“In my lowest moments, the only reason I didn’t commit suicide was that I knew I wouldn’t be able to drink any more if I was dead.”

Yeah, it is, because it’s a real discovery of your inner resources, you know. That’s what my character is all about and what my playing is all about. But to get up there and just go inside and draw out something that makes you feel good first and foremost.

I can’t play long solos anymore without boring myself.

You were at school and you were pimply and no one wanted to know you. You get into a group and you’ve got thousands of chicks there.

The only planning I do is about a minute before I play. I desperately try to think of something that will be effective, but I never sit down and work it out note for note.

Give me a guitar and I’ll play; give me a stage and I’ll perform; give me an auditorium and I’ll fill it.

Music became a healer for me. And I learned to listen with all my being. I found that it could wipe away all fear and confusion.

Risk is trying to control something you are powerless over.

I feel wonderful because I see the love light in your eyes, and the wonder of it all is you just don’t realize how much I love you.

I am, and always will be, a blues guitarist.

My Father’s Eyes’ is very personal. I realized that the closest I ever came to looking in my father’s eyes was when I looked into my son’s eyes.

The first guitar I ever had was a gut-string Spanish guitar, and I couldn’t really get the hang of it. I was only 13, and I talked my grandparents into buying it for me. I tried and tried and tried, but got nowhere with it.

An obsession is where something will not leave your mind.

Like a fool, I fell in love with you, Turned my whole world upside down.

Music became a healer for me.

Although they can do it all the time, you know, they’re far better than me, on a musically, on a theoretical music level. You know, they’re out of my league.

My original interests and intentions in guitar playing were primarily created on quality of tone, for instance, the way the instrument could be made to echo or simulate the human voice.