I was a weird kid. I loved music, and I loved reading about God.
— Dion DiMucci
Be authentic, true to yourself, genuine. Question what you really love along the way. There are so many voices out there. And you can lose yourself.
I couldn't sing like Mick Jagger, not that I wanted to.
With Del Shannon - and I've got to tell you this - there's nobody probably on the face of the earth that I identified more with musically. We used to sit and sing George Jones and Hank Williams tunes.
You constantly have to take inventory, not get on someone else's agenda. You want to write something that's poignant and moves people.
While Paul Simon is revered, I don't think people get how deep he is. I love the guy. He comes from that early street-harmony, first-generation type of rock and rollers. He gets it.
I was playing with Chuck Berry, who sounded like an English teacher. Did you ever listen to his records? He pronounces every word.
It was a lot of fun in the back of that bus with Ritchie Valens, Buddy and The Big Bopper sharing each other's songs.
When I didn't do 'Runaround Sue' on the 'Ed Sullivan Show,' for example, I didn't listen to my inner voice. I should have.
I heard Robert Johnson way before I heard about Eric Clapton.
I know they call it the British Invasion, but musically, I call it the British Infusion.
I never got into this business to do interviews. It was always about the music.
