“The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Phil Spector. Those were my idols.”

I think cursing is a bunch of malarkey.

I believe that music is God’s voice.

Every now and then I hear voices in my head, but not very clear. I can’t understand what they are saying. It’s a mental illness. I have been diagnosed as a manic depressive.

I have stage fright every single concert I’ve ever done. I have at least four or five minutes of it. It’s absolute living hell.

If there’s not love present, it’s much, much harder to function. When there’s love present, it’s easier to deal with life.

J.S. Bach was easily the greatest musical innovator in the history of the world. He was so advanced for his time. There’s a spiritual depth to his music. You can listen to it and it’s like meditation.

The only reason I’d ever get a sex change operation is to see what it’s like to be right all the time.

There’s nothing greater than a girl…. Well a kid, your daughter, but that’s a girl too.

Humor – it helps to make the vibe better – it loosens up the vibrations.

People are part of my music. A lot of my songs are the result of emotional experiences, sadness, pain, joy, and exultation in nature and sunshine and so on…like ‘California Girls’ which was a hymn to youth.

I still believe that something is right only when it feels right.

I consider myself to be a crusader of love. I try to spread love around the world as best I can because I know I have a handle on love.

You say how you feel, and songs don’t lie. Songs are the most honest form of human expression there is–there’s nothing that lies about a song.

I get off on hearing other people’s voices. I like voices: they’re my favourite things on records.

Love and mercy that’s what you need tonight. Love and mercy to you and your friends tonight.

Some people might think that sex is the highest experience you can have. I tend to think that music is.