The Geoff Tate split with Queensryche was a contentious one that played out in public. In the time since, Tate has released music under the Operation: Mindcrime moniker with his new band, while Queensryche has issued a pair of discs with new vocalist Todd La Torre. In a new interview with Metal Wani (heard above), Tate was asked about any fan backlash against La Torre and also addressed the question of whether he would ever see himself returning to the band.

When asked about La Torre and his former band, Tate stated, "I'm completely unaware of anything that's going on with him or them. I don't know what you're talking about." He continued stating that he was not intentionally ignoring the band and singer, but that it's not something that's no longer part of his life. "It's just that we don't move in the same circles, we don't know the same people, we don't travel the same places, we don't go to the same restaurants — [we] never have," says the singer. "So I just don't hear about it — unless, like, you mention it today. It's the first I've heard of anything like that."

Tate was asked if there was a situation in which he ever saw himself returning to play with his former bandmates to which he responded, "To do that would require everybody getting in the same room and actually confronting all the things that were said and all the things that happened. And that is a really big commitment, because there was some really negative stuff that went down."

He continued, "I don't know if everybody has that kind of want to go through that. [Laughs] The money would be the big driving force that would get everybody together, and I don't need the money, so I'm not really motivated to sit in a room and listen to what I've had to listen to with everybody. But, you know, again, never say never."

During a recent interview with The Metal Voice, La Torre was asked about Tate and stated that he personally would be respectful and civil toward the singer if they ever crossed paths.

"That whole beef that went down was nothing to do with me. However, since I've been in the band and ... I can't say how he is as a person, but as an artist, I've always had respect for what he did, particularly on the first six records," stated La Torre, who added, "If I was ever in a situation [with him], I have no problem, if I were to converse with him ... But he doesn't even acknowledge anything I've done, so I don't know that he would be wanting to do it or care."

La Torre concluded, "If at some point in the future there was ever a circumstance where I had to talk to him, I would have no problem having a conversation. I'm just doing the best that I can in one of my all-time favorite bands. But things move on, and I'm in a good place with the guys, and there's really no ill will in the band."

Tate's most recent album was 2016's Resurrection, the second piece of an expected trilogy of albums from the singer. The Key preceded it in 2015. This year, Tate has busied himself working on music for and appearing in the film The Burningmoore Deaths.

18 Rock + Metal Musicians Movie Cameos

More From 97.7 KCRR