I started on drums when I was 13 and played them for two years. Then I went to guitar for a year, played keyboards for a year and a half, and went back to guitar.

I used to listen a lot to Rolling Stones records and play along with them when I was first starting. It's a good way to learn, jamming around basic music.

Lots of times it really doesn't matter what notes you play, but what notes come before and after a run.

How do you stop somebody from growing?

Right now I feel so inspired, it's hard to believe. I've written about 20 songs in the last two days. I'd gone about four months without writing a thing.

Blues teaches you to develop coherent solos, because the form you're playing over is so basic. You have to develop leads that go someplace.

When I got to LA and was with the James Gang, I got the opportunity to write a lot, to play in front of large audiences, make some money.