The important thing about "brave" is, it doesn't mean you're not terrified.

Irish artists have a tradition of being very heavily engaged in what is happening in their own society. So it was important that they had a voice.

It was the case in the 70s and 80s that people believed music could change the world. But now people aren't making music because they want to change the world; they're making music because they want to just make a ton of money.

Generally I don't listen to sad songs if I'm sad. I listen to happy songs.

The trouble when you have a job like mine is it's your social life as well, so I need to actually [find] something to do in my downtime when my kids are at school.

I don't believe in any kind of artistic snobbery or musical snobbery. You know, to me, the sexiest and the most spiritual words ever uttered in rock and roll are wop babaloo balop bam boom.

I understand that we are actually complicated people but we are also dreadfully simple.