The flute was an alternative to being a small fish in an increasingly bigger pool filled with a number of great guitar players.

Another tea-time, another day older.

Our politicians may fail us, but Status Quo always delivers on the promise.

I make up my own mind in light of available facts, with my own experience and a sense of personal ethics.

I was quite keen on silviculture, the growing of trees, and that was something I gave a lot of thought to. Maybe I could've gone in that direction. But it just so happened that while I was trying to make up my mind, I enrolled in art school, and there I began to develop my interest in music, parallel with my interest in the visual arts.

I was not a great guitarist, so I sold my 1960 Fender Stratocaster in exchange for a Shure Microphone, made in Chicago, and a flute.

There seems to be an inclination among rock musicians to be very carefree with money, but I negotiate the best flight and hotel deals on our tours to maximise the band's income - I don't want too see too much taken off the top line.