I think I'm most proud of the fact that I was able to overcome the insecurities that were going to keep me from living my dream, which was just learning to turn off those little voices in your head that tell you you're not capable of doing something.

I really enjoy the moments with Alter Bridge where I can step out and play lead and have fun.

It's not like I'm writing full songs or full parts and setting it aside for Slash because, generally, I like him to make the first move and hear where he's coming from and what his concepts are, and then I build from there.

Grunge was, to me, the last big movement. It had such an impact on pop culture. We haven't really seen anything like that since, and we may never again. Things have changed; the digital age has changed things.