What I've always tried to do is to express the highest point of me, and rock 'n' roll is the first and the most open form created by our generation. The cool thing about it is that you get the power, you get the rhythm; you can be taken over sexually, you can be taken over cerebrally; it's great to look at - it's a package deal.

I had this idea that the coolest thing that could happen to you was talking with God.

I wrote every day. I don't think I could have written Just Kids had I not spent all of the 80s developing my craft as a writer.

There's nothing cool about being self-destructive.

If you don't have what you need, just rock with what you've got!

I was real religious when I was young. I wanted to be a missionary.

I have great respect for my parents. I got such beautiful things from both of them. It doesn't mean that we didn't have our rough times, but they were remarkable people who were open-minded, creative and hard-working, and had great senses of humor.