Billy Sheehan Quotations

Be honest with yourself and the way you act when you hear music. That way, when people watch, they'll see something from your heart and soul, and as a result will communicate your feeling and thought much better.

Music is always changing and the changes are unpredictable.

I didn't follow the standard rules of bass playing, and many musicians on many different instruments who became noteworthy for their unique or particular style did a very similar thing.

I gave up a lot of things in exchange for my success.

I plan on doing a lot more work on my own, and discovering and doing more.

It was also important for me to have a burning desire to achieve something worthwhile on that instrument, and I devoted many many many hours with little or no compensation to perfecting whatever I could, because I loved it so much.

I think the future looks great for music, musicians, bass players, and all we love about music.

What people think of me and my playing is up to them, not me.

I believe the best persona to be onstage is the one that comes naturally.

I listened to many different types of instruments and music, and have always tried to look at the bass as an instrument as opposed to only a bass.

And no again: My studio is not a first or any step toward becoming any type of businessman on my part.

I love a lot of reggae, but I've never had the opportunity to play with any reggae guys.

I try to do my absolute best for the people who come see me play.

Very often I suspend my musical sensibilities to enjoy music as a fan.

History has repeated itself many times througout the ages.

I'm a fan of many different styles of classical and symphonic music.

I've been an amature inventor for a long time.

If I had to do it over, I wouldn't change a thing.

It is never easy for anyone to have success in music.

My home studio is my private instrument for me only. It's not intended to record anyone but me.

We'll see some simplistic players for a while, who'll then get into more complicated things and evolve with their instruments. This is a cycle that happens over and over again in music.

I love a lot of reggae, but Ive never had the opportunity to play with any reggae guys.

It's not art, it's science.

I'm very honored and thankful if someone says something nice about my playing, but in general I'm very critical of what I do.

As far as current inspiration, I'm listenting to a lot of flamenco, because the techniques used for flamenco can be adapted to playing bass.

I will tell the exact and absolute truth regarding the situation. I received a phone call from the band basically firing me from the band.

Well, I love living in Los Angeles - the weather is great and I love my home here.

I've seen it happen when the first rock bands played in the 60s, and they played simple music, and got more complicated and complex as they moved on.

I'm a fan of a lot of classical music.