My mother's father taught English literature. When I was about ten or eleven, I could recite Macaulay's 'Lays of Ancient Rome.' While other kids were playing pedestrian war games, I'd be Horatius keeping the bridge.

Read books, discover the blues and don't Tweet.

One reason I quit doing interviews after years and years and years was because I was making things up.

My Mother set me on the right track, Marty Robbins made me want to write songs, and Jesus Christ did the rest.

Early risers catch the world waking and see its true colors.

Elton John's home is laden with trinkets and books relating to Satanism and witchcraft.

I am a simple vessel with complex overtones, opinionated on occasions but willing to listen. Comfortable with reclusiveness and devoted to privacy and family. Patriotic to a fault and allergic to cruelty, ignorance and bad music.