Quotes from Billy Childish

I liked drawing and painting, because the only failure would be to listen to the doubters who wanted me to stop drawing and painting because 'you aren't going to make a living doing that.' I liked looking in art books at the work of painters.

I make sure I make a painting - that's my job. And I cook the Sunday dinner.

I gave up drinking lots of whiskey and began to practice yoga and meditation. As a result I am not dead.

I've not been an admirer of contemporary music since punk rock went off the boil in 1977, but once a year I'll listen to 'Spiral Scratch' by the Buzzcocks, or 'Hippy Hippy Shake' by the Swinging Blue Jeans. Otherwise, I can put up with Chopin or shakuhachi flute in the background.

We believe in a society in delusion, and if you're awake and not deluded people tell you you're mad. That's why I'm a freak and they're not. But I'm actually not.

One of my biggest problems in life has been my inability to lie.

I like feeling at home and knowing people. I like talking about ideas and being friendly.

I did not like prizes at school. I didn't like tests or exams, or the 11+, or O-levels. Later I hated B.A.s and M.A.s. The reason I hated them is that I don't like being tested, failed or falsely praised by anyone.

I think that the mythology of Van Gogh's life, and the beauty of his paintings, is unstoppable.

We are not actually in charge of life, yet behave as if we are the masters of our own destiny. The realization of this fact is quite a hard one. The ridiculousness of our pomposity and presumption can only result in anger or humor.

Being a fan of authentic Dada, I find today's art - what I call 'Bankers' Dada' - mind-numbingly dull. The most challenging work I've seen of late is by The British Art Resistance. Their document, 'A Call for Heroes in an Age of Cowards', is apt in these days of witless chancers.

I don't spend a lot of time working if I can help it.

I've always liked New York, as I like towns with an edge and New York has a European feel, so when I came to play music here in the '80s it was a surprise to me.

I'm going to get a pair of wire-snips, and I've also started a new campaign to have blank CDs on jukeboxes so you can play the silence.

Remember, a fact is a fact, no matter how hard the liars amongst you might try hushing it up.

We are not actually in charge of life, yet we behave as if we are the masters of our own destiny. The realization of this fact is quite a hard one. The ridiculousness of our pomposity and presumption can only result in anger or humor.

The confusion, that one so young - me it seems, because I remember - should be so damaged, that no one looked out for me or cared. And even now, I grin and mock myself out of fear. But I hold the truth aloft, a golden torch, sacred, because no one else dares to.

My childhood ended around the time of my ninth birthday, shamed into sex, obedience and fear.

I was bullied for the best part of my childhood, and still it comes easy to me. I have to have to bite my lip, to quit from apologising for people walking into me, standing on my feet, and letting go of doors in my face.

No one is responsible, nobody is to blame... Either all are guilty or none...

My favourite things are jokes, friendliness and feeling comfortable.

A moustache to a man is the same as a fringe is to a woman. When you've got it, you want to grow it out; when you've grown it out, you want to cut it.

People could live very happily without the Turner Prize, but they could not live without real communication and emotion.

I loved moustaches. I used to draw myself with one. When I was 14, I was really into war and Van Gogh.