Every drummer that had a name, had a name because of his individual playing. He didn't sound like anybody else, So everybody that I ever listened to, in some form, influenced my taste.

You only get better by playing.

And, you know, I think the original recording of Ravel's Bolero, probably whoever played percussion on that, will never have It played better than that.

But, when you have to resort to turntables, trick lights, flashing lights, fire and all that, you're actually saying, I need this because what I do is not all that together.

Average band with a great drummer sounds great, great band with an average drummer sounds average.

A great musician is just a thief who doesn't get caught

But I think that any young drummer starting out today should get himself a great teacher and learn all there is to know about the instrument that he wants to play.

I consider every drummer that ever played before me an influence, in every way.

I think it's a fallacy that the harder you practice the better you get.

If he's a true symphony artist, he knows better than that because he knows that the only truly creative musician is the jazz musician.

I think at one time every drummer wanted to play like Krupa or wanted to win a Gene Krupa drum contest. This is the big inspiration for drummers and naturally it has to be the same way for me.

You need to understand the principle of intensity to reclaim time

We've all got the power to kill in our hands, but most of us are afraid to use it. Those who aren't, control life itself.

With color one obtains an energy that seems to stem from witchcraft.

Opportunity does not knock, it presents itself when you beat down the door.

The costume of women should be suited to her wants and needs.

I used to sing songs and write with my uncle, Bill Owens.

Work to perfect the mind. There is no certitude but in what the mind conceives.

All the world says of a coxcomb that he is a coxcomb; but no one dares to say so to his face, and he dies without knowing it.

The single life is not one I willingly chose for myself.

I talk to bankers, distributors, marketing people. I used to sit at home in my tracksuit bottoms, and the real excitement of my day would be going out to get a copy of Private Eye and a latte.