When I started studying tenor saxophone as a kid in Belfast, I did so — Van Morrison

"And I shall drive my chariot Down your streets and cry Hey, its me, Im dynamite And I dont know why We shall walk and talk In gardens all misty wet with rain And I will never, never, never Grow so old again"

"Van Morrison is interested, obsessed with how much musical or verbal information he can compress into a small space, and, almost, conversely, how far he can spread one note, word, sound, or picture."

"They asked me to come to New York to help celebrate Vans induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. I went because I see Van as one of the cats that has kept the faith. Like me, hes always himself — he stays true to the music that means the most to him. It meant a lot to sing "Crazy Love" on stage that evening."

"Music to me is spontaneous, writing is spontaneous and its all based on not trying to do it. From beginning to end, whether its writing a song, or playing guitar, or a particular chord sequence, or blowing a horn, its based on improvisation and spontaneity."

"Someone once described me as a maverick and thats what I would say. Im a maverick not by choice but by conviction."

"The way you see me walking on Thats why Im telling you in song Theres only one way to get ahead Youve got to give it up instead Start all over again."