Chris DeGarmo: (laughing) Yeah, I like that.

SR: Who gave up the ear in the bottle for the cover?

CD: (laughing) It's a mystery ear. We have to have some mystery around this album. If I went ahead and told you that there would be one less mysterious thing.

SR: Alright. I'll go with that. Last time we talked you said this was going to be a quick one. It has been two and one half years.

CD: Quick is all relative isn't it? It seems to be pretty quick for us. We toured pretty extensively on the Promised Land album. We had actually written this album very quickly after returning home, but for some reason it still added up to that amount of time.

SR: You waited for Peter Collins so that took some time.

CD: We've done two unique projects unto themselves with him Operation:Mindcrime and Empire before this one. We were very pleased with his work on those projects and he really adds a nice, healthy objectivity to the band. After we had organized this material we sent it over to him and he was very excited about it. He loved it and wanted to work with us. We thought we'd just go for it and we wound up with something different again. We've all moved forward and grabbed something of the moment now. Also we had "Jimbo" who recorded and mixed our last three albums and did a great job was back. We love "Jimbo" and he's a dear friend. On this one we had Toby Wright come in and shake it up a bit in the mixing. He is a new relationship that we've opened up on this project which was also great to behold.

SR: I have no complaints except that I didn't get to see the Promised Land tour. Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is the first album you've ever sung lead on.

CD: You are correct.

SR: "All I Want" with that sad opening guitar riff. A new trend?

CD: I don't know if it's a new trend. As you know I've been singing on our albums all along, but it's the first lead vocal. I'm excited about it. It's a different little offering, different prospective and certainly we have a fine voice to deliver these things in Geoff. He has a very open mind and is always open to experimentation. I really wanted to sing this song and he was cool with that.

SR: I lost a bet on this album. I figured with the music trend today you'd take us back to the characters of Sister Mary and Dr. X. And, the last three cuts are in that style.

CD: Right.

SR: What's the next single. "Sign Of The Times" was a very good choice for the first one.

CD: We haven't thought beyond the moment honestly. Others may have, anything is possible. We've got a lot of options there.

SR: You've done it for everyone on this one... from the early fans in '84 and beyond. Geoff has said that "Spool" is his favorite.

CD: (laughing) He was asked on a given day what his favorite song was and he mentioned that one. A number of people have asked that question since and now he's recanting by saying he likes them all. I think it's natural to be in the mood for a certain song or a gravitation to something different every day. The lyric in "Spool" is one that is certainly great and I can see Geoff being excited about that song.

SR: "I think therefore I am" from the philosopher René Descartes opens that tune. That is my motto for life.

CD: Geoff borrowed that meaningful phrase to propel this idea that people are individuals and should think of themselves like that. It's so easy in this day and age...notice it's not 'they think therefore I am' but a lot of people are so concerned about what others think and so concerned about how they're perceived by the choices they make in their lives that they neglect their own road.

SR: You also address almost the same subject on "You" where you say you are responsible for your own life...we don't take the blame.

CD: Yes. This is not a theme album but I think there are throughout our work an ongoing affirmation of self and free thinking and of people to recognize their own forte, needs, wants, wishes and dreams. Go for it and don't look back. After all, life is but a fleeting moment in the grand scheme of things. Drink from the well.

SR: You've always been known to your fans as the "thinking man's band."

CD: Without being gender specific I take issue with that.

SR: Why?

CD: I don't know who came up with that. We certainly didn't. It's funny that phrase has followed us around but we have a lot of females that are interested in the band and you are one of them Sheila. So to say that we are a "thinking man's band" is incorrect.

SR: Darlin' I'm not meaning it that way.

CD: I know, but I just love to attack that little phrase. Initially, it was intended as a compliment, I'm sure.

SR: I should have said that your music makes us all think. CD: Then maybe we should call it the "thinking fan's band." (laughing)

SR: Any new looks in the band? I haven't seen a current bio photo yet. Has Geoff cut his hair any shorter?

CD: I don't know if it could get any shorter than he had it last time. He had a buzz cut going there. My hair is shorter. I can't remember, Sheila, the last time I saw you.

SR: It was '91 at the Cow Palace.

CD: Then my hair is a bit shorter. I'm a little more aero-dynamic than I was. We're still the same size.

SR: Taking care of your body and your mind.

CD: That's right.