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

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

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.

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 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.

The only kinds of fights worth fighting are those you’re going to lose, because somebody has to fight them and lose and lose and lose until someday, somebody who believes as you do wins.

Annette Bening should've won Oscar for American Beauty. I mean, I know Hilary Swank was there, she was so great too... Annette deserves one. She better win. I'm an Academy voter, and I voted for her.

Things well fitted abide.

Wisdom begins with sacrifice of immediate pleasures for long-range purposes.

The Western sexual revolution sucks. It has not worked well enough for women.

The majority of people permit relatives, friends, and the public at large to so influence them that they cannot live their own lives, because they fear criticism.

Punk rock meditation, that's what keeps it going. That's how I let go, you know. It's exactly what I do, I blast it and run around crazy banging my head on the wall.

Records used to be documents, but now record companies want product.

The very presence of an angel is communication. Even when an angel crosses your path in silence, God has said to us, I am here. I am present in your life.