I'm a great self-doubter. I constantly need to prove myself to myself. I've never run to heroin or alcohol to hide that. I always have to deal with it. Stage fright is always going to be there. I have nightmares about bad gigs.

There are some Rolling Stones songs that are just stunners.

I'm no one's lap dog, you can't put me on a leash.

There's many, many ways to write a song. But generally, sitting down at a table and writing is not one of them.

I will always pay respect and homage to my early years, because that's what gave me the initial push to go on and do what it is I do. That's where I learned the love and respect for music.

My way of thinking as I approach any human being on this planet is, 'What are you doing now?' That's what interests me. I don't come at anybody with a whole bunch of assumptions.

This is a very difficult thing to remain independent and persistent.