I'm not conceited. Conceit is a fault and I have no faults.

Women are great. When they dig you, there's nothing they won't do. That kind of loyalty is hard to find - unless you've got a good dog.

Critics like Elvis Costello because critics are like Elvis Costello.

My ambition is to further create a signature sound, a signature spirit, that makes some kind of contribution to music in general.

It doesn't matter the kind of music, it doesn't matter whether it's a cowboy hat or a yarmulke. I don't care if it's outer space or pop, the spirit is the same.

There are only so many letters in the alphabet. When I talk to young musicians or authors and they ask for advice, I say, You gotta learn all the letters of your own personal alphabet. With music, you need to know all the different kinds of music and everything in and around your given instrument.

I take my personal upkeep real seriously; my sense of organization and attention to detail; my memory; my business - I love the business.