No part of Manhattan these days really has the same vibe I get from a Ramones song or a Velvet Underground song.

I do think sometimes there's danger in guest appearance mania. I've seen too many examples that sound cool on paper, like 'Oh, get that guy to sing the hook on that guy's song,' and then that's all it is. It's a cool idea that sounds good on paper.

If there was no Velvet Underground there would have been no such record. Does that tell you what you need to know?

If kids and teenagers can get into a band, it's probably not because they think it's brainy.

I still to this day get the most inspiration from rap lyrics.

Musicals don't get enough credit for being so surreal. It's like an alternate universe.