I always loved writing songs - writing for myself and demo-ing songs, really with no intention of ever letting anyone else hear them. Finally the Foo Fighters stuff happened when I just went to the studio down the street from my house and recorded some stuff in about five or six days, and all these people wanted to release it as an album. I wanted to release it on my own, with no photos and no names on it.

You look up to your heroes and you shouldn't be intimidated by them; you should be inspired by them.

When you're thirteen and listening to punk, the aggressive nature of music can sway you to the dark side.

Mick Fleetwood was one of my first interviews. And if you've ever talked to that dude, he's the sweetest guy in the world - he's just a trip.

I never went to rock concerts when I was a kid. I didn't see any rock & roll bands.

Chicago gave me more music than any other city in America.

A lot of people are promoting records that are just throw-it-agains t-the-wall-see- if-it-sticks meaningless bullshit. Everybody has the responsibility to do the right thing and promote artists that mean something.