Gord Downie Quotes

Let's pretend my career in music is a bell. Whether you like my music or not is up to you. But you've got to admit I rang that bell pretty hard and pretty often.

In the beginning of my career, I wanted to be chased by girls more than anything - that's why I got the guitar. By the time we were in ABBA, the music was the only important thing.

I didn't get into making music for the fame aspect. There are people who do desire that.

I never had any expectations of winning a Grammy. It wasn't something I was set on, that I was hoping and praying and starving for.

It doesn't really change, actually. I think The Rolling Stones have gotten a lot better. An awful lot better, I think. A lot of people don't, but I think they have, and to me that's gratifying. It's worth it.

Music is something that you really have to want to do it, and there has to be a reason behind it.

My music appeals in America. There is less of the purist criticism I get here. And to be a hit in the U.S... what singer doesn't have that dream?

Every time I'm home, it's like a vacation, but I've been playing in bands since I was 11. I guess our goals were always small goals. It started off my goal was just to be in a band. Then it was to have a drummer that would show up.

I just looked like there was only one thing I could do: be in a band. It looked like I was already successful, basically. Which is what I wanted to do when I was 16. I just felt like if you did that, aesthetically you would just draw people who were doing the same thing.

You never stop trying to make progress as a musician.

I dedicate all my time to music. And I'm glad that it's paying off in some ways.

Rock stardom and all that stuff like that was never like my main M.O., my main M.O. is musical growth, and if I become a rock star in the process, great!

There's nothing wrong with being driven. And there's nothing wrong with putting yourself first to reach your goals.

The way that people have gotten on board with me is the most encouraging thing in the world, but it's all very connected to the 14 years I've been on tour with Steel Train, even my band before that, Outline, and then fun. and now Bleachers.

Who cares and remembers if my last film was a success? I need to work harder.

I'm motivated and driven, and I have been from a young age.

I am a deeply competitive person when it comes to music.

I didn't have my first band until I was, like, 30.

Sometimes it's very hard for other New Orleans musicians to break out. It starts with the musician. They have to be willing to take a risk. Playing in the city, you can get comfortable. You think things are going well, but you're always in the city.

When you're making a record - and I've never said this to anybody, but it's true - when you're making a record, and you go, 'Man, this might win a Grammy!' you feel that level of confidence when you're making a record.

I knew at an early age that I wanted to make an impact.

We were both dabbling with music but no, I persuaded George, railroaded him really into forming a band. I think we both had the belief that we would make it. That was the central pillar around everything else.

I'm a very objective-driven bloke, so to have a goal in mind and to have something to do is very important to me.

I stopped watching sports because I didn't want to watch someone running up and down the field making millions and I'm not doing anything about it. That methodology made me go harder and take control of my career.

I've always been quite driven so it wasn't like the cancer was my wake-up call.