Billy Squier Quotes

There's a bunch of people who sit around and make excuses for themselves and get upset with artists, but you already know what this is - it's an ego-driven business.

All I've got to say is if I'm a sellout, I'm selling out arenas all over the world, and I'd rather be selling out arenas than selling out of my trunk on the corner of my block.

What I can't understand is why people still won't give me the credibility that I look for. If Mojo or any other of those magazines would give me the credit for only ever performing my own songs rather than someone like Rod Stewart singing other people's songs looking for success.

I don't need a lot of attention. I'd much rather have the work be famous than the face be famous.

I'd like to be known for more than being the guy in the big suit.

Do you know I used to pride myself on the fact that I'd never booked a show in my life, but that I'd played so many because I'd been invited?

I should be known for my work and not how I promote myself and what I do.

I listen to all the top 20 songs, and top 20 albums, even the rap albums. But I don't like negative messages. If somebody is putting a lot of ego out there, I don't like it. When I make my records I want it to be sincere.

I wanted to build up a name for myself.

Quest for popularity is probably a disqualification for greatness.

I never aspired to be a screen hero; all I ever wanted was for people to respect what I do.

Every man who has declared that some other man is an ass or a scoundrel, gets angry when the other man conclusively shows that the assertion was erroneous.

I think that being precious and rock and roll should never go together.

I'm not interested in being known for anything other than the work.

If you are attacked as regards your style, never reply; it is for your work alone to make answer.

The fact that people are embracing me so well as a new artist and being taken so seriously is something I'm really surprised by.

Never let pride be your guiding principle. Let your accomplishments speak for you.

An author places himself uncalled before the tribunal of criticism and solicits fame at the hazard of disgrace.

Sometimes, you release an album and the record company just about ignores it, and so many people don't even know it's out. And I'm not about to jump up and down shouting, "Hey folks, look at me! I'm cool and groovy!" That's not what George Harrison is all about.

I'd swear to God, if I were a piano player or an actor or something and all those dopes thought I was terrific, I'd hate it. I wouldn't even want them to clap for me. People always clap for the wrong things. If I were a piano player, I'd play it in the goddam closet.

There's a real self-serving element to hip-hop that threatens its life span.

I'm willing to take the blame if the strip goes down the drain, and I want the credit if it succeeds. So long as it has my name on it, I want it to be mine.

A good name is seldom got by giving it oneself.

You can be the coldest rapper, but if you're not known, you're nobody.

Great minds had rather deserve contemporaneous applause without obtaining it, than obtain without deserving it. If it follow them it is well, but they will not deviate to follow it.