The first nine albums there was never a Synthesiser, never any Orchestra. There was never any other player except us on the albums.

Sanctions always hurt the poor, the weak, the children.

I think music is about our internal life. It’s part of the way people touch each other. That’s very precious to me. And astronomy is, in a sense, the very opposite thing. Instead of looking inwards, you are looking out, to things beyond our grasp.

Not for a million - years. I mean, I like the INXS boys, but I found the process very degrading, really. Reality television has eaten away at our standards of excellence. I don't like this whole culture, which has evolved, of TV being the king.

There are times when I've been feeling something and played a solo that I've never been able to repeat.

I think a lot of people would be better off in America, where at least you would find some radio station somewhere that would play you.

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.