The Beatles and The Stones were basically inspired by American Rhythm and Blues.
Blues music is becoming more and more popular than it ever was. I'm always meeting people on the road that are really young, and are guitar players. male and female.
I play the piano a lot at home. I write songs on the piano and guitar. I would like to actually play piano on stage. I don't think I'll get the chance for a while.
Altamont... I remember all of that. That was an awful day.
I've never stopped learning.
The Stones are a different kind of group. I realized that when I joined them. It's not really so much their musical ability, it's just they have a certain kind of style and attitude which is unique.
It's frustrating actually, the time involved in getting something released these days. My new CD has actually been finished for a year. It's only now that it's being released.
I don't know why, but I never felt I was gonna stay with the Stones forever, even right from the beginning.
I have a really good band, and just returned from a short tour in California. It hasn't always gone that well.
The most important thing is to follow your instinct and get involved with some friends who have similar tastes and aspirations and like music as much as you do.
These days there's so much technology and ways you can learn. There are videos and CD roms.
I was very influenced by Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix, both of whom I had the pleasure of playing with and becoming friends with.
I didn't think of myself as a lead player, especially when we did live shows, because me and Keith used to switch around all the time. He'd take a lead, I'd play rhythm. Sometimes even within one song. It wasn't strict and regimented.
It's not rubbish to say that I was a bit peeved about not getting credit for a couple of songs, but that wasn't the whole reason. I guess I just felt like I had enough. I decided to leave and start a group with Jack Bruce.
Maybe if I go far enough back into my ancestry, I have African roots or something. I've got no idea.
What I've always lacked is a really strong band to back me up.
I do remember actually learning chords to Beatles songs. I thought they were great songwriters.
I never advise anyone to sacrifice something else because of music, but then I don't see why they would have to anyway.
I had to learn chord shapes. I bought books with chord charts. I used to listen to all kinds of pop music.
If it wasn't for Mick, the group would've fallen apart a long time ago.
