At first the music almost repelled me, it was so intense, and this man made no attempt to sugarcoat what he was trying to say, or play. It was hard-core, more than anything I had ever heard. After a few listenings I realized that, on some level, I had found the master, and that following this man's example would be my life's work.

I sought my father in the world of the black musician, because it contained wisdom, experience, sadness and loneliness. I was not ever interested in the music of boys. From my youngest years, I was interested in the music of men.

For me there is something primitively soothing about this music, and it went straight to my nervous system, making me feel ten feet tall.

If you hand me a guitar, I'll play the blues. That's the place I automatically go.

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.

I wish I could write easily. I'm one of those guys who's visited by the muse when things are dire.

Whatever your standing in life, the most important thing is behaving in ways that help other people. It's the same with music. I am a servant of the music ... and if I get caught up in ego, I'll lose everything .. it'll burn and that's a guarantee.