I don't have the inclinations that other people seem to have as far as the business is concerned.

My parents didn't treat me as if there was anything in the world I couldn't do, except be unkind.

You have to follow every melodic line, every emotional idea, or you don't get your money's worth.

Men are allowed to write songs about people and women are allowed to write songs about women.

If you're the band leader you ask more of yourself than anyone else, so they tend to raise the bar for me.

I've always chosen my band members based on their sense of humor. It might sound stupid, but it means not only are they fun to live with on a tour bus for years, but humor implies intelligence.

I'm beginning to think I have two years encountering sexism without really realising it.

Nirvana was pop. You can have distorted guitars and people say it's alternative, but you can't break out of pop music's constructs and still get extensive radio play and media coverage.

Good taste - that's all you really need when you're playing an instrument.

My brother and I were meditating before we were 6 years old, having to stare at the wall and chant.

I don't like the idea of famous people.

I don't mind what the market is, but why is it vapid? If they're such a bunch of idiots, why don't you show them good music instead? They're not going to know the difference.

I guess I'll just slip into the studio after the next time with the Muses, and then just keel over and die.

I have to play as much of the game as I allow myself to get the music heard. But it's not unlike the rest of the world, so I'm not as up in arms about it as I could be.

Before you can make good music, you just have to shut up. Then the music can say what it has to say.