John Oates Quotes

You know, most people, they want to go to Hollywood. They want to be a star. They want to be a rock star. That thought never entered any of our minds, the Van Halen family.

I honestly don't think I sought fame. It wasn't something I courted or wanted, particularly.

I don't want to be New Vocalist of the Year; that's not a goal of mine. If those things come along, that would be awesome, but that's not something I strive for.

I'm not in a real rush to be a big star.

I never had a driving ambition to be a star.

I wasn't one of those kids who was chasing the dream and wanted to get to Hollywood because one day I was gonna get my chance and be a big star. I never felt like that.

I think of myself as a musician and not a celebrity. Celebrity status is something you have to deliberately pursue - I couldn't imagine myself seeking that.

But I don't think I was ever destined to be a big star.

So you know, my plan was that I was going to make records, and be a rock star. And that's really what I wanted to do. And I sang from the time I was very young.

My friends have always told me that rock stardom was wasted on me.

I didn't want to escape my life and become a big actress and live my dreams. That was never the way it was; it was just these amazing opportunities that happened.

I would see people on TV, or I'd see bands I really liked, and I thought, 'I want that.'

I don't consider myself a rock star. I would rather be looked at as a regular guy who happened to be in the right time at the right place. But if you call me a rock star, thank you.

I wasn't trying to be famous when I started making music. I mean, that wasn't the first thing I wanted.

I didn't want to be famous, I just wanted to sing.

I didn't think I was a famous singer. I didn't think I was a star or that I could make the waters part - just that singing was what I was going to do.

What I always wanted to do was to be a rock star.

I don't consider myself a martial-arts star. I'd be offended and disappointed if I got a reputation as a martial-arts star.

I don't see myself as a famous person.

It's not my ambition to be a big star.

The fame thing is interesting because I never wanted to be famous, and I never dreamt I would be famous.

I am not a star. At least, I don't consider myself a star.

Wanting to be a rock star, I get it. I'm like, 'Oh, my God, dude! The freedom!'

I didn't become a footballer to be famous, I became a footballer to be successful. I didn't want to be famous. Now people want to be famous. Why? Why would you want people following you about all day? I couldn't think of anything worse.

People always say, 'How is it to be so successful?' I'm not successful yet. Richard Branson is successful. That's successful. Michael Jackson was successful. U2 was successful. I'm just a guy, doing okay. But I'm a happy guy doing okay.