I had quite a religious upbringing. I gave my life over to Christ at 11. I took it back when I was about 14.

You would not like me if you knew me.

My mouth has a tendency to get me into trouble, but because I'm so small and I take on people who are lager than me. If someone punched me, I'd get my drummer beat them up.

Placebo is music for outsiders, by outsiders and our gigs are like conventions of outcasts, which is cool.

I get given loads of rubbish. So, I have two Alanis Morissette records which I hide when anyone with taste calls around.

The extreme side of my personality, which I chose to sort of display, was snowballing and getting a life of its own. It was like looking in a mirror and not recognising myself.

Music has touched me deeply, sometimes to tears. But at the same time it's been life-affirming, because I've been grateful for the fact that I'm alive and human and capable of being so moved.