Idris Elba Quotes

I actually have an Avenged Sevenfold tattoo on my body.

We know what we like in music, and we got into music to try and give back what we got out of it.

I haven't got many tattoos, but the two that are most important to me are music tattoos. I have a black heart with a lightning bolt down the middle. And the black heart was for Manson and the lightning bolt down the middle was for David Bowie. I have black diamond with circles that keep swirling and swirling, and it's surrounded by sort of crazy diamonds because Pink Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" really inspired me, and everybody's called me Crazy Diamond since I was a teenager, so it was always important to me.

When I was young, I used to need other people's albums and I got very involved with their music and it meant a lot to me.

Music was more than just something I enjoyed listening to. I was fascinated by it. I'd watch some of my favourite artists and emulate everything they did.

Right after college, I got really into St. Vincent. She just is so cool and out there. I think that's super-inspiring. And tone and mood-wise, I just love Patsy Cline and Ray Charles.

When I was very young, it was Guns N' Roses and Metallica. I'd play air guitar on my bed. They've been the thread throughout my life.

I try to listen to as much as possible. I know some people really try to avoid music when they're writing and recording, but I am very inspired by so many different musicians, and I need to learn.

I didn't even listen to Bob Marley until I was 17.

As a musician, it's only natural that my music mirrors my life.

Music is really important to me; Kurt Cobain is important to me. Hearing Nirvana was pretty life-changing.

I've always had a passion for music - it's a real part of me.

When I was around 11, my dad took me to see Santana live, and then I got 'Sacred Fire,' and everything changed for me.

I think as far as themes, 'Hedwig' is about what music meant to you as a kid and how rock n' roll can save you; that is definitely part of it.

Even in 1971, J. Geils was into the Stones. When I heard Geils, I realized that a lot of other people hearing them had never heard the Stones.

Once I heard how deep music could touch people and what it can make you feel and all of these emotions it could bring out, I was really fascinated with it all.

Music runs my life. I can't imagine going a day without it.

I look at tattoos as a commitment to life.

Most people think a song is a song - three minutes, and you're done. I don't think this way. Songs are my wings. They're what I use to fly. It's very important for me to put everything in the right place.

Growing up, I went to the Warped Tour a lot, and I got to see bands like Rancid and AFI and Dropkick Murphys and these bands that meant so much to me when I was a kid - all in succession on these stages, so to get to play that same stage that I watched those bands play is a huge thing for me.

The Misfits skull was my second tattoo, and the Danzig was my third.

It never occurred to me that I'd be a musician. I was just drunk on music, jamming with friends, chilling out with lot of music around.

I've got a Kanji symbol on my shoulder; it's for my son and means 'strength and power.' I have my son and daughter's names, Dominik and Aalyah, written on the inside of the left and right biceps, too.

Listening to 'Raising Sand' was one of those turning points in my life that really made something click in my brain.

I dunno - it's like, again, Juice was super big for me in terms of inspiration, and I learned a lot from him in terms of his recording process and stuff like that.