I was really, really wild in my early twenties and a bit self-destructive.

I would have to say I'm bored with the standard rock, guitar solos, but I've done it for five albums now, and this time I wanted to go in a completely different direction. I wasn't interested in showing off any more.

The main riff for 'SandMan' was just something I wrote one night.

I didn't want to fall into the trap of competing with all these other great guitar players. I just want to sidestep the whole thing and get out of the race.

Metallica is like the phoenix rising from the ashes. We set everything on fire, and this is what has risen from it - St. Anger being the fire and Death Magnetic being the phoenix.

Jeff Beck is one of my heroes and has been since I first picked up a guitar.

My musical tastes change every week.