Quotes About Nonconformity

You know, when I put out records that may not work or connect with the audience, it's because I'm pushing myself as an artist creatively, because I'm just bored doing what everyone wants me to do.

No one could put my personality in a box. I didn't necessarily fit in.

Don't you think it's kind-of cool to have a band that offends MTV, that puts out a video that real fans have to dig around for, or stay up late to see?

I just understand that I'm supposed to be one of those people that disrupts the flavor a little bit instead of being part of the same sound as everyone else.

All the flower children were as alike as a congress of accountants and about as interesting.

I don't wear dresses and flowers in my hair and float around!

I don't care about flowers or chocolates or anything like that, that's not me.

To me, flying free is doing what I want to do, even if it's different from what everybody expects me to do. I'm flying free when I win the battle between me and the people who thought I should go down this road and I find my own road.

There's not a blueprint for me to follow.

I always followed my own path.

I've never followed my party... I'm no yes-man, I've never been a yes-man.

I don't want followers.

I emphasise the following: don't, whatever happens, be anyone but yourself. Don't act anyone else-that would be fatal.

There's something liberating about watching someone not following the rules.

I want to wear something because I love it, not because it follows the rules.

I don't want to follow in the footsteps of anybody that went before, because they didn't do what I want to do.

I try to not to worry too much about following in other's footsteps and just create my own path.

I've always played it my way. I failed media training, for example.

It's true that every leader needs followers. We can't all be nonconformists at every moment, but conformity is dangerous - especially for an entity in formation.

One of the things I did learn from 'The Epic' was that we don't have to feel so much pressure to conform to set formats. A song doesn't have to be three minutes and 30 seconds.

If you want to write serious books, you must be ready to break the forms.

I believe in a lively disrespect for most forms of authority.

I have this brand, I have my name. And I'm going to do what I want because people will buy it. People will enjoy it. So don't tell me I have to follow this formula and sit inside the box. Because I don't.

I don't want to do the song-dance formula; there are many people doing it, right?