The first time I met Patti Smith was in a laundromat. We knew some of the same people, including Richard Hell.

I don't see us as a big media gimmick band. We don't have a cultivated appearance or anything like Kiss.

I always hated jazz guitar. I loved jazz saxophone but I hated jazz guitar. If I would buy an organ trio record I would make sure I'd buy one that did not have a guitar player on it. The sound was awful!

You know, there is something I'm looking for when I'm writing. But I couldn't tell you what that is.

I don't want any production credit. I think producers are overrated. They're for people who, first of all, don't know anything about music or arranging and have no ear for their own doings. They can't tell a good solo from a bad solo, stuff like that.

I told somebody in Europe I was 43. I never tell my true age. It's ridiculous that people ask. The press doesn't deserve anything but lies.

The Beat thing happened when I was younger. I used to run away from home, inspired by the Beats, like in '64 and '65.