I mean, autographs are so funny. I don't think it's good to encourage that sort of thing. Why do people want to have an autograph? What does it do for you?Collection: Funny
My family is still in Los Angeles. We listened to all sorts of music: Mexican music, oldies, soul, disco and rock & roll. I was surrounded by music.
We're really lucky because we have a portable studio, which enables us to work wherever we like. There is some extra work involved in setting everything up, but you can find a lot of magic and inspiration in being free to go somewhere completely different.
Music soothes you, especially when you write, sing or play an instrument. It really can be a cure for everything.
The biggest problem for people who get really, really nervous when they perform live is that you think everybody's looking at you.
I think one of the big mistakes people make is to have fame as one of their main goals. That is the biggest mistake when you're creating art.
I've always loved music. I grew up with older brothers and sisters who were into music, played The Beatles and the Rolling Stones and Aretha Franklin.
It's not so much that I don't enjoy playing live - that's one of the best parts of playing music - it's that it's nerve-racking with 300, 500 people watching.
I don't even like to sing in front of my own band members so it's easier for me if they send me the music and I record my vocals in my own studio.
I spend a lot of time in London and I miss California. Of course, when I'm in California I miss London.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were really great. I saw them live in the '90s; they were really, really good. The music is great, and the musicians are amazing.
When I go to a live show, I want to be moved. That's why you do it. And it's not very often that a band will move you live.
It seemed record companies wanted bands to be creative because they didn't know how to manufacture underground music. We could do our own thing and go at our own pace. But that changed when major labels started wanting bands that would sell 7 million records.
There's a lot of pressure to chitchat with the audience. But when they're in school, people don't want to get up in front of their classroom when they have to talk about themselves or a project.
Personally, I have a hard time playing live. A big part of it is because the lyrics are really private.
When I started out playing live, it was different. I felt good about it. Nobody knew who I was. I just opened for so-and-so. Now, I'm playing to people who are coming out to see the band. There's too much attention on the band and me.
My sister loved country music. My mother loved Spanish music. And my dad was into big band music and jazz.
I had to beg to get out of my contract with Capitol. They wanted me to work with big producers. I wanted to produce my music, and they weren't having that. I'm sure they were happy to let me go. I just didn't want to do what they wanted me to do.