I love to play smaller crowds with the Rhythm Kings.

I had a wonderful time with the Stones but after 31 years, I thought it was time to move on.

Onstage I like to play with a an 18-inch speaker, which very few bass players do. I need that fat, underneath sound, which I've always had. It suits me admirably to do it like that, and I can imitate that sound by plugging directly into the board in the studio.

All of my books are about researching. I do all the research and I give it to a writer who can put it in the written word better than I could.

I can't really sing and play live, because I can't play bass efficiently and sing at the same time. If I concentrated on the vocals, I'd mess up the bass, and if I concentrated on the bass, I'd forget the lines.

When I record in a studio I don't use an amp. I go directly into the board, so I can get that very fat, full sound - which is my favorite sound.

I was listening to music long before rock 'n roll.