For months Queensryche fans have wondered what the future held for the group. A well-publicized backstage fight between vocalist Geoff Tate and band members before a show in Brazil in April had many worried. Then last week Billboard magazine broke the news that Tate and the band had “parted ways,” and Crimson Glory singer Todd LaTorre would take over as their lead singer.

Queensryche drummer Scott Rockenfield said in a statement: "Over the past few months, there have been growing creative differences within Queensryche. We want our fans to know that we hoped to find a common resolution, but in the end parting ways with Geoff was the best way for everyone to move forward in a positive direction…”

As it turns out Tate was forced out of the group he founded and was stunned by his firing. In a comprehensive interview with Rolling Stone magazine, when asked about these so called creative differences Tate responded “To have creative differences, you have to have two entities or more offering up creative ideas. And that just wasn't the case. Queensryche has always been my idea, starting from the first record. Queensryche is about albums. It's about concepts and themes, and those concepts were mine.” He said “These are my ideas, my concepts. Are they gonna hand it to some kid to sing?”

According to Tate it was business disagreements that drove them apart, and he has filed a lawsuit against the band to “to sort out” who is entitled to the Queensryche name and “who is what, and who owns what, and that stuff.”

Read the full Rolling Stone interview here.