I always wrote the music first, and the music gave me the mood and the lyrics were pretty much put in to give you a map, where that mood came from and where it's going. But my first love was really the music itself, and I guess I've gone back to that.

I was drawn to boxing because I got beat up as a kid. I was the kid with the piano books in a New York neighbourhood.

Why don't the Beatles get back together? Why don't nobody sing of romance?

I watched the mighty skyline fall

I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints - the sinners are much more fun.

I'm in a New York state of mind

I think historically America has been pretty tolerant. It seems when there's a mass influx from one place, that's when it becomes problematic for Americans.