Directly from the lips of Geoff Tate: “This video clip is from 1994, Promised Land Tour. We were in England appearing on a TV show promoting our current single – Disconnected. We had just finished filming the video with Kevin Godly, of 10CC fame. Any way, we were sound checking and the sound techs needed a little more time. I can’t remember who suggested playing Waiting on a Friend, but one of us played the riff and everyone joined in and we played until the producer was ready for us to play our song. It actually sounds really good considering none us had ever played the song before. I love little improv moments like these, I wish we had collected more over the years. I love that guitar Whip is playing.”
In celebration of the recent release of our 2008 Insania Red and 2009 Insania White, please join Geoff Tate, legendary lead singer of Queensryche and Winemaker Holly Turner on Saturday May 8th for a very special evening at Three Rivers Winery.
Prepare to be dazzled by Chef Andrae Bopp as he creates culinary mayhem paired with the extraordinary wines of Three Rivers. Enjoy passed hors d’oeuvres at 7:00 PM, followed by an incredible four course dinner specially paired with the two new Insania releases and some of Three Rivers finest.
On this special night Geoff will be performing acoustically during the course of the evening. This masterpiece of food, wine and music is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. To be part of this extravaganza, please contact the winery at 509-526-9463.
Tickets are extremely limited and are available at $200.00 per person.
Queensryche singer Geoff Tate came to town this week for the bottling of his first white wine.
VICKI HILLHOUSE — Walla Walla Union-Bulletin
WALLA WALLA — The rock star stood out on the bottling line at Three Rivers Winery like a twist cap in a sea of corks.
Sandwiched into the Signature mobile bottling unit Wednesday, Queensryche frontman Geoff Tate stood out in his slacks, jacket and fedora among a T-shirt-clad crew for the bottling of his first Insania white wine. Serenaded by the humming of a furnace and compressor and the clanging of bottles moving along the automated line, the unit was a stage of sorts for a musician now finding his voice as a winemaker.
Tate inched along through each step of the process, personally taking the chance to load the bottles, monitor the wine pumped in and cap the corks.
The rock musician’s short trip to Walla Walla this week with his wife and manager, Susan Tate, ceremoniously capped the latest phase of his winemaking venture.
“You dream it up, harvest, blend. The bottling is the finishing of that phase,” said a goateed Tate, sporting a shaved head for yet another artistic venture: an upcoming role in his second psychological thriller.
For an oenophile like Tate, the partnership with Three Rivers makes good on a longtime crush. His tours and travels take him all over the world, where his love of wine has been cultivated from France to Italy.
“It’s a wonderful way to sample wine, and that’s what got me into it,” the 51-year-old singer/songwriter said at the end of the 200-case bottling. But the partnership has also brought newfound attention to Three Rivers, said winemaker Holly
Turner.
“I think it’s opened up a whole new fanbase for us,” Turner said during a break from bottling under the sun of a brisk morning.
Loyal listeners of Tate’s music are now getting to the age where more of them are likely to appreciate a good glass of wine, she said. His shows often open with tastings.
In the case of his latest blend — sauvignon blanc and semillon that Tate describes as a floral signal to summer — the initial pour will be at the Snoqualmie Casino next month in conjunction with a cabaret style, adults-only rock show featuring aerial acts, go-go and burlesque dancers, a contortionist and more.
Where Tate’s Insania is poured, so are other blends from Three Rivers Winery.
A new batch of consumers is learning about Walla Walla wines this way, Turner said. “They’re finding it in a different way, but it’s definitely through Geoff,” she said.
Tate is not the first celebrity to join Walla Walla’s wine industry. Actor Kyle MacLachlan has partnered with Dunham Cellars in projects. Former NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe started his own Walla Walla winery a couple of years ago.
All three have Washington roots. Bledsoe, of course, grew up in Walla Walla. For Tate, the ties to the Northwest have infused a sense of pride Washington’s wine industry.
“I kind of think of myself as a spokesman for the state’s wine industry,” he said. “I’m kind of like a relentless salesman with it.”
With the local industry in a state of infancy compared to the old world wines of Europe, Washington and Walla Walla wines are just now beginning to appear on international menus, he said. Consequently, those pouring the wines are still learning about what the Northwestern U.S. has to offer.
For Tate, who got his start with Three Rivers bottling a red blend in 2008, the venture into winemaking has show him a similarity between making music and wine that he never expected.
With wine, different people taste different things. With music, different people hear different things. For the consumer, it’s a matter of taste. For the winemaker/musician, it’s all about providing an experience through a unique artform.
“It all starts with inspiration,” he said. “But the success of what you do is part of the craftsmanship.”
On December 19th, Queensryche played a special acoustic only set at KISW Salutes the Shield event. The night included performances and a silent auction, of which proceeds went to Lakewood Police Independent Guild.
Afterward, Geoff Tate joined Duff McKagan’s Loaded for a special performance of the Guns N’ Roses classic Night Train. Special thanks to Shibagirl74 for the fan filmed footage (seen below).
Geoff Tate and Scott Rockenfield wishes everyone Happy Holidays from the south of France. (Though Scott can’t seem to remember much… maybe it’s the wine?). We’ve also thrown in two gifts for your viewing and listening pleasure. Enjoy!
For a limited time Three Rivers Winery is offering a few extra holiday gifts with purchases of Geoff Tate & Three Rivers Insania Wine made before the Christmas Holiday. When you purchase a minimum of 6 bottles, you will receive a FREE Insania T-Shirt, available in both men’s and women’s styles! With every bottle purchased, you’ll also receive an Insania Wine charm, up to a set of 4. In addition, for every order placed in the month of December, you will receive a hand-signed Thank You/Christmas card from Geoff Tate himself, thanking you for your continued support and reminding you that the wine will be on its way just as soon as it is bottled and ready to go! Have an Insania packed Holiday Season! (All offers good while supplies last.)
