“We need a war every 10 years, so we can stay match fit in case the Germans try again.”

It helps that, if I don’t want to play, I don’t really have to! I’m not the best drummer in the world, but it’s something I love and enjoy, and that sounds like a good trade.

Things inspiring me – good melody, a great bass line, a fabulous voice… by which I mean someone who sounds great, rather than does pyrotechnics… and people playing really musically.

Our cheeky sidekick. We’re like a motorcycle and sidecar.

It’s a weight problem isn’t it; you can’t wait for lunch.

The thing that interests me far more than anything is creating music, songwriting and arranging, and in that context drumming itself is a means to an end.

The harder you work, the luckier you get” is true in all things.

The American dream? We don’t have a dream in Britain because we’re bloody awake!

When I showed an interest in drumming, he showed me how to mummy-daddy roll and that set me up for a bit.

I love playing. In lots of ways, I think having been able to carry on playing purely out of love rather than having to do it for a living means I still love the drums.

You can leave a kid alone and it will learn to fend for itself, how to work the remote, a tin opener, and the microwave.

In the world of comedy, there’s this: “If it’s going badly, get off. If it’s going well, get off”. You can’t argue with that either.

I’m a natural born show off. I love performing, and at school we had a really good music scene and an even better drama scene.

When I got to university, I played in bands and did sketch stuff and it was always about coming up with material, which is why I never really practised and have no chops!!

I see the holidays as a chance for kids to learn self-sufficiency.

And to be honest, it’s all about the sound, the noise, the rattle and hum. Who wouldn’t want to make a fantastic noise with drums and cymbals?!

I think it’s really easy to forget that – I’d sooner play something musical than flash, and as I can’t play anything flash.

[These books] should be written in a way that they are serious, soberly argued, well researched, and make a respectable case-agree or disagree.

Life is like music, it must be composed by ear, feeling and instinct, not by rule. Nevertheless one had better know the rules, for they sometimes guide in doubtful cases, though not often.

I’ve been told I sold 110m albums and singles. If that’s the case, I should’ve come here in a space rocket.

For, in both the cases, it does not affect the Astronomical Science. It is just for the Physicist to see if it is possible to refute it.

Laws are to be enforced justly but firmly, with an iron hand. This is the case anywhere, even in a family.

Men are like pillow-cases. The colour of one may be red, that of another blue, and that of the third black; but all contain the same cotton within.

Take the case of the infinite ocean. There is no limit to its water. Suppose a pot is immersed in it: there is water both inside and outside the pot.

Further, the same Arguments which explode the Notion of Luck, may, on the other side, be useful in some Cases to establish a due comparison between Chance and Design