The Black Keys is just a band that wants to get on stage and rock it.

A Grammy is really nice, but having lots of fans is really nice, too. I think just getting a record out is a success on its own.

When I'm writing with just an acoustic guitar, it can be for anyone.

Coming from a smaller place always made things feel more personal, which is really what it's all about.

When I learned to play music, I was listening to blues music. And all the blues music I liked was super simple and stripped down. And then all the hip hop I liked was super simple and stripped down and we always heard that connection.

I started playing bluegrass with my family, so there were the G, C and D chords. I was playing a Martin acoustic because that's what Carter Stanley of the Stanley Brothers played. Then I got into the really raw blues of Hound Dog Taylor and started on electric guitar.

I'm certainly not your typical front-man material. Some people love being on stage and really open up, and I'm sort of the opposite of that. I don't crave the spotlight. I'm still not comfortable even talking on stage.