Wisdom worth sharing, words worth remembering.
I want to start my own airplane business. I'm going to buy two Dakotas paint them up in war colours and do er nostalgia trips to Arnhem – you know where the old paratroopers used to go – and charge them about 20 quid a time.
I'm very into science-fantasy that kind of swordfights and magic and technology thing.
I did an album a long time ago called 'Replicas' which was entirely science-fiction driven or science-fantasy. Since then it's been a song here a song there. It's not really a constant theme. I've written far more about my problems with religion with God and all that.
I am very old-fashioned about marriage. It is for life and I mean it. I always knew that when I met the right girl the life I had before – being single in a band girls everywhere – would be over.
I was a loner as a child and happiest at home launching toy rockets and aeroplanes. When I started causing trouble in my third year at grammar school Mum was really surprised. My parents sent me to a child psychologist who suggested I might have Asperger's syndrome.
I became famous so quickly and so young – it was daunting. I was immature and I used to say some really stupid things in interviews. I never smiled on stage so I looked really serious but it was because I hated my teeth and was incredibly nervous.
If I thought that any of this was pre ordained then it takes away any kind of incentive to struggle or to put up with things to reach for those impossible dreams all those dramatic things.
I met Gemma my wife when she was 12. She had a schoolgirl crush on me and her dad had arranged for her to meet me. Later she started coming to my concerts but I only got to know her well after her mother died. I rang to see how she was and that's how it started.
I have one brother John an airline pilot who is seven years younger. He's adopted though we're still blood related – he's my cousin. My parents couldn't have any more children after me so when Dad's brother died they adopted John then just a baby.
Before breaking into music I had various jobs: forklift driver driving a courier. But I was forced into working rather than doing it off my own bat because that was my dad's way: you got a job and paid your way.
My dad was a baggage handler at Heathrow and careful with money. He worked hard and had three jobs when I was young. I wish I'd inherited his care for money. Sadly I've grown up to be rather scatty when it comes to finances.
I've got Asperger's syndrome and I'm not a very good people person so I've always been more comfortable around machinery. Not in a weird way – I don't want to marry my car or anything stupid like that!
