Our shows have always been sort of an all-generations thing, people from 6 to 60. The other night, we played a show and we had a woman who was probably 70 to 75 years old, and she was there alone and she was singing every song. On the other end of the spectrum, there was a 7-year-old on his dad's shoulders and the dad is singing along.

Find something that is a happy, healthy alternative to hurting yourself, as opposed to taking a razor blade to yourself because at the end of the day, you're only hurting the most important person in the world and that's you. And you don't want to hurt that person.

Something pure to burn away the darkness that hides inside my mind

And death climbs up the steps one by one.

I noticed the different kids were always put down by other people and it would cause them to become almost violent with themselves. It's not really necessary; there's a way to find strength in yourself, and for me it was writing. That was sort of my release and my escape, so the term 'Knives and Pens' to me was like a choice. You can either create, or become violent, and maybe go down a dark road.

Every day, people say crappy things about my band or whatever, but I live a positive existence. I got through everything by virtue of having the same passion that I've had through the years.

When I was growing up in school, I wasn't the archetype of the classic American nerd; I was just different.