“Don’t ever try and be like anybody else and don’t be afraid to take risks.”

The rock and roll spirit. I learned a lot of that because I worked with Buddy Holly. I played bass with him, and he taught me a lot about that.

I love Johnny Cash, and I respect Johnny Cash. He’s the biggest. He’s like an Elvis in this business, but no, he’s never been the rebel.

Mainly what I learned from Buddy… was an attitude. He loved music, and he taught me that it shouldn’t have any barriers to it.

I’ve always felt that blues, rock ‘n’ roll and country are just about a beat apart.

Cuz I was never pretty anyway and never cared anything about that.

It was all devastating. I’d never dealt with losing anyone close to me, and I didn’t know where to put it in my life.

His looking at it from over there and it not being a part of his history made it so he could be objective.

Heroes put to the test, keeping a promise, doing their best.

The Hank Williams Syndrome: Come to Nashville, write some good songs, cut some hit records, make money, take all the drugs you can and drink all you can, become a wild man and all of a sudden die.

So I’m not very popular here with those inside the system, as you might guess. I never wanted to be.

The villains have turned into heroes. The heroes have turned into heals.

You know, I feel sorry for the young artists.

Got my Allman Brothers cassettes stacked up on the dash, got some Jack back in the trunk and a tank full of gas.

One night of love don’t make up for six nights alone. But I’d rather have one than none Lord, cause I’m flesh and bone.

Hitting the bottle again, ever than I’ve drunker been. Or is it drunker than I’ve ever been?

Now, I don’t know how they judge all that, but if anybody in the world deserves to be in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Ritchie Valens does.

Obviously I’m not there to pick up anybody, but I’m not afraid to hang out in a predominantly gay establishment.

I’m a nobody telling everybody about Somebody who can save anybody.

I think anybody who’s famous has to deal with their fame in their own way.

I’ve never been really great at trusting anybody, just because of the way I grew up.

He’s not going to let anybody do his singing for him.

So whoever wants to come and get part of that lifestyle, we accept anybody.

My story is no different than anybody else’s.

I think most of the people, once you see a Kiss show, you kinda get spoiled because I don’t think there’s anybody out there that’s doing a bigger or a better show than us.