"I don't profess to have music as my big wheel and there are a number of other things as important to me apart from music. Theatre and mime, for instance."

"I realized the other day that I've lived in New York longer than I've lived anywhere else. It's amazing: I am a New Yorker. It's strange I never thought I would be."

"And I saw the sax line-up that he had behind him and I thought, I'm going to learn the saxophone. When I grow up, I'm going to play in his band. So I sort of persuaded my dad to get me a kind of a plastic saxophone on the hire purchase plan."

"I rate Morrissey as one of the best lyricists in Britain. For me, he's up there with Bryan Ferry."

"For those who are able to work, work has to be seen as the best route out of poverty. For work is not just about more money - it is transformative. It's about taking responsibility for yourself and your family."

"Well, the post office is probably not the place you want to go if you want to be infused with patriotism and a renewed sense of vigor."

"Designing is my hobby. If I didn't do what I do for a living - at some point when I don't do this for a living - I'll probably just do design work. I love finding really special pieces of furniture."

"I'm not in control of my muse. My muse does all the work."