John Mayall

It’s part of what the blues does, to write about these things. JB Lenoir was the main one in this regard – he wrote about Korea, too, in fact. Songs that reflect these current situations – in his case, racial issues for the most part: in my case, what has happened to me, and I was in Korea.

To me, they are equally important, as they represent a certain period in my life and times. With that in mind, it really is impossible to pick favorites.

I’ve never thought the blues was a matter of copying other people. The blues singer should sing songs about his own life. And once the ball got rolling, I felt confident enough to do that as well as cover other people’s songs, and the tributes. You’ve got to think about representing your own life in the music, and for me that meant bringing in an element of jazz; I was brought up on jazz, it was my father’s work, it was in the house.

I never really thought about becoming a professional musician.

I have good health and I am happy to be on the road all the time.

The blues fitted in with the early 60s, the social way of life at the time.

For anyone who feels the need to hate, just know I’m looking at my phone like #GirlBye!

[on being labeled the next big thing] I don’t take it seriously. Because I’m the one living my life. I mean, I’ve got this tiny part in this big Brad Pitt movie, and everyone here thinks I’m playing Sally to Brad Pitt’s Harry. I’m not, and I’m constantly having to say that.

I don’t remember anyone’s name. How do you think the ‘dahling’ thing got started?

Remember-the only place men want depth in their women is in her décolletage.

If you’re wondering why I was only nominated for three of the categories tonight, it’s because I don’t swallow.

I’ve still got a twinkle in me.

At least when the race starts, he’ll know where they’re all at because they’ll all be in front of him.

I’m not one for parties and stuff like that. I get a bit nervous around lots of people. Being invisible is what I really enjoy. That I find quite entertaining.

I’ve deliberately tried to calm myself down because eventually I want to be a good role model to my kids.

I’ve never been cool and I don’t really care about being cool. It’s just an awful lot of time and hair gel wasted.

This is truly a blessing. Breyon Prescott, Peter Edge and Tom Corson believe in me and have introduced me to a home that also believes and knows exactly what to do with the type of music I’m doing.

Optimism is nice if you can swing it. But you’ve got to be careful, because it can feed into the normalization of Donald Trump. And he is not normal. He’s abnormal. He’s a human What is wrong with this picture?

I pay all my own bills… I want to choose the man. I do not permit men to choose me.

I wanted my voice to be a tenor sax, really.

I’d say I’m a bit of a fatalist but not as much as I was. I used to be like “whatever happens happens” and have that innate fatalistic outlook. But I think it’s more about what you are thinking in your own mind that is the most powerful aspect of controlling your own life.