I want to be able to look back and think that as long as I was going this, I did the best that I could.

The weird nihilism that permeates Mellon Collie is extremely relevant to what's going on right now. So many kids are intelligent and articulate, but they don't know what to do with themselves.

I like my home and I like the nature.

My version, of course, is not this flag-waving, let's all get on the Jesus train and ride out of hell. I'm not that kind of guy. It's an embrace that life is good, worth living and yeah, it's not easy, but there are more pluses than minuses.

We need to get back to a level of social responsibility that we haven't seen for a long time.

Well, we have brought certain things upon ourselves. I've certainly brought things upon us with my mouth.

I'll come in with a string of riffs and direct the musical ideas. But you still need a band and their input to make the ideas come alive. You can't underestimate band chemistry.