Lynyrd Skynyrd has always been a bunch of rowdy, crazy people, but we love our fans, and that's what the music is all about: touching them. Touching them touches us.
Making music is what drives me - not awards, not Internet fame, not even exorbitant amounts of money. My fans call themselves 'Aadeez,' and they are the most loyal lot. I make my music for them. I love them.
In the Troubadour days, it was all those songwriters that I hung around with all the time, so I could get songs and find out what was going on. So we all knew each other, and we just carried each other's word around.
Because with Black Label and all the fans it's just one big family.
It really does help everyone when there are some big bands leading the charge.
It was all about music, about getting your friends to come and see you play. I don't see that same intimacy happening very much today.
Metal fans have a connection. There is something there; just like the wrestling world, they are die hard about wrestling, and it's that passion that makes you enjoy what you do. That is why I go to metal shows; you watch these dudes on stage just shredding and letting loose. You can't help but love it.
I do music for the fans. I want to lift fans up.
I've always said that Pantera fans were the best in the world, and I truly meant that, and I still mean it.
I love music, whoever makes it. Whoever makes great music in the entire world I am their fan because I love music so much. I am each and everybody's fan who is putting their music out there.
I got my first guitar when I was 16. I'd play for my family and friends, but taking that guitar out there into the wide, wide world wasn't something I ever thought about.
I want my fans to listen to my music. Period.
In Nashville, good guitar players are a dime a dozen.
It wasn't until 'Smokey Joe's' came out that I actually got to step out from behind the curtain and meet our 'fans.'
I'm excited to be launching D'Leon Records to support other young talent in their development. I have been very fortunate to have been able to break through and succeed in this tough industry, and this is one of my ways of giving back.
I have gotten nothing but love since I was diagnosed from the whole metal community. I guess that is true about both David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen. David was very kind to me especially when I was limping and falling and when my hands started getting weak.
I see myself as a hip-hop artist, but I never wanted to make music for a specifically white audience. That's not what I grew up around.
Me personally, I've had really great experiences. I'd be lying if I said it was all roses and perfect, but, by and large, the metal community is so incredibly supportive.
We think accolades are nice, awards are great, but we make music for the people.
YouTube is an amazing platform for young musicians - although it's harder to get noticed now that everyone is on it.
I like the dirty venues better - Brixton Jams is like home.
I've heard that the true love of country music is alive and well. That gives me so much hope and so much happiness.
I think the thing that L.A. had on Sydney is an awesome music scene, especially for what I do.
Ultimately, I'm not the most prolific person, but I've been doing this for a long time, and I keep on putting out music. The only thing that drives music is the people who are making it.
It's basically a city of songwriters and that's what gives it it's strength, that's what gives it its lasting ability. You've got people making all different kinds of music and that's what attracts me to Nashville as Music City.
