Give me a guitar and I'll play; give me a stage and I'll perform; give me an auditorium and I'll fill it.

I remember when I thought of singing as the bit that went between the guitar playing - something I couldn't wait to get out of the way. Singing was originally like a chore that I didn't really enjoy.

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.

I thought, 'My God, this is like Buddy Guy on acid.'

My driving philosophy about making music is that you can reduce it all down to one note if that note is played with the right kind of sincerity.

It is painful to relive things that have caused emotional crises or whatever and find ways to express that musically.

I think everybody has their own way of looking at their lives as some kind of pilgrimage. Some people will see their role as a pilgrim in terms of setting up a fine family, or establishing a business inheritance. Everyone's got their own definition.