“I was a big fan of Middle Eastern elements of music and experimental electronic and tribal sounds.”

A lot of my male vocal influences are British – people like David Bowie, Freddie Mercury and Robert Plant.

I had a lot of fun with my costume designer.

People want to talk about whether I have rock cred, whether I’m selling out, the theatricality, the gay stuff… Chill out! And just enjoy yourself.

There’s a certain amount of mind control that happens. Everybody is living in a world where they’re being controlled.

No matter how much money, fame, and fortune you have, it doesn’t mean sh** if it’s not connected with love.

It’s still stuff that fans know and love but it’s a new chapter 100 percent.

I’m very inspired by past music.

Bowie’s been a huge influence on me. I remember early on, my dad pulling out the ‘Diamond Dogs’ album, and the cover alone just grabbed my attention. I think I was probably around 12.

There’s always gonna be people that are scared of it. But at the end of the day you give those bullies, those people, that are so ignorant, if you give them the power to affect you, you’re letting them win

The only lifestyle I’m promoting is the lifestyle of love and friendship. The lifestyle of music, and joy, and fashion.

There’s a certain level of pageantry with ‘Idol,’ and in order to work the show, you kind of have to feed into it.

Those shows I did with Queen were pretty surreal. I was really excited and super-flattered, but intimidated at the same time.

When I was in high school I was 250 pounds.

I think theatricality is just one way of performing. I don’t think it’s a better way or the way, but it’s my way.

The album feels like a new era for me — emotionally, lyrically, sonically. It feels fresh, it feels new. It’s still me.

I’m proud of my sexuality.

Youth has many glories, but judgement is not one of them, and no amount of electronic amplification can turn a belch into an aria.

Ten years ago, it would have been impossible to imagine a Cockney singing group with a Southern Negro style and Indian and electronic music.

I always knew that I wanted to work on my own material – something that would be more long-lasting than short-lived electronic transmissions.

It’s the bane of both the news and sports businesses, both electronic and print.

they’ve got television and the electronic games that they can bury themselves in like ostriches. They don’t have to pay attention to what’s going on in the world around them.

Where are the young people today? Why are they allowing some of the things that are happening in their country? I am really upset about that. I feel that they are burying their heads in the sand of electronic games and television.

It is captivating, isn’t it? England has such a great scene of electronic music, and I think that was very prominent in Pusher, and the nightlife was the beat of the film.

Maybe one day there will finally be an education for electronic music.