I really think kids should understand that music is like learning the alphabet. You put small letters together to make words, and then you use these words to create a story, but with music. And they really need to know how to mix and match those letters and how to come up with something that is really interesting, or speak in metaphors as poets do to show us something maybe we didn't think about.

Of course the headspace for the young musician is whatever the guy who is paying you says, is right, but that's all.

I married my Japanese wife Mayumi who I'm so happy with, she's been so supportive. I live part time in Japan at her house, so I've been always very influenced by Japan. Since I guess the 70's or so. I've come to appreciate so much of their culture.

If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small theaters. You know, to me it's like a church for music. You can sit down and really give yourself to the performance and be comfortable with good surroundings and a clean, quiet atmosphere.

From the time I started playing solo drums, doing clinics and stuff, you know I think one of the largest selling clinics I ever did was in Chicago.

You just chip away until the puzzle is complete.

The best thing is to find something you really love to do and enjoy that process for the rest of your life.