I am much more my own man than I was when I was with the Stones.

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

The Stones always tried to do the odd smaller gig when they could.

You're always frustrated, you don't have the chance to do a song on the album, like the Beatles did with Ringo and George, or like Led Zeppelin, where everybody was given a chance to contribute. There never is a chance with the Stones.

If you are any competent musician, if you have creative ideas, ideas of songs, of arrangements, in a band like the Stones, where these 2 people do all the things, there is no freedom.

I always got great respect as a bass player.

You never know what your next dig is going to find.