The Bowery was a place that would let us do original songs - not just covers - but we would have to work for tips, so we learned how to work an audience. In order to keep our jobs, we had to keep people happy, so that meant playing the latest Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top or Merle Haggard.

The writing part of my life never changes, because that's just when the inspiration comes.

The juices never stop flowing. I still write songs.

As long as God lets me live, I want to do things that make a difference in the world besides play music.

Our original name was Wild Country, but when we first went to The Bowery, they had the name of all 50 states around the edge of the club, so we went to the sign that said 'Alabama' and stuck our band name underneath it.

I feel very good and positive about my future. I look forward to seeing the fans and doing what I do.

I can't not be who I am.