My philosophy at the moment is that I'm great - and so is everybody else. You have to fit your own oxygen mask. That's really my philosophy now: our band is the best band in the world. And so are all the other bands.

I have my moments - usually twice every album - when I basically lose it.

The thing I really believe deep down is that everybody has a gift for something. Our job as adults is to make sure all children have the opportunity to find their gift.

The goal is to try and make the perfect song. Which of course will never happen.

In a universe that's an intelligent system with a divine creative force supporting it, there simply can be no accidents. As tough as it is to acknowledge, you had to go through what you went through in order to get to where you are today, and the evidence is that you did.

I'm not glamorous and a bit bland, but I think that's my strength. That may be a reason behind what people say is my good chemistry with many actors.

I had to jump around in the arts for a while just to survive. I earned a little money here and there, playing the guitar at union meetings, functions. I sold some science-fiction stories. I knew there was absolutely no question of me not being connected with the arts, but I couldn't find any acting jobs.

I've been through a lot. I've thought a lot about life, and I've spent a lot of time studying history and science.