I was originally like a punker, know what I mean, like the punks are today, I'd spit in a minute.

What happens is, when I perform, I'm somewhere else. I go back in time and get in touch with who I really am. I forget my troubles, my worries.

I was a sloppy kid, wanted to be just wild.

The only time that I am really truly happy—when I feel at my best—is when I'm on the stage.

Johnny Guitar... just one of my favorite singers of all time. I met him when we were both on the road with Johnny Otis in the '50s when I was a teenager. We traveled the country in a car together.I would hear him sing every night.

I’ve learned to live with rage. In some ways, it’s my rage that keeps me going. Without it, I would have been whipped long ago. With it, I got a lot more songs to sing.

To me, country music is like the blues, but it's something very hip and - I don't want to say commercial - but it's very worldly and good listening.