“We really try to make sure that the band writes the songs, not just one person.”

You have to make sure that your assets and your back is protected before you make any big decisions.

I really didn’t think about song writing.

Whether you like another bands music or not you never know who is going to take you out on tour or who you are going to be friends with and that is just something that is important to us.

Lyrically we tried to just not be the same as a lot of the other crap that is out there right now.

You don’t want the biggest record deal as far as money goes, you just want to make sure that the people at the label really support your band and the music and stuff.

A lot of big labels will just sign bands like a write off.

So you have to just be really careful and make sure that when a deal comes along, that it’s like the right deal for you… not necessarily the most money, because you have to pay the record label that back in like record sales and stuff.

Being on Ozzfest has been a great way for us to break out and show metal fans that we have a heavy side.

We’re definitely not a metal band, but we’re a band that focuses on meaningful lyrics and melody.

Actually, we got signed in November of 2000 with Dreamworks which is the most amazing label.

Hopefully people can look at our band and see that we’re a heavy rock band.

Being a new band, I just can’t think of a better way to get your name out to all of the Hard-Rock crowd than playing with twenty of the biggest Hard-Rock bands in the world.

That was our first major tour and we got a chance to play in front of like 5000 people every day so it was like a Rock and Roll boot camp for us really

We knew that we wanted to play heavy music but I hadn’t gotten into melody and things like that.

Musicians don’t respect a lot of the stuff that is on TRL and a lot of musicians think that stuff on the radio is not good musically so when musicians say that they like us it obviously feels good.

Everything is completely democratic in this band so far and that is the way that we would like to keep it.

I think trying to be cool is the worst possible ambition – and I have never suffered from it.

Every effort needs to be made to try and offset the costs of Katrina and Rita by reductions in other government programs, especially those that are wasteful, duplicative and ineffective.

You know, your species [humans] has the most amazing capacity for self-deception, matched only by its ingenuity in trying to destroy itself.

The worst thing ever that you have to explain your joke because I was very disappointed trying to explain why the joke is funny for the interrogator.

A lot of times I did lose yards on a run, but it wasn’t for lack of trying.

Renunciation – that is the great fact we all, individuals and classes, have to learn. In trying to avoid it we bring misery to ourselves and others.

Nobody wants to end up super rich and famous – but divorced. I’m always clear on that and try to stay on the right side of the line.

Color is crucial in painting, but it is very hard to talk about.