How healthy are you?

I'm just trudging along, you know. I wash every day, I've got my own teeth, and I don't dye my hair. All I do is avoid eating or using any products that involve animals, because I believe if you kill them, they will kill you. I must be doing something right as I've only cancelled two shows in 30 years: once when the doctor said I would have a miscarriage, and once when he told me my eardrums would explode if I did the gig.

What exercise do you take?

I can't get with the gym; I don't like the music and I'm not big on group events. For the past 16 years I've done yoga in the privacy of my room. It's a modified ashtanga yoga.

Do you worry about your weight?

If I stay at around 55kg, I'm OK. Any more than that and it puts me into a lather. I don't go in for fad diets, I just try to knock off chocolates and sweets and stuff, but it's not like I've had an ongoing battle with my weight.

How do you relax?

I spend a lot of time alone, and can be very meditative. In fact, if you were a fly on the wall, you might think I had slipped into a coma. One of my great pleasures in life is reading in public spaces, which, unfortunately, is becoming more and more difficult to do. I mean, who really wants to listen to Tina Turner at 8am when you are trying to relax with a book? I avoid loud music at all costs and try to take earplugs wherever I go. They're easy to forget, but you can always chew up a piece of paper or use a cigarette filter instead.

Is sex important to you?

I guess it is, but that doesn't mean I have to have it. Sex can be just about the way you walk down the street. As far as the hardcore act of sex goes, I'd like to think that I wouldn't go out of my way for it, but I certainly have gone way too out of my way for it.

How much sleep do you need?

Seven or eight hours, but I can't sleep without waking up for a bit. I've only suffered from insomnia on tour. Two things can make you lose your voice completely: one is air conditioning, the other is not sleeping.

How much do you drink/take drugs/smoke?

I still have a few roll-ups, though I wouldn't recommend smoking to anyone, and last night I had one glass of champagne at a party. I don't have a moderate personality, and I've certainly had my episodes - anyone in a rock band has. When it comes to drugs, some are obviously worse than others. I took most of them, depending on the year. They did a lot of harm to people close to me, and I regret many things, but I'm no longer driven to get wrecked every night.

Are you happy?

Yes, sometimes. Happiness is a discipline. Bad moods are contagious - it is everyone's duty not to bomb other people out.