I wanted 'Imitations' to be a fully realized record from start to finish, with a cohesive sound and a sequence that took you from one song to the other, just like I would with a record of original stuff.

I played 'Angry Birds' and tried to see what the hoopla was about.

I was never super comfortable playing music in front of people anyway. Now I enjoy it, but it wasn't the easiest thing to get past.

Me and Kurt Cobain were both listening to a bunch of Lead Belly and diggin' it. We thought, 'Let's do an EP of all Lead Belly songs.' We did a couple, and both of us were like, 'Nah, this is a bad concept.' We set it aside.

'Gargoyle' was inching towards a more accessible record.

If I have one hero in music, it's John Cale.

Usually I get asked to do stuff that's cool, and if I ever can't do something, it's usually, because of logistics, I don't have the time for it. Rarely do I get ask to do something that I'd rather not do. I usually do it if I feel that it's something I can do.

I've had songs that were spread out over a number of years, and I've written some in ten minutes, and everything in between.

I like to fool myself into thinking that whatever happens is OK.

Yeah, well, I guess Andy Williams would be considered by some to be schmaltzy, but to me, he's one of the greatest singers of all time. Just absolutely amazing. And if anyone doesn't believe me, just YouTube him. He's just one of a kind.

I worked as a breakfast cook in a lot of different restaurants.

I enjoy my own songs, but I can never love them in the way that I can love someone else's song.

One of my very favourite poets was a Massachusetts poet named Robert Lowell.

The Warriors team with Baron Davis, Matt Barnes, Stephen Jackson - that was an incredible team.

I've always been haunted by the devastating voice and beautiful songs of Tim Hardin. I can't imagine anyone hearing him and not feeling the same.

I'm about creating a body of work and moving on to the next thing.

It was really difficult to sing; nobody showed me how to do it. I remember early Screaming Trees shows in the '80s when I'd walk away with a pounding headache from trying to sing way out of my range.

Talking about myself is difficult for me. It's anti my true nature.

Collaboration is part of what keeps me interested in music.

I grew up in a small, rural community, where my extended family were mountain-folk type people, and some were very religious.

I think I've just matured over the years.

The Trees was four complete nuts. We didn't have a damn thing in common except insanity. So we fought a lot. And we had two brothers - who fought like brothers.

I like Jamal Crawford. He's from Seattle, went to high school there, lived up there. He's fantastic.

When I do something, I do it for the specified amount of time, and then I do something else.