Playing the game, and unfortunately, playing the gangster game is very profitable.

I started imagining this whole different world. It was a society of musicians, a family I hoped I could belong to one day.

Not one ounce of my self worth depends on your acceptance of me.

I was inspired by a lot of people when I was young, every band that came through town, to the theater, or the dance hall. I was at every dance, every night club, listened to every band that came through, because in those days we didn't have MTV, we didn't have television.

My brother died of cancer two years ago (1998), renal cell carcinoma. He was my only real brother and I didn't know what to do. I'd never been so desperate in my life.

I never felt like I had a mother.

They say a blind hog will find the acorn one day.