I was growing up listening to Queen. Freddie Mercury threw those incredible melodies into his songs.

The voices on the record, that was trying to treat my voice like guitar players treat guitar tones.

You can tell the difference between songs that were created in a garage and songs that were created in the studio.

You are in a state of mixing, and you just live with it. There is not one musician who is completely happy with a mix.

If people get to the end of the record, then that is a treat.

I have a little history. I met Stone Temple Pilots, and their guitar player was a huge Extreme fan. Somewhere down the road, Extreme made its statement.

When 5150 came out rock was king. Post Nirvana and Pearl Jam 1996 is a different story.