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I thought Jimi Hendrix... was just phenomenal.

I was listening to Jimi Hendrix; I just admire his artistry and creativity as an artist.

Music can be a source of escapism.

Hendrix was the first person I had come across who seemed completely free, and when you're nine or 10, your life is entirely dominated by adults. So he represented this thing that I wanted to be. Hendrix was the first person who made me think it might be good to be a singer and a guitarist - before that I wanted to be a footballer.

I loved Hendrix. I mean, really, really loved him. As if he were one of the great classical composers. And he was. That's how I saw him.

I really thought I was pretty good before I saw Hendrix, and then I thought: Yeah, not so good.

I saw Jimi Hendrix - it must have been four times. And he was incomparable, and his legend lives on.

I liked the Beatles because there was so much melody. Jimi Hendrix is still one of my heroes.

We were into Hendrix and Cream, who were like the heaviest bands around at that time. We just wanted to be heavier than everybody else!

All music is escapism for me, but I like the way that, on a good night, that sense of escapism can be shared.