Musician

I don't know if it's cool to say this anymore, but I grew up listening to Gary Glitter. A majority of his songs were in that shuffle-blues beat, and I think that's probably why I tend to write like that.

More than accepted, it's encouraged for rock stars to be out of control.

I don't write poems and put them to music. Just let things flow.

I didn't write songs for a very long time.

When people meet me I think they're surprised to find out I'm not always angst-ridden.

People are People still gets played to death on '80s stations. It was our first big break in America. It's not exactly my favorite song.

I wasn't ever a massive David Essex fan, but I liked a few of his tracks, and Stardust was one of them.

I do a cover of a Velvet Underground song, and they were one of the most important bands, for me.

Record covers helped me discover a lot of music that I wasn't aware of.

I studied German at school. I lived in Berlin for two years and had a German girlfriend for five years, so I don't find speaking German particularly difficult. Singing was slightly more difficult.

I lead two totally separate lives. There are times when I have to slip into rock star mode.

More than accepted, it's encouraged for rock stars to be out of control.

There's something insane about this business - about the cycle of making albums and going on tour to promote them.

I always hate explaining away songs, because for me they mean something, and for other people, they'll mean something absolutely different.

I try to get a degree of realism in my music.

I tend to like songs that are very emotional, that strike a chord with me emotionally.

I sit down and create atmospheres, start playing guitar or piano and just sing whatever comes out of my mouth.

There are definite reference points to older Depeche Mode records.

If you took music out of my life, I don't know what I'd do. It's the one thing that I have a real passion for.

I sit down and create atmospheres, start playing guitar or piano and just sing whatever comes out of my mouth.