Big Nick Nicholas

I could see the blues was about survival.

I’m not really on a mission to tell anybody anything. I’d rather be figured out.

I am very aware that so little has happened to the electric guitar from the time that it was conceived to now; where there are so little changes made where there should be drastic changes made. If we were to put our heads together and start thinking about modern technology we would be much more advantaged with the electric guitar than we are. I think that we’ve been stagnant for many years.

[on Prince] I learned about music that didn’t have any barriers or any kind of, like, containment. I learned about wild, crazy topics and ways to express yourself that had never been written in quite that way before. I learned that a human being could be able to defy all stereotypes, and be the epitome of badassness.

For a long time I wasn’t listening to music, to the rock and roll stuff on the radio, because it would cause me to get sweaty–it would bring back memories I didn’t want to know about, or I would get that feeling that I’m not alive ’cause I’m not making it. And if it was good, I hated it ’cause I wasn’t doing it. And if it was bad, I was furious ’cause I could’ve done it better…

I can’t sing it straight. I have no choice but to swing it.

Life is a lot like jazz. It’s best when you improvise.

Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of someone else.

I’m glad I don’t have perfect pitch because it can drive you crazy.

When you begin to see the possibilities of music, you desire to do something really good for people.

Using drugs didn’t help me play, all it did was hang me up for 15 years.

I had a really good time in New Orleans, although I had some very tragic times in Baton Rouge. Some guys beat me up and threw my horn away. ‘Cause I had a beard, then, and long hair like the Beatles.

You’ve got to learn your instrument.

Don’t say Aretha is making a comeback, because I’ve never been away!

It’s true I’ve always been attracted to the jazz band in an orchestral way, rather than a band way.