The drummer in my first band was killed in Vietnam. He kind of signed up and joined the marines. Bart Hanes was his name. He was one of those guys that was jokin' all the time, always playin' the clown.

The first thing that I do when I come out every night is to look at the faces in front of me, very individually.

We gotta get out while we're young, 'cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run.

The first day I can remember looking into a mirror and being able to stand what I saw was the day I had a guitar in my hand.

You've got to learn to live with what you can't rise above.

When I was young I was very shy and that was my personality. I was a pretty sensitive kid and quite neurotic, filled with a lot of anxiety.

I was a guitar player on the streets of Asbury Park and already a member in good standing amongst those who lie in service of the truth - artists with a small A. But I held four clean aces. I had youth, almost a decade of hardcore bar band experience, a good group of homegrown musicians who were attuned to my performance style, and a story to tell.