A: Yeah, it's kind of weird because in a funny way we always got in trouble for coming later. So it's kind of ironic because we're probably on the tail end of a certain time, yet having to compete and exist in a different time. I feel like it doesn't matter if someone arrives late, as long as they get there.
But yeah, I do feel that. I understand that position without understanding why. I guess I was always told it's better to arrive a little late.
Q: Some people were expecting "Golden State" to be an answer record to all the personal things Gwen wrote about you on No Doubt's "Return of Saturn."
A: What, a reply record like Tori Amos?
Q: Yeah. Like, on "Simple Kind of Life," Gwen sings, "You seem like you'd be a good dad." On "The People That We Love," you could have sung, "Actually, I think I'd make a really lousy dad."
A: Er, um, no. When it comes to that stuff, you just shut your eyes and go forward.
Q: What did you think of all those things she said about you?
A: Whenever I hear her record I've got to listen to every line just in case.
There's usually something. Sometimes you can be a little tentative when you first hear a song, just to make sure you're seeing where it's at. If a line comes up like "Every time you're so shit to me," then you go, "Hmmm."
Q: She doesn't hold back, does she?
A: No, no. She's pretty brutal like that.
Q: Some of her lines even make me feel like groveling for forgiveness on your behalf.
A: Thank you. Thank you for addressing my pain. I always shout, "Can't you fucking cloak it? Can't you say something else?"
Q: Maybe you should buy her a book about metaphors.
A: Yeah. "Haven't you heard about a simile?" (Laughs) The good thing is, I'm clear on most of the songs she's written for the next No Doubt record. I get a B for behavior.
Q: Even though you are in a very public relationship, do girls still hit on you?
A: No. Sometimes people are excited to meet me, but that happens with anyone in a band. It's just like, bands breed excitement. I don't mean sexually, I just sort of mean lifewise. People stop and talk to me, and it's a nice charged moment.
Q: How do you feel about all the things the tabloids write about you?
A: The tabloid side of it is really silly. I've been murdered by it a couple times.
Q: What's the worst thing that has ever been written about you?
A: Probably the worst one was where they had all these pictures of me with different girls. I mean, what can you do? You're talking to a girl and someone takes your picture. Someone made a whole collection of those and it was really unlucky. Outside of that, I've tried to keep the songs and the band the most important thing. I never courted that stuff. Just after a while you get stereotyped.
Q: What is your definition of a golden state?
A: The album title is just a reference to the freeway to Gwen. That's where we lived and it was on the way to the studio. I wanted a title that summed up the period of writing and making the album and that was it. It was a great time to be in L.A. and to be living some kind of semblance of a normal life. I was driving to work and making something that we loved. It was a great way to live.
Q: Where do you live now?
A: I'm where Gwen is and where my dog is. That's home, wherever they are.
Q: Where do you keep all your stuff?
A: Well, there's more of my own stuff in my London house, but I infiltrate. There's plenty of things in both places.
Q: Do you find it hard to keep your edge when life is so good?
A: No, not at all. I don't find that whatsoever because I find there are different perspectives to things. I never wrote about lack of money or lack of food on my table. I never lived in the Third World. I've always had enough money to buy a sandwich. I mean, fuck, it didn't stop Picasso from making a painting. I don't see the two connected unless your only ambition is to be a rock star. I just wanted to be Brian Eno, but now I have four rock records. To think I would only do rock music forever is crazy. It was never intentional.