Paul Westerberg

“I like to be the underdog. It's the only way to win.”

“We were sick of being the lovable losers. We were a great band and it was time to make a great record.”

“Well, a person can stand only so much ruin.”

“The whole point of being in a band is to get a reaction, whether it's good or bad.”

“It's a beautiful mess, and that's what we were.”

“I'm not a very good guitar player. I'm not a very good singer. I'm a pretty good songwriter.”

“We weren't afraid to fail. That was our strength.”

“Being on a major label is like being in a huge family, and you're the kid who's always in trouble.”

“I write from a real personal standpoint. I write from my heart.”

“I'm trying to write the song that I've never heard before.”

“Rock and roll is about having a good time, so if you're not having a good time, you're not doing it right.”

“We were trying to be the greatest band in the world, and we failed miserably. That's part of our charm.”

“The only thing I was really good at was just being a punk.”

“I'm a writer first. I'm not a performer. I don't long for the stage.”

“I'd rather be a chooser than a beggar.”

“I was never good at the 'we' thing. It was always about me.”