I do have a strong sense of God. It's impossible to explain what I mean when I say that, of course.

The voice of God, if you must know, is Aretha Franklin's.

Maybe the most that you can expect from a relationship that goes bad is to come out of it with a few good songs.

I come from a very left wing Socialist family, anti-war and anti-empire.

I do yoga. I do tai chi. I do a lot to keep my body and my spirit together so I can work.

I don't like the compression on compact discs. It's lacking in air, and it's lacking in majesty.

My first job was singing at the Hammersmith Odeon. It was years ago, so I can't remember who I was performing with. I was a sort of anti-climax after two hours of heavy rock-'n'-roll. Seventeen years old in a white dress. It was the first time that I got applause. Wonderful, that noise in my ears.