Patterson Hood Quotes & Sayings

I've always thought preaching to the converted is just kind of futile and silly. — Patterson Hood

When Adam's House Cat broke up in 1991, which was Cooley and my band for six years, I put my entire life, heart, and soul into that thing. I mean everything. I ended up getting divorced over it, and then the band broke up and I was left with nothing. I had nothing to show for six years of my life except for a finished record that still hasn't come out. And I went through a pretty deep, dark, two-year depression after that, [which] probably resulted in some of the earlier songs that became Drive-By Trucker songs, for that matter. — Patterson Hood

The road does not always bring out the best in people. — Patterson Hood

I dislike Bush as much as probably anybody on earth could, but having said that ... It's not like I'm going to change anybody's mind. — Patterson Hood

I never want to be that guy spouting off my political views. I mean, they're pretty well known, and it certainly comes out. — Patterson Hood

At any given time, there might be someone who's eight years old or 80 years old in the audience. Some nights there are a lot of girls in the audience, some nights not. It's so unpredictable, but I like that. — Patterson Hood

It's hard being part of a married couple in a band. — Patterson Hood

The biggest thing this has in common with almost all of our records is the dualities are still there. We kind of stripped down the other things we were writing about, and that's what was left. A lot of good things have happened to us in the last couple of years both as a band and in our personal lives. But something as wonderful as having children also brings along these new fears and terrors and responsibilities. — Patterson Hood

If something's bugging my ass on any particular day, I'm probably going to say something about it, but I'm not going to go on a tirade. — Patterson Hood

Paste may be the last great American music magazine left. — Patterson Hood

You can be for something and still be damaged by it. — Patterson Hood

Songwriting can be cathartic, but then you just keep it private. If you're going to play out and have other people listen to you, then you need to make sure there's some point to what you're saying. — Patterson Hood

I'm lucky enough that people tend to agree a lot with what I say. But really if anyone in the band has a really strong feeling, it carries a lot of weight. — Patterson Hood

Racism is a worldwide problem ... — Patterson Hood

I've always thought that a lot of really good writers go wrong by getting so into the craft and the technique and perfection. Perfection can be the enemy sometimes. Some songs don't need to be told perfectly. Life is messy and has loose ends, and sometimes I think the songs should reflect that. — Patterson Hood

I'm more interested in writing about the personal stories of people. Sometimes I don't agree with them. — Patterson Hood