QUEENSRŸCHE Singer Confirms 'Operation: Mindcrime' May Be Broadway-Bound

In an interview with Sterling Whitaker for the We Will Rock You blog, QUEENSRŸCHE vocalist Geoff Tate confirmed that the band is in discussions to create a stage musical version of "Operation: Mindcrime", its seminal 1988 concept album.

"Over the years we've been approached by a number of different people in regard to that album," Tate stated. "It just hasn't been the right sort of set up, one that we would feel comfortable with; although as I speak we're meeting with some people about a Broadway production of it. Some fairly big names in Broadway have been working on it and have come to us with this plan, so we're entertaining that at the moment."

On June 12, Adam Pascal, the Tony Award-nominated actor-singer known for his dual passions of musical theatre and rock music, told Playbill.com that he will collaborate with QUEENSRŸCHE on the project, which he called "a dream" that he's harbored since his teen years.

"A lot of times people are motivated by money, and I suppose if they waved millions and millions of dollars at us, we might be tempted at some point to sign off on that," Tate said with a laugh. "But we're not in a position where we need the money at this point, so it's nice to keep it close and that way keep some element of control over it and have it presented in the way you want it to be presented . . . it's kind of hard to let go of that."

According to Playbill.com, QUEENSRŸCHE has given permission to — and will collaborate with — Pascal to conceive a Broadway-aimed musical of their popular recording about a brainwashed drug addict, Nikki, who becomes an assassin and seeks the love of a reformed hooker named Mary, who is now a nun.

The project is in the early stages, with no director, librettist, producer or music director attached, but Pascal said that QUEENSRŸCHE — including Geoff Tate and manager Susan Tate — has given him the go-ahead, and that the new musical will include new songs and connective material by the band.