The only reason we wore sunglasses onstage was because we couldn't stand the sight of the audience.

Growing up in Wales was a pretty Draconian experience with religion.

I write in the studio, I don't sit around with a piano or a guitar and write songs. I get satisfaction out of that because I can finish the song really quickly. I can use whatever momentum I have. I've got to put it down, develop it, and get it as far [as I can], because the excitement of the moment of when you get that idea - you want to try and hold it and build on it and really gain strength from it. Being in the studio and writing songs like that is really the best way.

I learn from thinking about the future, what hasn't been done yet. That's kind of my constant obsession.

Even if you're improvising, the fact that beforehand you know certain things will work helps you make those improvisations successful. It really helps to have a certain amount of knowledge about musical structure.

The only reason we wore sunglasses onstage was because we couldn't stand the sight of the audience.

I missed out on my teenage years. I led a sheltered life. I was practicing scales instead of going out there and playing football.