I never wrote music or arranged songs or lyrics when I was under the influence of anything but coffee. That's not gone away.

'The Beatles' did whatever they wanted. They were a collection of influences adapted to songs they wanted to write. George Harrison was instrumental in bringing in Indian music. Paul McCartney was a huge Little Richard fan. John Lennon was into minimalist aggressive rock.

If I had a musical identity that was definable then it would be time to get into painting or something else. Race car driving.

Any way that you can get the end result is valid, whatever it takes.

Due to irresolvable personality conflicts as well as musical differences, I am permanently leaving the band Audioslave. I wish the other three members nothing but the best in all of their future endeavours.

There's something about losing friends, particularly young people, where it's not something that you get over. I don't believe there's a healing process.

Sometimes, if a song is written, in essence, to be that stripped down, it's very touchy when you start adding things, because even the smallest thing can have a huge impact. Somebody has to make the decision that there's a better song in there if there's less.