I really don't like showing people how I play things; it's a little embarrassing because it always looks so simple to me.

I always felt if we were going in to do an album, there should already be a lot of structure already made up so we could get on with that and see what else happened.

I suggested back in 1980 to do a chronological live album, but there wasn't that much enthusiasm for it.

You can't overthink the music. Mood and intensity can't be manufactured. The blues isn't about structure; it's what you bring to it. The spontaneity of capturing a specific moment is what drives it.

My finger picking is sort of a cross between Pete Seeger, Earl Scruggs, and total incompetence.

From the classical guitar right through to the furthest electrical experiments and everything in-between, it's amazing what the guitar can actually do. I mean, when one thinks about sounds.

There are very few people I can call real, close friends. They're very, very precious to me.