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Few days off, after the incredible begining of gig for the FIB Tour, how are you, and how do you prepare the rest of the tour and the 30 years Tour? And, what a success on that tour!!!
I'm doing fine, and enjoying the time off right now. I stay busy with a lot of other businesses that I own parts of, but music is my main focus. I've been doing several vocal sessions for friends, and worked on a few Japanese CDs.

Are Toto going to release a CD of this FIB Tour ? (ok for the DVD)
We are recording a DVD, and possibly there will be a CD release of those songs. I think it would be a great idea to release the songs that don't go on the DVD this time.

For the 30 years Tour, do you already talk with the guys about the city or rooms ? We know that Joseph Williams and Steve Porcaro will be in, and how do approach the vocals parts with Joseph? You guys announced some kind of huge gig for that tour! Is it possible to hear your own songs? Imagine a 'Woodstock' by Toto? Maybe some stuff rarely perfomed on stage?
We're still in the planning stages of the 30th anniversary tour, so it's too soon to say how this will go. Joseph and I will share vocals when he comes out with us. It will be a fantastic tour, and I'm sure a lot of fun for everyone. How great to share a tour with everyone who had anything to do with Toto over the years. We're all in the "big family", and looking forward to this.

About Joseph, do you know him outside the band, in all days life? Did you interess of his own albums, etc.. Do you think that he could be a 'new member' or staying a guest on futures Toto's albums? And what do you think really about Joseph ?
Joseph and I are good friends. We've done several projects outside of Toto together, and I've done some vocals on 2 of his CDs. We have a lot of fun together.

What is your feeling about the evolution of the band for the next years ? Luke said that you'll going to have 90 years in 30 years? For you, a rock band could be old?
I'm not sure I understand this question, but I'll try to have the wheelchair ready to take the mic. onstage and keep on rockin'!!!! I don't really think it matters that much how old you are in rock. I think more in the terms of whether you can make the music sound great. When that part is not happening, things should stop. I would never want to compromise the music.

How did integration occur from Greg in the place of David Paich?
I thought it was seemless. There was very little time before he became a full member of the band, and to become a member of Toto, you
have to be one of the best at what you do. Greg is absolutely one of the best out there, and has made the band even better.

Do you have some solo project (out of Mecca) ? A new album for you? We'd like to congrats you for your colaboration on "Come On Come Over" from Brian Bromberg's album "JACO". What about your collaboration with Vince Dicola?
I will be working on the Mecca CD. I love it that David Hungate is playing bass on it. He's always been one of my favorites. The Bromberg CD was a fun project. Brian is a friend, and it was a pleasure to work with him. I hope he does another CD soon, as I would love to work with him again. I've been working with Vince DiCola for years now, and he's really an enigma on the keyboard, and as a writer. I love his style, and we work well together. I may have some of my solo CD at his studio already recorded. He's very talented, and I'm honored to work with such talent.

Could it be possible to hear you again on acappela project like West Coast All Star?
I'm not sure there will be another WCA CD. The company in Japan who financed the CD is now going another direction. These were very fun CDs, but as with everything else, you need financial backing to do these projects. Maybe it's possible, but not in the near future.

Please tell us how was the session going, in 1976, for 'SS Fouls', and sessions for 'Far Corporation'? Still having good memories? The S.S. Fools CD was very memorable, because it was the first "big album" I worked on. I was vbery happy to work with one of my favorite bands, becasue Three Dog Night had been one of my big influences in the early years of my career. Frank Farian was great to work with. He's a really great producer, and his work ethic is incredible, not to mention his vision as a marketer of music. I learned a lot from Frank.

Are you a musician? Do you play an instrument? And Is it possible to hear you on stage like Luke with crazy keyboards for Through The Looking Glass Tour? Amazing thing!!! I do play a little keyboards, but not around Greg. He's the master when it comes to that. I think people would spend their time better listening to what Greg does on keys than me. Anything could happen though. I might be caught having a moment on the keyboard before the soundcheck.

With more years, can you compare the first session of 'Toto' with the session of 'MindFields' ?
This would be very difficult, because everything is done differently these days. With Pro-Tools and the new studio tecniques, we record much faster and more precisely these days. I think the quality is better as well. The edits are done on a computer, so it's not as time consuming. We recorded the first Toto Album when you actually had to splice the 2 inch tape to make an edit. Some of the edits we do now coulnd't be done that way.

What do you think about covers or samples of your songs ? Like in France, 'Rosanna' being 'Rozana' for a water traders' ads. It's very flattering, but I do hope they pay us for the use of the songs.

What is your answer for people thinking that your voice is tired on stage?
It happens, but I do my best to take care of myself for every tour. I give it "my all" every night, but sometimes, mistakes happen when you're singing live. This is something most of the singers I've seen on stage in these times are not experiencing, because a lot of them are not really singing. They prefer to fool the audience by singing to tracks of their CD. When it's live, it has flaws, but at least you know you're getting your money's worth.

Did you think about re-record old hits in years of 'Hydra' or 'Turn Back' ? How was going the end of your contract with Sony? How many times did they keep the song's rights on your albums for them
We've thought about it, but there's so much room for new music, we didn't take the time. Sony owns the masters of the original hits, so they can really do anything they want with them. On to better times an d new misic for us.

As a musicien from Louisiana, what do you think about the musicians' exode after Katrina? Do you think that we are front of the birth of a new musical kind? The New-Orleans' jazz is going to be mixed with the other music style, we can imagine a sission between reformers and conservatives of New-Orleans' style. Like Blues which was upgrade with all the exodes, Mississipi, Texas, Chicago, etc..
As with most catastrophies, music is sure to change, because the demographic of the people living there will change. I can't really say what it will end up like, but I'm sure it will be interesting. Just as the earthquake in LA caused a lot fo the studio musicians to go to Nashville, it changed the face of Country music until it now looks a bit like what Rock and Roll of the 60's was.

What do you think about the Internet ? About uploading?
I don't like it, but there's very little that can be done about it. At least some bands are getting heard now that would never have happened in the past,.....however, they won't get paid for it.

After few month, are you satisfies with TotoNetWork?
So far, so good. I know the guys there are working tirelessly to make it a great medium for now only Toto, but for a lot of other talent out there. It's a great idea, and I'm still very interested in it.

Are you like Luke, work addicted, or are you going on holiday ( except south of France in Summer 2006 ;) )
I love to work a lot, however, I'm going to Hawaii in January to spend a little time off before the beginniing of the tour. 2007 will be a very busy year for us, so I'm getting some rest and relaxation before we start.

What are your musical influences ? What do you listening now?
I have so many influences it's hard to put a finger on just one. If I had to, it would be Ray Charles. He was my favorite.

A last word for Toto's Fans ?
We're looking forward to a great year of music in 2007. I hope everyone has a Happy New Year and we'll see you at the concert. Be safe, healthy, happy, and prosperous.

All Totoweb.org's staff and his forum would like to thank you to taking times for answering at this interview, in spite of your extra work. See ya on the road!!!