No seriously... when there's families, you tend to go back to your room after the gig rather than go for a drink with the other guys. But there's always someone who's got something going, like the tour manager.
If Miles Davis hadn't died it would have been interesting to do an album with him, but there wasn't much else that would have got me into the studio... although Herbie Hancock has just been in touch about doing something and that would be an interesting combination.
I'll have the music, and then I'll just turn the microphone on, press Play and Record and sing. And whatever comes out ends up being the melody.
You know, a song is like a kid. You bring it up. And sometimes something you thought was going to be fantastic, by the time it's finished, is a bit of a disappointment.
I have to say that the whole thing that has arisen in recent times of me being the epitome of 'the great musical evil', and to be avoided at all costs, is both curious and disturbing to me. Why I have been chosen for this role is a little beyond me. It seems that it's started by an anonymous voice and seconded by others without question. Somehow, some way, I have become "worse" than Cliff (Cliff Richard) or Barry Manilow. (Speaking in 2005)
I won't/can't take the glory or the blame for what Genesis did musically. We wrote as a band and we lived with that music for 4/5 months working on it together. I'd like to see someone try to push Tony Banks into doing something he doesn't want to do! Just doesn't happen. Same with all the records actually.....all responsible for everything broadly speaking.
I do that in whatever language of the country I'm in, because the audience appreciate it.
I usually hang around the room listening to a bit of last night's show. If there's one available, I go to the steam room every day for my voice. I spend half an hour there and then I eat, because I can't eat later than four o'clock. Then I go for a soundcheck. That's my day.
Catering on planes, like on British Rail, is a standing joke, but I don't really have a problem with it. I don't quite know what people expect.
I remember flying with Air India to New York quite a few years ago now and I love Indian food, so the fact that I had a curry on board was fantastic.
It should go without saying I suppose that looked at through British Media Eyes circa 2004, my appearance anywhere on anything will be open to ridicule and instant dismissal. Please don't get me wrong...I really don't expect everyone to like what I do, but it's the sheer predictability of it all. I just don't understand why suddenly there is this tidal wave of abuse !! It seems it's impossible to open a newspaper without reading some crap or other. I know too that it shouldn't all be believed but.... I keep out of the way and am good with children, I play well with others !!! I know I've never been hip, and most critics have had trouble with the music, but now it seems everyone out there who writes for a journal actively hates what I do !!! Quite disturbing and mystifying and it's pissing me off...sorry about that.
When I go on Japanese Airlines, I really love it because I like Japanese food.
I'm usually going to make a record, finish a record, start a record or start a tour or between tours.
They are without doubt the yardstick by which I judge modern songwriting. Forget that it's "old".... it has rarely been equalled and even with the Great Pretenders Oasis vying for their crown... it's not happening. It's not that I'm a nostalgia freak.... they were just great writers, with a great producer, at the right time, with the right noise. I have bought many CDs of the '60s bands because I wanted to have those songs but all of them pale in comparison when you put them next to The Beatles' stuff.
I'm an easy target, especially nowadays. You'd be hard pressed to find many in the media or the music business who'll own up to liking me and my music. Especially in the UK. Although I have met a lot of R&B singers in the States who are very kind about what I've done. Generally speaking though it's just one of those things that cannot be reversed now. One has to be philosophical about it and try to move on.......that's not easy for me, but I am trying !!! (Speaking in 2004)
On the day of the show, I sit down with someone that speaks very good English and someone who speaks the local language very well and work out what I'm going to say.
The world is in your hands, now use it.
I'd like to grab an opportunity to finally lay to rest a much quoted untruth about my political leanings. I have never been a Conservative, or at least not since being a young teenager. My father voted Conservative, and even his doing that was a hangover from the 50s and 60s, which may have been an influence on me. I'm sick and tired of being thrown in that same old box... "he's got money.... so he must be..." I once said that if taxes were put up to a level where the government took home more than me, then I would consider moving out of the country. The Conservatives were in at that point and I mentioned Labour... if Labour had been in, I would have mentioned Conservative. It was said to make a point over 15 years ago. No one's asked me since. I live outside the UK purely because my wife lived here when we met. End of story. (Speaking in 2005)
I'm just trying to do things that are interesting for me.
The day Tarzan opened in London, I sat in a hotel room and discussed the project in detail.
Beyond a certain point, the music isn't mine anymore. It's yours.
I know it shouldn't make a difference, but crossing the dateline, we weren't sure what day it was - it was very strange. Now, I seem to cope with it better.
It's very strange, when you live in London or live around London and get the music papers you are led to believe that there is a certain type of music that is popular and everything else is not.
I've spent the last year and a half going through a very public separation, hiding in hotel lobbies.