The Who is now a brand, not a band; but it is a brand that is upheld by its audience, not an industry or a cynical moneymaking machine.

Early British pop was helped tremendously by the writing of Bob Dylan who had proved you could write about political and quite controversial subjects. Certainly what we did followed on from what was happening with the angry young men in the theatre.

I want to get inside your bitter mind and see what I can find.

I am writing better Stephen Sondheim songs than even Stephen Sondheim is writing.

Songwriting is best. It's the hardest ... finest ... tightest. It also requires the most discipline.

What I took back, because of my exposure to the Jewish music of the 30s and the 40s in my upbringing with my father, was that kind of theatrical songwriting. It was always a part of my character. This desire to make people laugh...Songwriting is best. It's the hardest-finest-tightest. It also requires the most discipline.

Looking back, I don't know why we needed it to be quite so loud all the time.