Richard Marx

In the past, there has always been so much pressure about carrying a show and promoting a record.

I can't wait to front my band with these new songs and play for fans, but I've decided to keep my day job too.

As a songwriter, there's nothing better than winning Song Of The Year. But I couldn't really celebrate, because it wasn't right. Luther wasn't standing next to me, to receive the award.

I think really what I'm saying is that I thrive on adversity.

When things are too easy I lose interest in them so I find ways to complicate them to get myself interested.

I have complete freedom, and there's no way to get pigeonholed or bored. What could be better than that?

I'm now so keenly aware that I have everything to prove and nothing to lose.

I fell off stage and bruised some ribs. The worst part was that the audience didn't realize I was gone.

But more importantly, I think he remembered how very close I was with my own dad, who had died in 1997.

I'm happy, I would say that I'm one of the happiest people I know but I've certainly had periods of profound sadness, depression and heartache and those are the kind of things that are interesting to me to write about.

I love when people get songs wrong. I love when people take something from a song that's totally not what I intended!

I didn't want my last chapter to be the guy who sits at the piano and sings love songs.