Quotes from Mick Hucknall

I'm one of the people that's managed to rise above my class, that's the working- class dream, the whole Lennon-esque, John Osborne kind of thing, you know - jump out - if you get the opportunity to better yourself that's fantastic, and I've done it.

When we treat music as an industrial commodity, and young people as merely consumers, we overlook the joy of participating in music... of learning to play an instrument, of joining a band or an orchestra, and playing gigs.

I grew up in Denton, east Manchester, and was raised by my late father, Reg, a barber.

I loved the African-American culture, but racism was still a big problem and white America was exactly what I didn't love.

In 1998 when I did the album 'Blue,' that was my worst phase.

Otis Redding was the ultimate 60s soul singer. We only get an indication of what he might have become, but he had the best soul pipes a lad could wish for.

As I've gotten older I've got more bass in my voice but also because I don't talk very much during the day I've managed to keep my voice in good condition.

I have sensitive skin, so if I shave every day, I go blotchy. I tend to shave and leave it a couple of days. Then a couple of days becomes a week, I look up and I've grown a beard.

Possessions aren't my raison d'etre.

I knew I was famous the day I played football with mates in L.A. I scored a goal and Rod Stewart jumped on top of me. I thought: 'I had a poster of you on my wall when I was 12.'

I've always thought my dad was fantastic and now I'm a dad myself I can see what an incredible sacrifice he made as a man in the 60s - he was there every day for me, cooked my meals and shaped me.

You're damn right I'm comfortable, I've worked very hard to be comfortable. But something I've always tried to impress upon people is that these folks in the houses of parliament affect what's in your wage packet, the welfare of your kids, your health. Why wouldn't we be interested in it?

I'm really bad with dates and never know what I'm doing from one day to the next.

To properly fund the NHS, we must ALL chip in. As a fully paid U.K. tax resident since 1985, I'd be proud to contribute to that.

Its hard to take in. One of our most talented singer songwriters has left us. RIP George Michael. Such sad, tragic news. 2016 please end.

Privatization of utilities costs would be astronomical, as would setting up a National Bank.

I am one of the best singer-songwriters this country has produced. Ever.

Once I had a daughter and I had a wife I knew I was going to enter a completely different world that I'd never known before.

Those who say they're not ambitious are being disingenuous.

For some, music is a limitless source of cheap content, just waiting to be exploited.

Whatever the means of delivery, whatever the technological and corporate structures, music will always be about groups of talented individual performers communicating emotionally with individual fans.

Strong copyright protection is not only compatible with future digital business models: it is an essential pre-condition of their success.

I'm quite happy being famous for what I do but I'm not happy about being famous for the sake of being famous.

Fatherhood has changed me completely.