The best music happens when you have a personal connection to it. That same philosophy can extend to the instrument you hold in your hands: if a guitar means something special, you're bound to do great things with it.

When you break it all down, my punk rock is my dad's blues. It's music from the underground, and it's real, and it's written for the downtrodden in uncertain times.

A guitar solo in the same part of every tune - that's been done so much. I think solos shine more when you have them in specific and unexpected places.

These days, all we hear about is that the industry is in trouble. Everybody is so scared, but our mission statement is having no fear.

I hate this idea in the Cinematheque that you must watch silent movies with no music, like it's a piece of art. It's not true.

There's no possibility that foresight work will ruin my creativity. It goes to a different area than the creative wellspring of SF.

It seems to me that not only the writing in most children's books condescends to kids, but so does the art. I don't want to do that.

As an artist, you want to make good stories and create good art; as a businessman, you want to make money and make sure the investors are happy. The two will always clash, unfortunately.