Britain, as a pop music nation, used to have this very 'empire' kind of attitude. We used to 'invade' the world with our bands, you know? That's obviously changed, because in Europe they're much more interested in bands speaking their own language. Especially in France and Germany. They're starting to develop their own bands much more.

I set myself a rule before I actually write a tune to the lyrics, and the rule is that I've got to take the lyrics on to a level of understanding before I can actually write music to them. What I'm doing is interpretation. If I don't write the lyrics, therefore I must interpret them to the best of my ability. So my rule is that I must understand it, but I don't necessarily have to accept.

Most bands, when they sign with a major, are from an indie. They usually start off with a big dilemma. They think they're selling a part of their souls or they're losing control over an aspect of their lives or something.

I'm always very interested in playing in front of different kinds of audiences. It always affects the way you play.

I think it's good that opportunity, like circumstances, can really affect what you do and you have no control over it.

I never write a tune before the lyrics. I get the lyrics and then I write around them. Some people write music and the lyrics come along and they say, 'Oh yeah, I've got something to fit that.' If that's the way people write songs, I feel like you might as well just go to the supermarket.

I became a completely dysfunctional, miserable person, completely uncommunicative and aggressive.