On January 30th, Geoff Tate brought his Operation Mindcrime Final Tour to Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. Tate, known for his previous band Queensrÿche, has been rocking fans for over 45 years. Loyal followers from all over the Florida area showed up in true form to watch this final tour of the full album “Operation Mindcrime” performed in its entirety. His vocals truly have not missed a beat, and to witness Geoff Tate in 2026 is to witness a masterclass in vocal preservation and theatrical command.
While other of his 1980s contemporaries have retreated into lower tunings or relied on backing tracks, Tate remains the “Golden Throat” of progressive metal, delivering a performance that feels less like a legacy act and more like a high-stakes operatic revival, and like a fine wine, Geoff only gets better with time.
Geoff is often called the hardest-working man in rock and roll, as evidenced by his diligent touring schedule. He can be found touring 5 to 7 days a week. When he is not, check his Backstage Pass Travel page; he is usually taking a group of fans to an epic location.
Tate’s 2026 shows are generous, often spanning nearly two hours. The setlist is a meticulous journey through the hallowed halls of this epic, groundbreaking album. From the powerful theatrical building of the background music, to his prowling command of the stage, and ultimately the room, to the sweet and timeless vocal with Clodagh McCarthy and Sweet Sister May as a phenomenal duet, the concert was as fantastic today as it has ever been.
The room opens to the darkness of the story, with Geoff Tate’s voice the only sound as he says, “I Remember Now,” followed by the instrumental “Anarchy-X,” which adds the music in to build and draw the audience in as Tate himself flies onto the stage, as the song Revolution Calling begins. His presence, in all black with a cowboy hat, enhances the performance’s atmosphere and the audience’s excitement. As the band pushes on through the album, Sister Mary arises, sung by Clodagh McCarthy. Her voice is powerful, with a beautiful, spiritual, and haunting effect. This brings the true realism of the character and completes the duet with Geoff Tate
His current band is impeccable; the sound is clean, well-performed, extremely tight, and, in my opinion, better than the original band. Geoff brings together some of the best musicians from around the world to complete his unparalleled sound.
The band paused partway through to take a moment and raise a glass to many people, people hurt, destroyed, and brutalized by violence. Telling the audience that as humans, we are very powerful beasts, and we should all know that we can do much better. Geoff has always been truly caring, and he sees what most cannot or won’t. He also speaks to his true nature.
Unlike other bands and singers, this show is not a sterile replay of the album; it is a gritty, live, unrelenting story told by Geoff to the audience, as they hang on tightly for the ride. It truly honors Geoff’s voice and his diligence to his craft like no other. This final chapter cements Geoff’s place in rock and roll history and leaves the crown as the master fully intact.
You would be amiss if you didn’t see this show live and in person for yourself. You can find all the tour information at www.geofftate.com. There, you can also purchase his merchandise, meet-and-greet passes, catch up on the latest news, and find Travel Tour information.