Quotes

[on Michael Jackson] It was a tough act to follow. He was just astonishing. I was invited to visit Michael at his home - he still lived with his parents - and spend a day with him. I saw him a couple of times after that. I think he's one of these people where you use the word 'genius' - you have to be careful about that. He was very smart, very quiet, but he had a spongelike mentality. He listened to everything. He wanted to know where I got my clothes, all that stuff.

[on manager Malcolm McLaren] He was a great mentor. He now stands as one of the great rock'n'roll managers - Tom Parker, Epstein and Malcolm. But Malcolm was far too intelligent to be a rock'n'roll manager. That was quite boring to him. I think the world is a sadder place without him. He always had something to say and he always looked good.

[on getting married] We were going to go to the Vegas chapel, so we decided to drive up from Florida. On the way we stopped in this little town in Tennessee and saw a little A-framed house looking over the vale, and just fell in love with it. So we got married there and stayed. It's one of those things I never imagined myself living. I'm glad I did because it's an absolutely stunning countryside and people are very friendly. All the time I was there, nobody apart from my neighbor ever clicked that I was a musician. It was that lovely opportunity of anonymity and having a bit of a life.

[on Gary Glitter] It was the most original, innovative sound I'd heard. It just had such an impact on the nation, all that sparkle and that energy and style.

The one thing worse than being sent to the workhouse was being sent to the madhouse. You're at the bottom.