Mick Taylor

“I had to learn chord shapes. I bought books with chord charts. I used to listen to all kinds of pop music.”

“These days there's so much technology and ways you can learn. There are videos and CD roms.”

“If it wasn't for Mick, the group would've fallen apart a long time ago.”

“It's nice to finally have a CD out which reflects my songwriting, my singing and the band that I have.”

“If you've been playing for a few years, especially in a group context, you'll see if you have the ability or the passion to want to carry on. It's something that you have to be dedicated to and you've got to love, no matter what happens.”

“I was very influenced by Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix, both of whom I had the pleasure of playing with and becoming friends with.”

“I don't know why, but I never felt I was gonna stay with the Stones forever, even right from the beginning.”

“I've never stopped learning.”

“I do to keep things sounding fresh. Sometimes just changing the running order of the show is a good idea.”

“I've written lots of songs on the piano. My mother had a piano and it was the first instrument I played.”

“Maybe if I go far enough back into my ancestry, I have African roots or something. I've got no idea.”

“I suppose because I have a good ear, I could pick out harmonies and learn by ear. I still think that you have to have an ear for music to really be able to feel and understand what you're playing. You can learn by watching and listening to other people.”

“The Stones don't really need to do it for money, so they must get some kind of pleasure out of it. They're not like a group that's disbanded and gone away and made a comeback. They've always been there.”

“The most important thing is to follow your instinct and get involved with some friends who have similar tastes and aspirations and like music as much as you do.”

“I didn't think of myself as a lead player, especially when we did live shows, because me and Keith used to switch around all the time. He'd take a lead, I'd play rhythm. Sometimes even within one song. It wasn't strict and regimented.”

“I have a really good band, and just returned from a short tour in California. It hasn't always gone that well.”

“What I've always lacked is a really strong band to back me up.”

“The Beatles and The Stones were basically inspired by American Rhythm and Blues.”

“It's not rubbish to say that I was a bit peeved about not getting credit for a couple of songs, but that wasn't the whole reason. I guess I just felt like I had enough. I decided to leave and start a group with Jack Bruce.”

“Altamont... I remember all of that. That was an awful day.”