Now that we're established and we have a history we know that we can expect people to show up and to have a good time.

There were some initial instruments I had when I was young and made some trade-offs. Maybe a guitar I bought in a flea market. They weren't the greatest guitar but they would be cool to still have them. Other than that, not as a professional.

I think it's a good way to sort of build your career and even when I was a young kid, I did the same thing, I looked at these guitar players, like ...I was a big fan of Steve Vai, and Al DiMeola, and said "What do those guys do?" and I found out that they went to Berkelee College of music, so I was like "Well, I'm going to go to Berkelee College of Music", and you try to, like, learn from those things, so... It's important.

I have to say that our fans have been absolutely wonderful all across the world.

I've always said that there's a huge progressive rock, progressive metal audience out there, in the world.

I remember feeling for the first time going somewhere where I was part of a community where I didn't feel like an outcast. I felt like I belonged. Everyone had a guitar strapped to their back.

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.