Smart money move: "Making my mom my business manager. I remember getting my first royalty check from the Monkees records. Our deal wasn't very good, but when you sell 60 million records, you're gonna get a pretty hefty payday.

"I called my mom and said, 'I've got this check that looks like a phone number. What should I do with it?' "

My work ethic: "I actually retired once. I bought a huge mansion outside London with a full-time staff of six. But I wasn't built for the life of a country gentleman. I just get bored if I'm not doing things.

"When I'm not touring, I work in my shop. I can do framing, I do all my own electrical and plumbing. I just got a patent for a new household tool I invented that helps to hang a picture."