I have to be able to see the thing that's going on that I'm writing about, or else it just doesn't make any sense to me.

But if you're gonna dine with them cannibals Sooner or later, darling, you're gonna get eaten . . .

Look, when I look back, from 20 onwards, I was actually having a pretty good time, I have to say.

We as visual artists need to continue to be renegades and say, "Yes I am here to do a project, but what is the social service?"

Some are exploring the world through the subconscious. I've done that on occasions for various reasons, whether it be illness or self abuse, or whatever. Once things start to look grotesque I don't write them or sing them. I couldn't write them - making nightmares into living daylight...The minute it gets dark I shoot back, retreat.

I'm unable to really write the kind of song that doesn't have a visual element, which most songs don't.

It's an Australian thing to be dismissive. We find that endearing. Americans don't. They believe what you say.