When I left Van Halen, I went in the studio and made a CD called Marching to Mars with all studio musicians. I did it immediately. With the disappointment riding on my shoulders of the breakup of the band.

I had been in Africa for six weeks on a safari with my family. I said, "You know, I made a lot of money. I am getting kind of burned out. I really want to do something special." So I went on this extended trip to Egypt, Kenya, Sardinia - I really did it, man. I was coming home, and while I was gone, they changed the speed limit from 65 to 55.

I was loud and electric at night, got all shook up with Elvis.

I think all the bad blood started when Geffen released a greatest hits package of my solo stuff.

I had a solo career before Van Halen. My fan base filtered through Van Halen with me and came right on out the other side with me.

I looked at Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and the boys up there thinking, I want to be that.

I'm writing my biography. It's my business. This is what happened in my life, and I'm writing about it.