John could write a mean song. He had a lot of venom in him. Whereas I had a happy childhood.

I was a veteran, before I was a teenager.

I grew up in a really small town with not a lot of money, and I liked singing, but it was just something that was a hobby.

I just managed to convince my grandmother that it was a worth while that was something to do, you know, and when I did finally get the guitar, it didn't seem that difficult to me, to be able to make a good noise out of it.

Growing up, I was inspired by The Beatles and Bob Dylan. Damian Rice was a huge influence for me musically.

The first guitar I ever had was a gut-string Spanish guitar, and I couldn't really get the hang of it. I was only 13, and I talked my grandparents into buying it for me. I tried and tried and tried, but got nowhere with it.