My father said it himself in an interview many years ago: 'Husband and wife failed, but mother and father didn't.' I've got a life that really matters to me, and that's because of the way I was raised. My ethics are high because my parents did a great job.

Tolerance can lead to learning something.

Music is something I really have a need to do - I don't seem to be able to stop

The songs I write should only be gauged by what other writers or peers are doing today. If the barometer for all songwriters was to match his body of work, then anyone you might mention alive or dead is a failure. But I've learned to not be too hung up on what's fair or not fair.

I'm waiting for my kids to grow up and get into the Offspring and look at me like I'm a total candy-ass.

I do look at songwriting as a lot of work. I don't overintellectualize music as a special medium that only some people deserve to do. I think it's something you do if you put the work in.

But there's got to be an opening somewhere here in front of me. Through this maze of ugliness and greed.