Quotes from Alex Turner

Songwriters always reminded me of that kid at school who would go around with his guitar, like, 'Yeah, songwritin' man,' looking wistful. That wasn't me - those kinds of people put me off. In the early days, I'd write a bunch of lyrics and almost look at them as a sort of joke, to make the rest of the boys laugh.

If anyone asks me about songwriting, I guess I'd say that you just gotta do it.

I just don't think I'm equipped to soundtrack the times. There might be someone out there who can do that, but I haven't cracked it.

Songwriters always reminded me of that kid at school who would go around with his guitar, like, "Yeah, songwritin' man," looking wistful. That wasn't me - those kinds of people put me off.

I think I'm alright as a lyricist, you know? But then what will happen every couple of months or so is that I'll hear a song I've never heard before and feel I've gone right back to square one.

I'm in a difficult position in the sense that, preposterous as this might sound, I don't like being the centre of attention. I get up on stage every night and play songs, but I almost feel the songs are the centre of attention. I don't like opening my birthday presents in front of people, either.

Someone asked me what the key to being a good frontman was, and I think having a sense of humor about it is pretty near the top of that list. It's a very strange place to be in, and I don't take that role too seriously.

I get nervous about gigs sometimes, but not with records - I always get excited.

I am a romantic fool, no doubt about that.

I still very much appreciate the storytelling of the best rappers.

I can't draw. I'm good on the yo-yo, but I don't draw.