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 was listening to music long before rock 'n roll.

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

I always got great respect as a bass player.

The first records I heard were from Dizzy Gillespie and people like that.

My first record I owned was by Les Paul.