When The Stone Roses first came out, the early reviews called me 'simian.' I had to look that up at the time.

I feel like I've established myself as a music maker in my own right.

When the ravens leave the Tower, England shall fall, they say. We want to be there shooting the ravens.

The Beatles were great; we know that. But we were trying to do a new thing. Why do we need to recreate the Sixties?

I'm solo, and I love being solo. I believe I went through the Roses so I could become a solo music-maker. That's what I believe.

Just because I'm a successful singer who's loved and has been loved for years doesn't mean I'm sitting behind electric gates in my own fantasy land.

I've not thought about the Stone Roses since we quit. How many LPs do I have to make to stop people talking about it?

I love people, me, I believe in people. I love people too much.

Northern soul was huge in Manchester in the '70s and '80s; I went to a lot of all-nighters.

I give thanks for everything that's ever happened to me and for everything I've got.

I actually was able to give up shopping in February '99.

If you want to call me a Karaoke King, I'll take it.

It is a fact that everyone's got a limited run in music - but who's to say how long that run lasts? I used to think that there would be no way I'd still be in music when I was 40. I used to think anyone who was 40 was an old man, and they probably shouldn't be doing it anymore.

Some of the kids who discovered me from my 'F.E.A.R.' record or one of the U.N.K.L.E. tunes have said, 'I don't even like the Roses; I love your solo stuff.' I buzz off that.

Oasis are okay, but they're like The Sun: base.

When I was 9, I was into T. Rex, Gary Glitter, and Alice Cooper. I knew The Beatles because my nan introduced me to them, but T. Rex was the first band I got into myself. I got 'Metal Guru' a few months after hearing 'Children of the Revolution' in Pwllheli in North Wales at a market.

I like the fact that a group can become successful, and by way of what you are, you can show up all the other people who are around you.

One person might perceive me as godlike, and the next might think I'm a northern thug. I don't think I've done myself any favours... but I swear I've not had a proper fight since I was 14.

I'm lucky enough to be one of them music makers who can do a dance festie or a rock festie.

Even me mum can't tell me what to do.

You'll never find a Manchester band slagging off another Manchester band, but within each Manchester band, people will rip each other apart: Mondays, Smiths, New Order, Roses, Oasis.

I'd like to write songs for other people, see things from a different perspective. I'd like to watch things from the dugout instead of the pitch.

Everybody is a star. It's true. And if you've got a light, don't let it go out. 'Cos some people sink under.

We feel we're the only British group worth exporting since the Sex Pistols, definitely.