I am a big fan of the Impressionists, and in my school days, I was inspired by Caravaggio, Velazquez and Rembrandt.

You don't make solo albums to have hits.

I'm terrible with money, absolutely awful. I'm always losing it.

Back in those days, all us skinny white British kids were trying to look cool and sound black. And there was Hendrix, the ultimate in black cool. Everything he did was natural and perfect.

My dad lived till he was 78, my mum was in her 80s, and I've got two uncles who are in their 90s now.

During the Eighties, when I was hurting for money, I thought, "Hang on a minute - I can paint." I was living in New York and I thought it would get the grocery money coming in, and it escalated from there.

I love to go to Ireland just to relax.