I want to make great songs.

You know Americans are obsessed with life and death and rebirth, that's the American Cycle. You know, awakening, tragic, horrible death and then Phoenix rising from the ashes. That's the American story, again and again.

Injuries are nothing to be ashamed about.

My earliest memory is of feeling different. My parents told me that I wasn't like other children.

I put up with the music business because I understand that I'm in the tradition, I'm in a tradition that's of far greater importance than the business I seem to be in. Everywhere I go in the world, people ask me about the business that I seem to be in, but I'm not really in that business.

I always thought Kurt Cobain was the perfect embodiment of the great alternative guitar player.

I'm viewed as this weird, crippled character. But you got to take your lumps.