The first guitar I ever had was a gut-string Spanish guitar, and I couldn't really get the hang of it. I was only 13, and I talked my grandparents into buying it for me. I tried and tried and tried, but got nowhere with it.

But the guitar, when you think about it, is the most versatile, really. I mean you can pick it up and take it with you wherever you go.

It's been very important throughout my career that I've met all the guys I've copied, because at each stage they've said, 'Don't play like me, play like you.'

And I don't like having my picture taken. I'm almost like an old African in that sense. I think it steals a bit of the soul.

Would you know my name, if I saw you in Heaven?

An obsession is where something will not leave your mind.

I did play a lot of fingerstyle when I first started playing. I could never really find the right combination of flatpick or fingerpick, so playing fingerstyle is really the easiest way - though it's quite strenuous on the fingertips.