I'm realizing this more and more that it's one thing to get involved with your own political beliefs and stand behind you believe in personally.

I'm from the school of putting a lot of hours of practice into playing. But at the same time you have to write original music - that's really important, because that's the things that's going to separate you from everybody else, that's going to give you your unique voice as a music that you create.

The only thing I had in my mind [when I was 17 ] was that I was going to be a professional musician. So it was just the right environment.

I don't have very eclectic tastes in music.

Instead of buying a guitar for $2,000 or $2,500 - I'm not sure how much these are going for - but it's maybe $300 or something like that. It's more for beginners and stuff like that. Obviously it's not hitting the pros. And you can't get the Piezo pickup and the color-changing paint and the inlays and all the fancy things that my signature guitars offer, but you can get the general feel of the guitar - and the body style. It's cool.

I really rely a lot more on memory. I'm definitely not as good of a sight reader.

Stay focused when you're playing alive, so you're not distracted by something going on.