Once you encounter people who are really testing the limits of kindness, that’s when you start to build up a shield and close yourself down.
Music is like a lover that I can’t commit to, but I seem to always find myself in bed with.
Our leaders and Osama Bin Laden all claim to do the right thing in the name of God. I question that. I wonder if that God is worth the life of another human-being.
It’s interesting to do other people’s music – that’s how I learned to play, by learning other people’s songs. It’s nice to delve into how other people got to where they are.
Music is my only guide. I don’t care if people pigeonhole me. Miles Davis is my hero. He covered Cindy Lauper and Michael Jackson, and he didn’t give a hoot about what the purists said.
Sometimes people ask what it was like when I got to meet Mick Jagger, and I must admit that you just try and chill out and be your best self around anyone that you meet.
My favorite period is when we lived in the land of the three-minute song. The Motown thing – I thought they were genius in knowing that’s as much as a listener can take.
I’m a true believer that unless you’re Prince or Stevie Wonder – and even Prince is showing that he needs help – not everybody can produce themselves. I’m definitely not that person.
Madonna is interesting. She changed music. She definitely did. She gave me an opportunity that no one else would give me, so I am very grateful to her.
I love children. I’d prefer to be around children much more than adults, actually. And I like animals, too. I’m just really into beings who are at ease with themselves.
There’s no hierarchy in suffering. I think songs that are transcendent are the ones where everyone can feel something from it, you know?
I tried to be as positive as possible, because I have the same birthday as Michael Jackson. He is my cosmic brother. I love him.
I watch documentaries for information. I watch films to be entertained.
It’s funny, I think after you are a star like Sting and you no longer think you need any guidance or aid – it would be great to see those stars work with other songwriters.
I’m pushing ahead on my own – you no longer need a large record company to make you a star.
Not to be a Bible-thumper, but there really is nothing new under the sun.
Yes, violence begets more violence, but historically this has been the way of the world.
I feel that musicians are in a fellowship, and that fellowship is a responsibility.
You make a choice to make music or be an actor, and people automatically think they can have access to your life.
If I would not be able to create music, I would create art or something else. Perhaps cooking.
The blowing thing is something that you either have a predilection for or not. And I don’t have that thing. It was just unsanitary. I couldn’t do it. I am a complete germaphobe.