“I don't dislike rappers or hip-hop or people who like it. I went to the Def Jam tour in Manchester in the '80s when rap was inspirational. Public Enemy were awesome. But it's all about status and bling now, and it doesn't say anything to me.”

“True perfection has to be imperfect. I know that sounds foolish, but it's true.”

“Rock n' roll to me is all about freedom of thought and to be whatever you want to be.”

“My wife would say I'm not romantic at all, but I would say that I'm the ultimate romancer because I write about... life being brilliant.”

“I'm not interested in making money. It's just that with my talent, I'm cursed with it.”

“It's a sad state when more people retweet than buy records.”

“To be quite honest, John Lennon had questionable politics. There was a flip side. He was all peace and love, but he was a very violent character.”

“You've just got to trust your instincts and realize that you can't please all the people all the time. You've got to please yourself ultimately in the end.”

“My first instinct when I write songs is not a negative one. It's something positive... Everything I've ever done has some form of hope in it, I think.”

“What's problematic about playing stadiums and driving around in private jets and drinking champagne at 8 o'clock in the morning? What's wrong with that? I haven't got a problem with that. I can't fathom why people would.”

“You have to make the effort with children. You can't have them thinking that I reckon I'm special, otherwise they'll start thinking they're special. I want them to feel normal for as long as possible because God knows they'll reach an age when they'll be told they're not.”