What we were trying to do differently was this sort of layered sound.

We wouldn't have put it out with the name Queen on it if we didn't think it was musically up to scratch.

I never took sheet music seriously. I could do better myself just by listening to other people and using my own intuition.

What we were trying to do differently was this sort of layered sound.

I like a big neck – thick, flat and wide. I lacquered the fingerboard with Rustin's Plastic Coating. The tremolo is interesting in that the arm's made from an old bicycle saddle bag carrier, the knob at the end's off a knitting needle and the springs are valve springs from an old motorbike.

I'm into paradoxes. I wanted to make an album about them, but the group told me I was a pretentious fart. They were right.

My children hate me being such a big star. It's very hard for them to have a father who is always in the public eye.