Biography

His guitar solos are unbelievable, the way he slides up and down those notes. He's so tight. I like all his work. It's crazy to think that's he's been going for about 40 years now and he's still as great as ever. (On Carlos Santana)

I grew up listening to Queen - and what can you say about Freddie Mercury? I don't think there's another performer like him. I love watching clips of him on stage; his outfits were wicked too.

Phil (Phil Collins) has written some great songs and he's an amazing drummer.

Look, he just knows how to write amazing songs. I'm a songwriter as well and I know about good melody direction, I know when a song is going really well. You need to make the record not boring, from 1 minute to 3 minutes. It has to go like a slope, you know? It has to be exciting, going up and up. That's how you make a hit record. Which are my favourites? That song he wrote on the back of a bus coming back from Watford or something: Careless Whisper. It's the melody, the way he writ it, the way the verse goes into the chorus. If you was a songwriter, you'd understand what I'm talking about. (On George Michael)

I would love to collaborate with Phil Collins. There won't be anyone like him again in music. He is what 80s music was all about. He's just amazing.