Favorite Rock and Roll Quotes

Rock stars are a curious breed of human being. On one hand, they are highly creative, thought-provoking artists that influence millions. On the other hand, they can struggle to be functionally literate. No matter what, they have something to say.

A lot of people don't know about music, but buy records. A lot of people that know about music can't afford to buy records.
-Marc Bolan, T.Rex-

Bolan's hippie/glam rock and roll sold a lot of records in the early 1970s. This may have been an indictment on himself and the "T-Rextasy" craze or probably just the music business as a whole. Unfortunately, music piracy has not exactly rectified the situation.

Nowadays you can't be loud enough!

-John Bonham, Led Zeppelin-

If that does not put Led Zeppelin in a tight nutshell, I do not know what would.

I don't know where I'm going from here, but I promise it won't be boring.

-David Bowie-

Even during his late 80s/early 90s lull, David Bowie was far from boring. At his peak he was one of the most dynamic rock stars in the world.

We didn't have any instruments, so I had to use my guitar.

-Maybelle Carter, The Carter Family-

"Mother" Maybelle may not be the definition of rock star, but she did more for the guitar than any other folk/country musician did. By strumming with her thumb while she picked the melody with her fingers, Carter influenced generations of musicians in any genre.

I love rock-n-roll. I think it's an exciting art form. It's revolutionary. Still revolutionary and it changed people. It changed their hearts. But yeah, even rock-n-roll has a lot of rubbish, really bad music.

-Nick Cave, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds-

Punk, poet, novelist, actor and musician. Nick Cave has done it all, and done it well.

I find humming is very useful.

-Elvis Costello-

Costello is the kind of cranky music purist that is not afraid to publicly decry or promote certain music. He also has a sense of humor.

I want people to be ecstatic but to cry at the same time.

-Wayne Coyne, The Flaming Lips-

This really is the Flaming Lips music described in one sentence. Who can argue with him when they accomplish this goal so well?