CLICK HERE PURCHASE & VISIT THREE RIVERS WINERY
TIME TO GO “INSANIA” ONCE AGAIN AS QUEENSRYCHE’S GEOFF TATE AND THREE RIVERS WINERY ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR NEW WHITE WINE BLEND FOR 2010
INITIAL WINE TASTING AND LAUNCH TO TAKE PLACE PRIOR TO QUEENSRYCHE CABARET SHOWS IN SNOQUALMIE, WASHINGTON IN FEBRUARY
Hot on the barrels of his sold out “Insania” red wine signature blend, Queensryche front man Geoff Tate has announced a new collaboration with Walla Walla, Washington-based Three Rivers Winery (www.threeriverswinery.com) for a white wine blend of the same name.
The new “Insania” — an artfully balanced offering that shines with honeydew melon, pear and apricot — is a classic blend of Sauvignon Blanc (78%) and Semllion (22%) that will be available early next year for an anticipated price of $25 per bottle.
The initial tasting and launch of the new blend will take place at the Snoqualmie Casino in Snoqualmie, Washington on Thursday, February 4th and Friday, February 5th, 2010 in conjunction with Queensryche’s forthcoming performances of the highly anticipated “Queensryche Cabaret.” (heralded as “The First Adults Only Rock Show!”).
Crisp and lively, the finish of the “Insania” white lends itself to an encore performance with its bright, crisp acidity, leaving you wanting more…
“Insania” (a Latin word meaning insanity, irrationality, madness) has become a labor of love for Geoff Tate, who remains deeply involved with its development and looks forward to further collaborations with Three Rivers Winery in the future.
“Wine has been an important part of my life and the creation of Insania is yet another avenue to express my creativity and give my fans something more they can enjoy,” states Geoff. “I hope to keep collaborating on the Insania with Three Rivers as long as I enjoy drinking wine…. and that’s likely going to be for a very long time. May everyone enjoy this new white blend.”
The wine is certainly off to a good start as Geoff and the Red Wine Blend “Insania” were featured in Wine Spectator. (online version available at http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/Wine-Talk-Geoff-Tate_4436).
Cheers to “Insania” for years to come!
Queensryche are currently on tour in support of American Soldier with special guest Lita Ford. Brutally honest, graphic, and hauntingly real, Queensryche latest release,” American Soldier” will captivate you from the opening track to the grand finale’. Queensryche are no stranger to a concept album having released Operation Mindcrime in 1988 and have never shied away from controversial subject matter. American Soldier finds Queensryche and lead singer Geoff Tate taking on the perils of war, the good, the bad and the ugly. You will find nothing pretentious and no stone left unturned on American Soldier.
American Soldier features twelve tracks that are carefully orchestrated with a vast array of melodic melodies combat hard driving riffs, fast and furious drumbeats and outstanding vocals by Geoff Tate.
Geoff Tate of Queensryche has checked in RockMusicStar.com to discuss the current American Soldier tour, War, his Insania Wine line, and what it was like working with the Soldiers for one of Queensyrche most brilliant albums to date “American Soldier.”
RockMusicStar: Geoff, Thank you for checking in with RockMusicStar.com. Queensryche is currently on the road in support of American Soldier. I understand that Edwin McCain joined you onstage last night. How did that go?
TATE: Yes, he was out to eat and see the show. So we asked him if he would like to do a song with us. He did a beautiful song,” I’ll Be.” That is the fun of being on tour. We love to bring musical guests onstage with us.
To read the entire interview, please visit: RockMusicStar.com
“American Soldier” is by far Queensryche’s most ambitious album as it features real life accounts and stories from soldiers of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. These real life experiences are documented in “American Soldier’s” overall theme, and makes for an adventurous listen, kind of like being on a military mission… Moreover, musically, this is definitely one of Queensryche’s heavier releases as this energy stems from the record’s serious subject matter at hand.
I was lucky enough to have a chat with frontman Geoff Tate and here is what he told me about the making of “American Soldier” and his role as the interviewer this time around.
Click below on media player to listen to the interview.
To listen to the Interview, click here!
Damn Fine Day is your source of outstanding, overlooked songs that deserve their place among the greatest hits of all time. Each day they’ll introduce you to a gem from the past that they feel belongs in your collection.
Today’s song is recommended by Queensryche’s Geoff Tate, whose aggressive hard rock/heavy metal seems like a world away from Sade’s detached, jazzy R&B-pop. “Like A Tattoo” comes from Sade’s highly successful 1992 album, Love Deluxe, which spawned the hits “No Ordinary Love” and “Kiss Of Life.” The chilled-out vibe of the song is in contrast to the story the lyrics tell. Sade talks of a lover whose past is burdening and shaming him, and of the conflict and potential violence that haunt him. Geoff’s roles as lead singer and lyricist in Queensryche allow him to weave stories, like Sade does, within his songs. His progressive approach to metal sets the band apart from their contemporaries not only by the topics they tackle but by the ambitious concept albums they’ve produced.
To view more recommendations, please visit http://www.damnfineday.com
Bravewords.com Talks To QUEENSRŸCHE Singer Geoff Tate; Audio Available
QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate spoke with Mitch Lafon from Bravewords.com recently about the band’s recently released album, American Soldier. Tate also discusses his future plans and wine-making. All pictures of Queensryche by Mitch Lafon taken on July 28th in Montreal, QC or Sept 7th, 2007 in Uncasville, CT. Check out the chat in two-parts below.
