I loved music from the age of eight. Jazz and blues. But also Little Richard and Elvis Presley.

I tour a lot, sometimes like a hundred shows a year.

Sometimes you're quite fortunate, being on the stage, getting to meet people like Salvador Dali.

And Mary J. Blige, she's got all these fur coats and hats and stuff. She's good; I like her.

I didn't really want to give up music.

When I stopped touring in the early '80s for a few years, it was a mistake looking back. I lost touch with my audience in a way and I think that was a bad career move.

I don't really have a great deal of spare time. I still have a house in the country, but I'm in London 90 percent of the time.