Well, first off: the production has a lot more balls. The whole sound is a bit more transparent!

How have the reactions on "T.O.C." been so far?

Very, very good so far and it could go on like this!!

Is it okay if I say that in comparison with its predecessor "Wheelin´ An´ Dealin`" there´s a certain influence of biker- and southern rock on "Truth Or Consequences"?

Do you really think that the two CDs are this different songwise?? I do not see it this way at all but I play these songs quite some time. On the other hand: we are raised and influenced by a lot of bands from the old days !!

Besides that your 80s heart is still beating heavily when it comes to songs like "Toyboy" or the superb ballad "Comin´ On Still Strong", one that really makes it into the premier league of ballads along with Warrant´s "Heaven" or Poison´s "Every Rose Has Its Thorn"…

Thanx for the compliment. Yes, I especially like " Comin ´on" very much and we are somehow rooted in this kinda music. And we wouldn´ t change it because it comes from the heart!

"Dirty Rock `n´ Roller" could be the song Dee Snider has never recorded. Great idea to include a saxophone solo…

Man, this song is more than twenty years old and was rewritten by me last year and it turned out really good!

What happened to having Ron Keel do some backing vocals? On "Wheelin´ An´ Dealin´" you had the song "Stay" written by Marc Ferrari. So what´s all this "Keel-Connection" about?

Well, I met Marc several times when I was in LA and we are still in contact. Prior that we were writing each other for some years! Since Ronnie is one of my favorite singers I never lost interest in his work. So in the end I discovered his band Iron Horse and from that it didn´t take me long to make new friends in his camp !

You have received good support in Japan in the past. Are there any plans for securing a deal over there?

You never know what is coming your way..but for the moment we only have to wait for the reaction on "T.O.C."

Rumours say you guys are going to open shows for Bonfire?

There was talk of it but I do not know if it will happen

What are the future plans of Firesign?

Selling CDs and play live as much as possible and make new friends everywhere!

Okay, Steve, well done so far. Now at the end of the interview here´s our very own game of "Truth Or Consequences" (man, I used to play this in my teens along with spin-the-bottle – first time I kissed a girl…). So would you rather…

…re-record "If It Wasn´t For Your Love" with huge keyboards or drown another Rectifier?

I´d go for the keys but NOT carpets of it!

… play a gig all naked or apply for a bank job with a picture from the "Sex Attack" days?

Apply for the bank job with the old pix!! Yeah, that would be great!!

…be a "Toyboy" or the "Fat Man Bastard"?

Toyboy

...be rated the worst band ever or have your precious guitar collection all burnt in fire?

Neither of these would ever happen!!

…lose your voice opening for Keel and Bonfie in front of 20.000 fans during your first song or lose your pants in the mall in Emmendingen (where Steve currently resides) on a Saturday afternoon at 0 degrees Celcius?

Lose may pants !!

…listen to Vince Neil singing one of your songs or do another stupid questionnaire like this (I know Steve isn´t much of a Vince Neil fan…)?

I can imagine doing both!

Thanks Steve !!!