It was a really interesting time in New York in the late 70s and early 80s, and the music scene was really, really interesting because you didn't have to be a virtuoso to make music, it was more about your desire to express things.

When I left Ohio when I was 17 and ended up in New York and realised that not all films had the giant crab monsters in them, it really opened up a lot of things for me.

The trains were the beating heart of the New York graffiti scene.

The entire New York comedy scene has moved to L.A. - it's bled the New York comedy scene dry.

During my time in New York I was interested in what was going on in the arts culture — music, galleries, auction houses — that's where I learned as much as I did about art history. It was the vortex of the art world and a fabulous place to get up to speed and develop one's eye.

The people really are what make New York City great.