When High Tide was not picked up for a fourth season, Rick took the opportunity to jump back into the studio, determined to release another album, with or without a record company backing. Being forever the perfectionist, the album, Karma, would take over a year to complete. And just like in the early 80's Rick would pull double duty by continuing to act during this period. Lending his voice in the cartoon series Johnny Bravo, and appearing in the made for cable movies Legion and Loyal Opposition: Terror in the White House.

Ten months before Karma would be released in the U.S. Rick hit the road selling out shows across the country and discovering that he did indeed still have an audience who had been waiting and were ready to listen.

"It's a very different thing now. I'm really really really enjoying it. The reaction has been wonderful...I have a whole new energy for the songs and especially being able to play new stuff. It's great not just going out and revisiting the old stuff which I love to do...the shows have been fabulous...the songs still have energy for people and they still have energy for the music which is what my live shows are about."

The tour proved to people that he was still as popular as ever. And even though its first single, Itsalwaysomething, only saw limited release, in April 1999 Karma was released and cracked the Billboard Top 200 Chart. Not bad for a guy who has been absent from the music scene for 11 years.

As Rick toured and made several talk show appearances to promote Karma, he also took time out to guest star in two episodes of the Brooke Shield's comedy Suddenly Susan, Martial Law, plus Smokey Joe's Cafe on Broadway, and in the NBC movie, Dying to Dance, with another former General Hospital star, Kimberly McCullough.

At the end of the year 2000, Rick wrapped up his two and a half year tour and prepared for the release of his new album, The Greatest Hits: Alive.

One might think that with the grueling tour finally coming to an close that Rick would take some time off and relax, but instead he jumped into a new an exciting venure. All through 2001 and 2002 Rick was the star of the the Las Vegas stage production EFX Alive.

"Starring in a major Las Vegas production such as 'EFX' at the MGM Grand will allow me to do what I love most -- mix theatre and music...We plan to make this version of 'EFX' truly different with the creation of show-oriented rock music...The challenge will be to take this award-winning and very popular show to the next level. I'm very excited about working with this exceptional creative team..."

Even with EFX Alive's grueling schedule, it didn't stop Rick from going on the road whenever he could. Or from continuing to write new material for a new album. With the close of EFX Alive, Rick headed back into the studio, or the Dog House as he affectional calls it, to complete shock/denial/anger/acceptance, which is set to be released in February along with plans of a new tour.