Adrian Belew

“I've always been drawn to the avant-garde, the things on the fringe.”

“I like records that are like a journey, where you're not sure what's coming next.”

“The studio is an instrument in itself.”

“My voice is just another instrument. I use it to create textures and colors.”

“Frank Zappa taught me discipline. He was very strict, and you had to get it right.”

“King Crimson is a beast that lives in a world of its own.”

“I like to make the guitar sound like something else. I don't want it to sound like a guitar.”

“I love the idea of creating sounds that no one has ever heard before.”

“I'm always trying to push the boundaries of what a guitar can do.”

“For me, the guitar is a vehicle for expression. I try to make it say things.”

“Working with Bowie was like going to college. I learned so much about presentation, about how to be a frontman.”

“Music should take you somewhere. It should be a journey.”

“Lyrics are very important to me. They have to mean something, even if it's abstract.”

“I'm not trying to be weird. It's just the way my brain works.”

“I think of myself as a sound-sculptor.”

“What I look for in a guitar is a balance. I'm not a collector, so I'm not looking for a particular year or a particular model.”

“Improvisation is a huge part of what I do.”

“Technology has always been a part of my music.”

“I’ve learned a lot from all the people I’ve worked with, and I’m thankful for that.”

“The way I see it, my solo work is the laboratory.”