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

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.

I try to be musical. Drums can set a mood, create an impression, as much as anything else.

My mum had a cousin that had played when he was younger.

PimpCo is a little business I’ve got, which basically offers drummers the affordable opportunity to make their drums that little bit more bespoke.

Actually, when you’re doing something you love, even when you’re busy and it’s hectic you don’t feel the need to relax.

Louis Pasteur, the great scientist, said “chance favours the prepared mind”, which is a posh way of saying ‘do your homework’, but it’s an excellent piece of advice.

Music is endlessly fascinating.

I never used to take holidays and it would upset ex-wives and girlfriends, but working has me in a better mood than doing nothing.

Thanks to the internet, I buy lots of music, but thanks to my easily distracted nature, I forget about half of it!

When I left uni, I carried on playing and trying out at stand-up.

All about how he developed his career and his creativity as a comedian. Lots of what he talks about is relevant to anyone in the creative arts.

I’m not an alcoholic, I am freedom fighter against the teetotal taliban.

Seriously, if you want to get inside the head of a stand-up comic, you could do a lot worse than reading Steve Martin’s Born Standing Up.

All the senses awaken and fall into harmony in poetic reverie. Poetic reverie listens to this polyphony of the senses, and the poetic consciousness must record it.

I remember that I’m invisible and walk softly so as not awake the sleeping ones. Sometimes it is best not to awaken them; there are few things in the world as dangerous as sleepwalkers.

One of the coolest and wisest hours a man has, is just after he awakes in the morning.

Great doubt will eventually lead to great awakening.

The real work is in the Heart: Wake up your Heart! Because when the heart is completely awake, Then it needs no Friend.

A good husband is never the first to go to sleep at night or the last to awake in the morning.

When you awaken to your silent nature there is a realization that you are happy without being someone, that you love without loving someone. This love includes everything.

Late at night I’m awake thinking. I’m afraid of what I’d do to be able to taste you again.