Clarence Clemons

“I have faith in the judicial system.”

“I'd rather somebody punch me in the face than drop my sax.”

“As a horn player, the greatest compliment one can get is when a person comes to you and says, 'I heard this saxophone on the radio the other day and I knew it was you. I don't know the song, but I know it was you on sax.'”

“Now that I am much older, I have had a number of sax players tell me I was responsible for them playing sax. Some of them I have admired over the years.”

“I like health-conscious cooking, but growing up in the South, I do love southern cooking; southern France, southern Italy, southern Spain. I love southern cooking.”

“Of course, you get exhausted. You want to pass out. I came close a couple of times. But you're filled with something, that feedback that comes from the audience.”

“Of all the surgeries I've had, there's not much left to operate on. I am totally bionic.”

“Rock-and-roll, to me, is very serious because we deal with the young people. We deal with people who need something, and that's the same thing that a preacher does. He feeds you something that you need spiritually in your soul and in your makeup.”

“I have no agenda - just to be loved.”

“I wanted an electric train for Christmas but I got the saxophone instead.”

“As long as my mouth, hands, and brain still work, I'll be out there doing it. I'm going to keep going 'til I'm not there anymore. This is what's keeping me alive and feeling young and inspired.”

“The first time I ever saw a black audience at our concert, we were in Zimbabwe.”

“In the mental calmness of a spiritual life, I have found that the answers to the whys in our lives are able to come to you. In my music I find the same thing.”

“I never thought I'd be a, quote, 'rock & roll star.'”

“I always had this vision of what I wanted to do in life.”

“I do read music, but I prefer playing from the heart.”

“I'm a mellow fellow. Nothing much bothers me.”

“I'll never be rude to another news person. It's a tough job, a thankless job. You really have to get out there and grovel to get your story.”

“Sometimes you just do things and let your natural self become a part of what you're doing.”

“It's love. It's two men - two strong, very virile men - finding that space in life where they can let go enough of their masculinity to feel the passion of love and respect and trust. Friendships are based on those things, and you seal it with a kiss.”