I would like to think that the singer is the butterfly, and the drummer was just the little grub in the ground, working to become a caterpillar

I've always liked pop music. There was a bit of a misunderstanding with the avant-garde rock scene, because I think I was sort of swimming the wrong way, really.

I only choose musicians who I think will emerge, can emerge, with their own character, while still going along with the tune in question.

People say, oh it's a shame, you're not nostalgic about the '60s. Well actually, it's quite good, when you think of it. Wouldn't it be sad if I was sitting here wishing it back?

Anybody who thinks pop music's easy should try to make a pop single and find out that it isn't.

Clint Eastwood said, the only things America has contributed to civilization are the western and jazz. And I don't think westerns are bad, but lots of people make great cinema. But jazz is right there.

People have habits about what they think songs should be like. There's the folky thing of: "Poor me, I'm a sensitive person in a cruel world." Or the pop thing of: "Hey, look at me, I'm sexy."

I'm not a soldier for anything, either. I'm only a singer and I don't think it makes a difference what we sing.

I think the people who did well, or are happy, in a youth industry, they define themselves out of the business after a decade or so.