The future of prog metal giants QUEENSRYCHE is in doubt after the band announced plans to tour and record with Crimson Glory singer Todd La Torre in Geoff Tate’s place.

Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, Scott Rockenfield and Parker Lundgren have teamed up with La Torre to form RISING WEST.

They’ll play tracks from the first five QUEENSRYCHE albums and aim to start work on their own record in the coming weeks.

Tate, meanwhile, is concentrating on his solo career.

Speculation has increased recently that the band were experiencing internal tensions, with unconfirmed reports of arguments, secret meetings and outbursts of violence.

Tate surprised fans by telling them: “You suck!” at the Rocklahoma festival last weekend.

A band spokesman tells British Classic Rock magazine:

“The fact of the matter is that Geoff Tate is concentrating on his acoustic solo performances this summer, while the other members of the band have formed Rising West.

Everyone wants to stay busy, try new things and do what they do best: rock in front of the masses. Queensryche are slated to perform select dates throughout the year.”

But the band’s official website and social media channels carried no statement regarding the Rising West shows, while continuing to promote Tate’s solo tour and his range of wines.

Asked about his take on the situation, La Torre tells BraveWords: “I don’t know the dynamics within the band.”

He adds: “We’re going to be covering the first EP all the way up to Empire with a high energy show for the fans. No one else has performed these songs with the the band so it’s a huge honour for me. Geoff Tate is doing his solo stuff and that’s great. Everyone has to branch out.

“Geoff Tate is one of the best and created a style of singing. A lot of guys can sing the notes but it’s about the tone, the texture. I will deliver to the best of my ability.”

Rising West make their debut appearances on June 8 and 9 at the Hard Rock Cafe in Seattle.

La Torre, who says there are no plans to retire CRIMSON GLORY, has released a recording of his rendition of QUEENSRYCHE classic Queen of the Ryche.