Quotes from Rick Nielsen

I could have moved anywhere I wanted to. But for family reasons, I stayed in the Midwest.

I'm a normal person. I don't see where people come off saying I'm crazy.

We're a band's band. We have real songs, real players, real problems. Real ups, real downs.

Basically, I try to let the song dictate what guitar I use. If it's a really loud, crazy song, I'll pull out the cheapest, oldest guitar I own, one that feeds back easily. But most of the time, I just use whatever's around.

I've taken all the mirrors out of my house because when I'm playing onstage, I feel like I'm still in high school. I feel like that kid that wanted to play in his first band, and then I look in a mirror, and it's like, 'Uh-oh!' It ain't pretty.

We played New Year's Eve in Los Angeles, maybe 1978, opening for Kansas or somebody. Driving to the hotel after the gig, we came on KLOS. It was like, 'All right! We're in L.A., we just played a big gig, and we're on the radio!' That was the start of something big.

I have too many options when it comes to guitars.

If you're going to be ridiculous, be over-the-top ridiculous.

The only time I have a problem is when I have to get in a vehicle after we play and sit there in a cramped position for a couple of hours to drive to the next place. Then I get super stiff.

I never tried to emulate The Beatles, and I never really wanted to be like The Rolling Stones. I never really felt that I had the look or the demeanor of veteran musicians.

I can't stand it when groups come back for an encore, and they play some slow thing. Oh, brother! It's like, 'Had I known that, I would've left.'

I got to work with John Lennon. That was pretty cool.

I actually did try to emigrate to Australia a long time ago.

I love to be the loudest thing in the room.

There's no way we could make up what we are. The group is just what everyone is. Each of us has a different audience.

I want you to want me I need you to need me I'd love you to love me I'm beggin' you to beg me.