musician mindset Quotes

I love when people are coming up and they're working hard and you can see that they're really focused on the process to their music. I really dig that. As a musician, it's nice to see people who really care about the process.

I don't put myself on Jeff Beck's level, but I can relate to him when he says he'd rather be working on his car collection than playing the guitar.

I think sometimes people have a different idea of what starting a band is going to be.

Once we went into the basement and learned a song, we felt successful. Then we learned two songs, and then we got a gig, and on and on - and that's the way musicians think. I don't know about other people - I mean, I don't know about all musicians either - but some are more driven than others.

I guess if I'd have more of a producer attitude, maybe I'd sell more records. But I'm basically a songwriter.

Every time you pick up your guitar to play, play as if it's the last time.

I go through periods listening to specific types of music. Because I'm a musician, listening to music is... it's a bit like work for me. A little bit.

Growing up in a bluegrass or acoustic-oriented world, the musicians become so focused on performance, as far as playing. We tend to overanalyze the notes, so you're always trying to sharpen everything up.

The real amazing thing about all of this is I think I've maintained the mentality of a musician throughout it all, which I'm proudest of. And I'm still playing on people's records and singing on people's records.

I've always felt myself as being a serious singer.

If you're trying to connect to people with music - it's more of an outward process and a lot of times musicians can be very inward.

My ego only needs a good rhythm section

I've never been a big soloist; I just put in what needs to be there. I'm more of a rhythm player who plays lead - or tries to play lead.

I know not everyone is a musician, but it's important to find that craft and put all of your energy into that. It's about leaving the bad vibes and going to where the good vibes are.

As long as I'm still growing as a musician, it keeps me inspired.

I never was strutting through the hallways like, "Yeah, I'm a singer/songwriter." That's never a cool thing to do - to be the brooding guy.

In my naïvety, I thought people who were in rock 'n' roll bands were great artists, and it was a huge shock to the system to realise that they weren't, that they didn't even aspire to be, really. Some of them did, maybe, but some of them, like Samson, were very frightened of the idea.

What an orchestra! They just sit there, but their minds are thousands of miles away with their bookies.

Sorry, no, I'm never satisfied with my drumming.

I don't see myself as such an important guitarist.

People want you to play the songs they know. I try not to reflect too much, and I don't really like to focus too much on myself.

And of course, the musician - if he's serious - always answers: My last album is my best, otherwise I wouldn't have done it.

I'm a compulsive musician, but it's also a bloody good way out of having to do anything else.

Attack your instruments. Don't let them attack you.

There are so many good guitarists out there, I am by no means a very good guitar player.