Quotes from Richard Ashcroft

I am so lucky that I have been part of and written songs that will always resonate no matter how old they get.

The most sacred thing you can get is time. That's all people want on their death bed; that's what it's all about.

You know, rock n' roll's an old carcass: it's one big cliche. It's so difficult to do anything that has any sense of freshness or vitality or meaning. But that's what I'm trying to do, to give it new meaning.

I think I've learned a lot on the vocal side of things.

People do get out of my way when I'm walking to the shops.

Ed Sheeran? I don't like the fact he gets a lot of stick. I like the fact he works hard, and God knows how much money he pays to the tax man each year.

I was always going to be vulnerable when I left the Verve. It was a hardening experience for me. People saw me stripped down and decided to have their shot. I suppose they wanted to take me down a peg.

You have to build yourself up a bit. You have to believe in yourself, because not that many other people will, you know?

Not many people come out of a big band as the lead singer/songwriter and making a record, and all of a sudden we're all happily sailing at the same pace as we were before.

I probably suffered from a narcissistic disorder in some way.

I'd definitely say I'm a depressive, someone who suffers from depression.

What happened in the '70s was albums and concerts began making a hell of a lot more money, and then the suits got involved.

I've never written a 'Revolver' or a 'Pet Sounds.'

I lost a good friend a few years ago, and it happened quite suddenly. Any event like that leaves you with questions. Would a phone call have made a difference? Did the person know that you were there for them?

As a musician, I don't wanna put out political soundbites.

It doesn't matter how fashion or politics changes; you'll never change a classic song.

I wouldn't trade what Coldplay have achieved for any of my songs.

I don't ever want to get to the point where I don't think about death! You've got to swim in it, learn from it - embrace it!

Technology means the kind of music you can make on your own if you've got an imagination is amazing. It's crazy that I can sit with a Mac and a keyboard and a mic and create a symphony.

'Bitter Sweet Symphony' is one of the biggest hip-hop records of all time once you actually analyse it.

The mainstream consumed our culture.

I love my cracked eyes.

I've got a letter from the Dalai Lama at home.

With 'Break The Night,' each verse is saying, 'Nothing's going right today; nothing ever does.' It's about that kind of repetition, it's that kind of mantra you can get in your mind when you're depressed or down, when it's become like a hamster on a wheel - it's very difficult to break.