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

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.

It's been up to me to inspire me.

I remember hearing Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Big Bill Broonzy, Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley and not really knowing anything about the geography or the culture of the music. But for some reason it did something to me - it resonated.

I'm not a big fan of lead vocalists, people who sing but don't play. I never wanted to be in a band where the guy who was up front just sang. I've always thought it better when one of the musicians sings, like Steve Winwood.

I always respected that B.B. sees music in a very open, free way.

The music scene as I look at it today is a little different from when I was growing up. The percentages are roughly the same - 95 percent rubbish, 5 percent pure.