Biography

Why go on vacation when work is so much more fun.

[on Phil Collins] People seem to have forgotten that Phil is one of the greatest rock drummers ever to have walked the planet. I've been lucky enough to have had drum lessons from people like Chad (Smith) and Dave (Grohl) in the past, but I'd love to get a lesson from him. So Phil, if you're out there, please come and teach me how to play 'properly'.

[on Roger Taylor of Queen] Every time Roger opens up his hi-hat or hits the snare, you just know that's him playing. It's those elements that give a band personality and are so often missing today.

It was thanks to Rush that I got into Genesis. After listening to Neil (Neil Peart), I bought the Seconds Out live album, which was released in 1977. It's just amazing. Not only hearing Phil Collins playing the drums, but also singing. He gets a really bad rap from some people for 'daring' to take over after Peter Gabriel quit, but you just hear the way he sounds here. The beauty of this album is that it's got songs from ...Trick Of The Tail, the first album Genesis did without Gabriel. Collins is an incredible drummer. Anyone who wants to be good on the drums should check him out - the man is a master.

Where would prog have been without The Beatles? The "Sgt. Pepper" album is perhaps the first really progressive album. That started it all, as far as I'm concerned. And how can you not also worship the "Queen II" record? Also, one other band worth a mention are The Police. I know they're regarded as a pop band. But you listen to the level of musicianship they invoked - how brilliant were they? This was a band who could do it all, and made the concept of musicianship so cool. They had an influence on so many others - after all, would Rush have attempted something like "Spirit of Radio" with the reggae part were it not for The Police?