Chris Akin sits down with Geoff Tate for a raw, no-BS conversation about Operation Mindcrime X (dropping May 3rd), the evolution of the story, why the new single “Power” sounds nothing like 1988, and how he’s still living the rock ‘n’ roll dream while balancing family life. From painting audio pictures to the never-ending tour, this is pure CMS-TV gold for every Queensrÿche, Mindcrime, and Geoff Tate fan.

GET QUEENSRYCHE’S OPERATION MINDCRIME ON VINYL: https://amzn.to/41qYkVx

Geoff Tate joins Chris Akin Presents to dive deep into the long-awaited Operation Mindcrime 3 (officially titled X). He reveals the album grew from years of curiosity about the shadowy Dr. X character — the mysterious figure fans never fully knew. Tate calls it a “guilty indulgence” and a true labor of love, co-written with Kieran Robertson through late-night messages across the globe.

He explains how the first two albums focused on Nikki and Sister Mary, while this one flips the perspective to Dr. X’s upbringing and mindset. Musically, “Power” is deliberately modern — bigger dynamic range, not a nostalgia trip — and Tate treats every track like painting an audio scene where music and lyrics lock together perfectly.

Chris presses him on the pressure of following up a legendary concept record, whether he misses quick three-minute singles, and how the theatrical storytelling style has become his signature. Geoff is refreshingly honest: he loves both short songs and deep stories, but this record is exactly what he wanted to make right now.

They also talk touring life — the tour never ends, he loves bringing shows to places that rarely get live metal, and he has zero plans to retire to the couch. Family travels with him when they can, and he’s still all-in on the road. The chat wraps with how he wants fans to experience the new album: headphones on, no distractions, letting the full sonic picture sink in.

A must-watch for anyone who grew up on Operation: Mindcrime, Empire, or Sweet Oblivion. Real talk, zero fluff, straight from the legend himself.

Call to Action:Watch the full interview now, smash that like button, subscribe to The CMS Network, and join us on Locals/Substack for uncensored extras. Drop your favorite Geoff Tate era in the comments — Nikki, Dr. X, or something else?

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Timestamps

00:00:00 - Intro & Welcome to CMS-TV00:00:20 - Chris Akin Introduces Geoff Tate00:01:01 - The Excitement Around Operation Mindcrime X00:01:55 - Why This Album Focuses on Dr. X00:03:28 - Is There Pressure Following a Metal Classic?00:03:38 - A Labor of Love – 4 Years in the Making00:04:14 - Co-Writing with Kieran Robertson00:04:53 - Were These Ideas Brewing Since the 80s?00:05:46 - Shifting Perspective to Dr. X’s Side of the Story00:06:29 - First Single “Power” – Modern Sound Explained00:07:48 - Painting Audio Pictures & Song Structure00:08:45 - Theatrical Storytelling vs. Quick Singles00:10:01 - The Challenge of Long-Form Concept Albums00:11:10 - Touring Life & That Athens Pit Story00:12:04 - Will We Ever Get the Full Mindcrime Trilogy in One Show?00:13:27 - The Never-Ending Tour & Bringing Metal to New Places00:14:31 - Family Life on the Road00:16:14 - How to Experience the New Record in 202600:18:23 - More Singles Coming? Final Thoughts00:18:42 - Outro & Thanks to Geoff Tate

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