Alternative Rock Singers

"The rules were always there. There was always one rule; don't break the golden rule, which is if someone says that they love your music, so they love you and you're amazing; you're not amazing. You're not amazing. It's not you, they don't know you, you know? It's not that way. So don't believe that. I don't believe that about myself, and I don't believe when someone likes me too much or hates me too much. I don't believe they know what they're talking about."

"Whenever someone says, 'We're all one,' I've always been like 'No we're not, and that's what's great, so stop saying that or everyone's gonna start believing you.' But yeah, as we all look at the same projection on the wall, we do become one, and I started to realize the horror of that. And I make no attempt to try to alter it from being that; my thing is more about trying to apply some principles of magic—how to walk between the raindrops—and take advantage of a situation like that, because it’s the only choice you have."

"More often than not, even the people and even the moments and even the circumstances that you feel you can go to for stability, for that piece of happiness, can all of a sudden shift, and can all of a sudden become tainted. And everything that you believe, or even that small moment of connection that you can feel can sometimes be destroyed. And I’m not a negative person — shockingly. I’m somewhat of a realist. And I’m a very passionate person, so I don’t like to expect that shift, I don’t like to expect for things that I love to become malignant or to become a great disappointment. But it happens. And it’s devastating. Every time."

"I've found that at times that question and the dubiousness that I seem to exude has given people something — not simply gossip or whether God is going to smite them for liking our band, but actually they've found strength and become more comfortable with who they are as a person. It's pansexual, that sort of reach. It's a wonderful side effect of what we're doing, to give someone the strength to come out of the closet to their family, or simply present themselves aesthetically in a way they feel happy with, whether or not their friends are going to be allowed to like them anymore. So it's actually a really cool side effect to all the rumors."

"It’s not a matter of imaging, despite what a lot of people would feel that it is. I’ve never presented myself in a way that I don’t feel comfortable with; I’ve never presented myself in a way to appeal to anybody. For the most part the way I’ve always looked to not appeal to most people. Really, my aesthetic was really more of a terrorism or violence than it was something to attract; more of a representation of my detachment than anything else — though it’s not always a very conscious thing."

"One of my many favorite tattoos I’ve seen of myself is from a photo shoot I did for the cover of a compilation called Punk Fiction that came out in the 90s. And my friend who was putting it together asked me to re-create the movie poster for Pulp Fiction with me in place of Uma Thurman as Mia Wallace on the bed smoking a cigarette with the wig on and everything. So I went in and did that and it was the cover of the record and posters were made. Since then I’ve seen a portrait tattoo of me as Mia Wallace. That’s my favorite. And that was years before I was publicly dressing as a woman, which I’ve been doing for years now onstage and off. I think Mia Wallace was just one of my earlier excuses to strut around in women’s clothing."

"There's no one here And people everywhere You're on you're own."

"The more you've found, the less you've been around."

"Well I think that my main concern is that there is a market lack of desire for quote-unquote art that people are creating and appreciating. I think because there’s a lack of desire for that, which translates to the creation and elevation of art that then thereby lack substance because there’s no desire for it, there’s no appreciation for it. It self-perpetuates a world in which the hollow, the vapid and the greedy are elevated and revered. That bothers me because art is so important whether it’s design, fine art, film, fashion, things that are important to the world. It’s what makes me want to wake up in the morning, it drives me."

"Music is the best way that I know to say the things that are difficult to say in English. Words get in the way sometimes."

"[In response to the question "This record will probably be bigger than the last one, which was bigger than the one before, and so on. How big do you want to be?"] Man, I don't really give a shit. I mean... you know, let me just break it down; I love to play, I'm from a small town in the desert, I never thought I would be here and I just wanna play, man. I don't care if it's big or small, you know? Like, Nick is gone and that affects me the most, because I didn't want it to be that way. And some people are going to be like "Well, I don't like it now!" and to them I say fucking goodbye. This is goodbye. Let me be the first to say it, goodbye. Because all I'm doing is just wanting to just play. I just love to play music, and I like people, you know. And there's all kinds of things that get... shoved into that along the way, but that's not alright with me, you know? So, I want to say most of all, like, I'm just going to just show up and play. I'll let everyone else deal with that because I've already dealt with the hard part, you go ahead and deal with the easy part, whether you want to listen or not. And either way; I understand. Because, when it comes to the Queens, whatever everyone else is dealing with, I've dealt with it already, man. So I'll either be drinking with people after the show or not and it's going to be five, five thousand, five million, or five - I don't give a shit. Because I'm really proud of this record and I put a lot into it, I put what I am into it and after that I can't control it. It's not up to me, it's up to you, you know? And I'm okay with that because when I left the studio I knew I loved this stuff and I got to save my friendship, and both of that is a victory, you know? And the rest is up to you, and I'm okay with that too. So let's get it on."

"You can't upstroke yourself into toughness."

"It ain't the size of the dog in the fight, It's the size of the fight in the dog on the day or the night"

"We broke up mostly because we didn't have a manager and everyone was on different drugs. I don't take them so it was a bit weird for me."

