All of my kids are into music. My older daughter plays guitar, piano, sings. My young son, he sings.

I think being in a band is probably the only job when you're actively encouraged to be out of it most of the time.

I studied German at school. I lived in Berlin for two years and had a German girlfriend for five years, so I don't find speaking German particularly difficult. Singing was slightly more difficult.

Anything that I write comes from the soul.

I didn't write songs for a very long time.

If you go into the eastern bloc countries we are huge, and in Russia. Maybe there is something about the depressing nature of our music and lyrics that some people find an affinity with.

When I write love songs, people think they're really soppy - but I see love as a consolation for the boredom of life.