It was like I had a curse on me. I couldn't believe how much God was piling on. There was so much death around me.

Mike Tyson has been accused of being a homosexual. What change do I have, you know? Everyone's in the same boat? Who could possibly care or believe anything after hearing that, really?

Still, the music was always there, and the lyrical capability was always threatening to show its head.

I don't really think that there is anyone in the modern pop business who I feel I want to spar with.

I truly believed that tonight would never happen, that I would never sing these songs to you again. But then I'm a fool, which you've probably worked out by now.

I guess I was about 15. I wore glasses at the time, and I remember [first girlfriend] sitting on the floor at a party, one of those school parties where everyone is getting off with each other. I remember her taking my glasses off and saying something very complimentary about my eyes or whatever, and I was just so pissed off because I was convinced she was taking the piss out of me.

It's really difficult trying to find the line where you don't piss anybody off.