I was born in Alabama and my first live music experiences were in church. Every Sunday we watched regional gospel groups on television singing their hearts out.

Quote by Tommy Shaw

Topics: Tommy Shaw Quotes

Once you start thinking about it in a mercenary frame of mind, then you're finished....

Once you start thinking about it in a mercenary frame of mind, then you're finished....

We're kind of defined by our mistakes.

We're kind of defined by our mistakes.

I'm not the kind of guy who deserves to play a vintage guitar because I'm...

I'm not the kind of guy who deserves to play a vintage guitar because I'm...

I have always been a sucker for the big, upbeat chorus.

I have always been a sucker for the big, upbeat chorus.

I don't write on tour. There is so much to do day in and day...

I don't write on tour. There is so much to do day in and day...

I feel like I have the greatest life an artist could dream of.

I feel like I have the greatest life an artist could dream of.

Around '75 when the recession hit, club owners started going to disco because it was...

Around '75 when the recession hit, club owners started going to disco because it was...

As a solo artist, I just felt cemented in front of the mike stand. There...

As a solo artist, I just felt cemented in front of the mike stand. There...

You can have fun, but you also have to put on your thinking cap every...

You can have fun, but you also have to put on your thinking cap every...

If I have an idea, I write it down, although I usually carry a little...

If I have an idea, I write it down, although I usually carry a little...

Make sure you know what you are signing when you sign a recording contract.

Make sure you know what you are signing when you sign a recording contract.

We were playing popular music, but we were doing our own arrangements because we were...

We were playing popular music, but we were doing our own arrangements because we were...

It is all about being open and paying attention to the music in your head....

It is all about being open and paying attention to the music in your head....

I like being on the road, living in hotels. While I've got a real nice...

I like being on the road, living in hotels. While I've got a real nice...

I love the idea of stepping out of the band situation into a solo world...

I love the idea of stepping out of the band situation into a solo world...

Songwriting is the other weight on the opposite side of the scale from touring. They...

Songwriting is the other weight on the opposite side of the scale from touring. They...

When I became 16 I started thinking seriously about singing.

When I became 16 I started thinking seriously about singing.

I don't like looking back.

I don't like looking back.

There were some older guitarists on my side of town, and I got to know...

There were some older guitarists on my side of town, and I got to know...

When a song gets its legs and begins to come to me, this is the...

When a song gets its legs and begins to come to me, this is the...