market can get these things sorted out," she added.