I think masturbating is a really important function in art. People don't like to hear that kind of stuff, but it's true.

People came at me with all sorts of offers, wanting to make me into a hard-core Cher. I had no desire for any amount of money to be reformed for someone's vision, because in the end, that's what you got: your clay in someone else's hands.

I just know that young people suffer, and I also know music is one of the things that help you get through - music and friends.

New generations have unprecedented power to make great changes. Take the music business for example. The new generations have toppled the music industry by file sharing, downloading, and Myspace. Rock 'n' roll belongs to the people.

You're not a rock 'n' roll person four hours a day or even when you're on stage. It's become the rhythm of your whole life.

I don't know why, the very first word on my very first record is 'Jesus.' I still invoke him as an entity to reckon with.

My mother and father had so many ups and downs and stayed with each other and helped each other. My mother took in ironing and she was a waitress. My father was working in the factory and he did people's tax returns.