Back then people closed their eyes and listened to music. Today there's a lot of images that go with the music. A lot of music is crap and it's all commercial and the images are all trying to sell the record.

My mother knew how to read music and everything. But I just kinda learned off of records. And so I was listening to records and I'd play 'em over and over.

Sometimes before we make a record I go back and listen to a few. It's equally humbling and uplifting.

I'm always happy when I hear about people selling records or selling books or selling movies. It makes me proud of them.

I'd love to act more. I've had to turn down multiple movies because I was on tour but it's encouraging to know that someday there might be the right role the right timing. And I've been writing a lot of music so hopefully very soon I'll have recorded a project of my own. I also want to get a boat and open a restaurant.

I'm very particular about the kind of music that I record and sing and it would be the same way about the kind of movies that I would do.

I've had such a great track record in making a huge profit when the movies are smaller.

But then I go through long periods where I don't listen to things usually when I'm working. In between the records and in between the writing I suck up books and music and movies and anything I can find.

I made two movies before The Police had a hit record: I did Quadrophenia and a film called Radio On.

I could wake up six in the morning go downstairs and record. I learned how to use ProTools and everything. Whenever I felt it I could record.