Whenever I write lyrics, in the back of my mind I always see a guy driving to work, driving to a really bad job, one of those horrible institutions, or one of those low squat buildings in Los Angeles. I write with that person in my mind.

I'm a recognizable person and some people feel the need for some reason to take me to task. You're really messing with the wrong person on that one.

I am a white guy in America with an education, albeit high school, but a pretty good one. Another guy from a different demographic or different ethnicity in America can look at me and say, "You take a lot for granted." Well... okay. I just live in a white male American reality, where I hear you but I don't know if I necessarily read you.

I'm just shallow and self-interested, and don't get out much because I'm afraid of real commitments.

Strength is the product of struggle, you must do what others don't to achieve what others won't.

I got my heart broken. My spirit got shattered and mutilated. I will not be coming back from this. I don’t want to.

I've been in Iraq, and it never occurred to me to go, 'Hey, this war is bogus,' to some guy who's 24 hours a day trying not to get shot at or blown up.