As a bandleader, I try to pass on the same family values that I grew up with: help people, hang on to your sense of humour, be tolerant and keep your judgments to yourself. Jools Holland More Quotes by Jools Holland More Quotes From Jools Holland I have realised how exciting and easy it is to be a time traveller by looking at paintings and films and architecture and playing music or listening to it. I don't think you necessarily have to live in the present all the time. Jools Holland playing-music listening thinking I love Yamaha Clavinovas. I have them at home, in the studio and on tour with me. I find them ideal for all sorts of things: silent practice with headphones at home; writing; arranging and... just playing the blues! Jools Holland practice home writing Without the piano my life would be a disaster - nobody would hold me in any regard. It's the thing that saved me. Jools Holland disaster piano would-be I learned from Van Morrison and BB King that the first take is the best. It's about capturing a moment. It's the same as love's first kiss. If you try to do it again, it doesn't work so well. Jools Holland kissing kings trying My love is new music, I tend to go and see a lot of bands, while [co-producer] Mark Cooper spends his time reading the press. It's often the new acts that strike a chord, because they aren't seen on other shows. Jools Holland band reading love-is Due to my work, I tend to stay in hotels a lot of the time, and I generally prefer smaller hotels, as you tend to get better service than in the larger hotels. Jools Holland hotel dues get-better It would be great to have Bach in one corner, Bessie Smith in another, John Lennon in another. That's what I'd ideally like. A studio of the dead. Jools Holland lennon studios would-be 'The Tube' was the first time the plebs had gone on the television. The lunatics taking over the asylum. Jools Holland asylums gone television I've met the Queen a couple of times, and she's been delightful. In fact, I often find myself thinking: 'What would the Queen do in this situation? Write a thank-you note? Yes, I'll do that.' She's all about courtesy. Jools Holland queens couple writing I do so much travelling in my work that my suitcase is always packed, with my passport ready. I rarely unpack, as I am constantly on the move. Jools Holland passports suitcases moving Amy Winehouse and Paul Weller are examples of poets, I think. Jools Holland amy example thinking A good example of the modern world is the Eurotunnel. And mobile phones - I like them. Jools Holland phones example world Naggers always know what they are doing. They weigh up the risks, then they go on and on and on until they get what they want or until they get punched. Jools Holland risk goes-on want It's very nice to be asked to anybody's wedding. Particularly if it's the Prince of Wales. I learned a lot from it, which was to end early and get away. I suppose one would have to look back historically and see who other royals had at their weddings. Were there people at Queen Elizabeth's wedding who were common like myself? Jools Holland queen myself look people I have friends who are in the posh category and some who are in the not-at-all-posh category, and some who you would find it very hard to get any sort of handle on. But I am lucky to have any friends, of course. Jools Holland i-am you friends lucky There is always someone in the world who is better or worse off than yourself, and I've never seen that - in either direction - as a barrier to becoming friends with somebody. Jools Holland yourself better friends world I only know about a few things, but I am quite good at bluffing. There are a whole range of subjects, including the Renaissance, which I am prepared to sound expert on. Jools Holland i-am good know sound When I first set up my big band, I only had Gilson Lavis, the drummer from Squeeze, with me. He was the core element. Whenever a group hits the big time, they always get a new drummer because they really need that. You can make do with rubbish elsewhere. Jools Holland new me you time The one thing I've learnt is that you don't want to be nasty about anybody, unless they've dropped dead. And the annoying thing is that most of the people that I know who've dropped dead are really great. Jools Holland dead great you people When I was very small, the electricity was turned off because we didn't pay the bill. I remember sitting by the oil lamp listening to my mother playing 'Careless Love' on the piano. Jools Holland sitting mother remember love
