I think much has been made of this alter ego business. I mean, I actually stopped creating characters in 1975 - for albums, anyway.

I think fame itself is not a rewarding thing. The most you can say is that it gets you a seat in restaurants.

The coming together of people I find obscene as a principle. It is not human. It is not a natural thing as some people would have us believe.

I'd rather stay here with all the madmen than perish with the sadmen roaming free.

There have been times when I've written something and it goes out and it comes back in a letter from some kid as to what they think about it and I've taken their analysis to heart so much that I have taken up his thing. Writing what my audience is telling me to write.

At no point did I ever doubt I would be as near as anybody could be to England's Elvis Presley. Even from eight or nine years old, I thought, Well, I'll be the greatest rock star in England. I just made up my mind.

It was like treading water all through the '60s, and when 1970 kicked in, I thought "We're here. Right." God, this is exciting. I'm going to go for it now. I really felt it was my time. Then Marc Bolan did it first. That really pissed me off.