I'd forgotten what it was like to play music and have it be fun so I decided to stop. I wasn't even sure if I was going to make a new record, I was just kinda quitting.

See, to me, rock'n'roll doesn't have any point. It's just fun. It has a million different angles and they're all valid. But I think rock might be a world issue.

When I was 14 years old, I was a huge fan of the Velvets, the Stooges and the Modern Lovers. They are my three favourite bands. I never get sick of 'em.

When there are no women on the tour it can get awful and ugly - constant horrible jokes and gross behaviour. It needs to be leavened with a feminine presence.

But Sneaky Pete was great. I didn't bug him about Gram. Not too much, anyway.

I used to have a sort of spiky haircut and it just feels better to have short hair again.

I don't like alcohol, but I still like to mess around with other stuff occasionally. I think it's important I take mushrooms and acid. They're certainly not addictive, so I can't rule that out.

Basically, between 1989 and 1994, I hadn't taken a vacation.

But ya have to make videos in the States. Usually ours just look too serious. We haven't got it together.

CDs, too. Totally corporate. They look real cheap and soulless and they don't smell of anything.

Even the bands I dig don't have a history of attaining mass consumption.

For me, it's all about The Dubliners by James Joyce. I love The Dead.

I guess I'm about ready to promote myself in a more human way. I don't feel quite so insecure.

I have to make rock records occasionally.

I lie around and play guitar, that's something I do for sure. In fact that's all I do, I think.

I need the money. People don't understand how little money you make in a band.

I was hanging out with Jonathan Richman last night.

I've got time, I hope, to make lots of quiet records. So quiet you won't be able to hear them.

It is hard, though, 'cos record labels love to boss you around. I won't let them do that anymore.

It's better when you have your wife with you, more fun.