When I was about 15, I picked up the guitar and learned how to play by going through Beatles chords books. I got this Christmas gift with the entire Beatles catalog.

I do watch 'American Idol' sometimes. It's not really that pleasurable... I take that back. It is the epitome of a guilty pleasure. Sometimes there's some good singers on that show.

The best live recordings capture elements of surprise onstage.

It's a luxury to not have to just be performing with other people to have my music heard.

I got into one Metallica record. That was about it. I never got into AC/DC or Black Sabbath or any of that. I was interested in the side of heavy metal that had interesting guitar ideas, but that was a very short-lived thing.

I went every Sunday to church when I was growing up, and I think that music had an affect on me before my memory can recall.

Try to take your vision and ego as far away from the song as possible. Give as much respect as you can to the song and the initial inspiration.