Elton John

I just go into the studio, look at the lyrics for the first time when I put them on the piano, and go. If I haven't got it within 40 minutes, I give up. It's never changed, the thrill has never gone, because I don't know what I'm going to get next. ”

When Little Richard used to stand up and play it was just fabulous, and Liberace had the candlesticks and the rings and the gift of the gab. The piano's is the most ungainly rock' n' roll instrument of all time but those two people transcended it, as did Jerry Lee Lewis. ”

Once I'd heard 'Modern Times' by Bob Dylan, it really changed the way I wanted to make records. ”

I do work a lot. I mean, most of my income, I would say, comes from live performances. And then you've got publishing, you've got record royalties. ”

Bands today have to learn their craft by putting the hard work in that we did when we were young performers. ”