"Everybody sees me as a solitary entity but I long to be important to somebody It's a love of fairy tales that drives this guilty wish To walk serenely in front of family to collect my kiss and though this notion is as flawed as any I have learned I'd like to think that like the others, it's something I deserve"

"She walked down the aisle with all eyes on her and she glowed Someone chose her above all other women they had known I can only wonder what it must be like to be so perfect in a lover's eyes, the only one they see Well, it’s never been me, the chosen one It’s never been me If ever I see a chosen one I feel ugly"

"When the moon comes up, I go down For the first time There’s a garden deep, deep in my heart But it’s blossomed for the last time"

"Can't stop flinching, everything is lethal Looking for a hero to get me outta this Can't stop flinching, tell me that you're ok Looking for approval and one last kiss."

"I am skilled now, at casting iron To make a hardened bed for my heavy world"

"I want to go wherever you go because all the colors are brighter there and there is more magic in the air wherever you go, here and hereafter."

"We started out to finish groups like U2 - that was what it was all about. And they're still the biggest band in the world, so we failed. We didn't really do anything, people wore flares for a year or two, d'you know what I mean? That's all we did."

"Where're you going Ra? Take me with you Ra... You're such a busy God I wish you could stay I only want to play and play But you're such a busy god and I'm such a mortal Ra"

"I wish I could promise I'll Be there when you dream I wish that when you spoke to me I'd know what you mean But you can't bring me comfort By filling up my eyes They don't stay dry Hard as I try Can't figure why Made I this choice"

"Oh, even the leaves laugh As you spin and tumble through We explode in color All for your honor"

"If you stare into a flame You'll get an eye full of energy If you write your nightscapades You'll get a dawn full of promises"

"Turn the lights down for a while And have a rock with the solitude Many worlds are born tonight Because the needy is everyone."

"Even the leaves laugh 'cause they have what I have Reach from the best tree So he can see me And with your face With your face comes laughter And with your touch And with your touch comes joy."

"With all the confidence I have It seems I could go forever But forever has no rest-stops And my endurance sometimes fails Hold me, hold me, hold me in your arms Can you tell me how I'm gonna make it"

"That I am one and many is at the heart of my dis-ease Yet I am one and many"

"Do I have to dig? Do I have to prod? Reach into your chest And pull your feelings out? Are you dancing dead? Or maybe walking toast? If you feel anything Be brave Come forth Let it show. Tell me what d'you think of life? Tell me do you think at all?"

"There's not much to hide behind We can see for a mile Without our eyes. I can see through a smile To any lie."

"My time's too short to waste on Things you say without your brain. Will you paint works of art When you speak? When you open your mouth Will I weep?"

"Tell me all the plans You have for the great beyond, Will you be physical again Or be a cosmic vagabond?"

"I dreamed I was an animal In a human world; Now when I hear big sounds I cry like a little girl. I'm talking about connections Between here and there; All things exist at once Seems more than we can bear."

"I am transparent An open book; There's no choice in the matter But the breath from my mind Is living air, And the notes from my heart Are what I share. Words weren't made for cowards."

"As I walk through fire I am shielded from the flame Although the guilty parties Take no blame. Don't try to tell me there's no Reason for any moment in time; Every memory of mine Those years are lines of Color on my face. My past is warpaint. The past is warpaint."

"When the rain came down, I was older than the earth. I could die right now, and plan another birth Anytime I choose. I am in peace, in love, in harmony, when the rain comes"

"When the rain came down, I was standing in the green My soul was touched by every tree that my eyes could see I am in peace, in love, in harmony when the rain comes downWhen the rain came down — melded with my tears When the rain came down — flow away the fears When the rain came down — bigger than the sea When the rain came down — then came me."

"Every step I take, I am alive. I am Life."

"We are the number one offender Of specieism and yet Here we are reaching out for aliens Looking for our salvation. Pity our emptiness Save our souls."

"I'll be over your head Ecto Now don't be afraid Ecto Don't reach out Ecto Just be glad that I exist Ecto"

"Why couldn't someone have patience for me? Why couldn't someone be wise to my fears? Tell me why couldn't somebody cry for me This time? And if I should die, who'll be the first to cry?"

"Come on down and see our Zoos and refugee camps Ain't it worth your time? Pity our emptiness Save our souls."

"He is broken, far from free Words were spoken, 'tween him and me: "I had friends, yes, I was admired I'm so old now, feel so tired." Well he walks to the gate and he looks behind at life in rewind And wishes he had known these things while still alive."

"I wrote and recorded music for many years, thinking I was only pleasing myself. The fact that so many people have appreciated the music, makes my life incredibly rewarding and full."

"The first time my brothers saw me, when I was a day or two old and still in the hospital, my brother Mark could not pronounce the name "Kimberley," and I was an especially happy baby, so he decided it would be easier to call me "Happy." From that moment on, my family members never used the name Kimberley. I was forced, however, to use my given name while attending school. As soon as I turned sixteen, my name was legally changed to Happy Tyler Rhodes. As far as I'm concerned, it's the ony name I've ever had. When people ask me if it's my real name, I always say "yes.""

"I'm thrilled that people can get something out of my music. I have to attribute that to integrity and honesty. I've found that people aren't really as different as they sometimes seem. We all have joy and tragedy in our lives. So it only follows that if I write something from my heart and stay true to myself, others will easily identify."

""I can see the purpose now and all I've learned All the roads and where they've turned I can see, I can see everything, the total truth I'm ready for another youth." Going to fly"

"The Lennon-McCartney comparison was frequently made and that was an image that critics could relate to. But it wasn't something people in the street could pick up on the way they'll pick up on someone who's really good-looking."

"We won’t have a thing So we’ve got nothing to lose…"