QUEENSRŸCHE guitarist
Michael Wilton has released the following statement:
"We in
QUEENSRŸCHE want to send our thoughts and prayers out to our old friend
Randy Gane in light of the heart attack he suffered the other night. He will always be a part of the extended
QUEENSRŸCHE family and we want to wish him a speedy recovery. We ask all our fans to keep him and his family in your thoughts as we celebrate this holiday season. Look forward to a happy, healthy and musical 2013."
Gane, who plays keyboards for
Geoff Tate's newly assembled version of
QUEENSRŸCHE, suffered a heart attack Wednesday night (December 26), according to a posting on
Geoff's
Facebook page. The singer has asked fans to "please send [their] prayers and positive thoughts to [his] good friend."
Gane, who turned 53 on November 30, was a co-founder of
Tate's pre-
QUEENSRŸCHE band
MYTH. He has also played with the alternative band
CANDLEBOX and appeared on the group's 1993 debut, which sold four million copies and featured the hits
"You" and
"Far Behind".
In a recent interview,
Tate stated: "
Randy's played on quite a few
QUEENSRŸCHE records over the years and written on
QUEENSRŸCHE records over the years, and toured with us as well."
He added in a separate interview: "
Randy Gane and I have been musical partners for more than 30 years. We have written many songs together and have similar musical tastes."
Tate's
QUEENSRŸCHE also includes legendary bassist
Rudy Sarzo (
OZZY OSBOURNE,
QUIET RIOT,
WHITESNAKE,
DIO), drummer
Bobby Blotzer (
RATT) and guitarist
Kelly Gray (
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".
Pictured below:
Randy Gane
Pictured below: The
Todd La Torre-fronted version of
QUEENSRŸCHE
