Swans are majestic, beautiful looking creatures. With really ugly temperaments. — Michael Gira Beautiful Copy Share Image
I got involved, for the most part, in the actual song construction, lyrics even. I didn't want to write the lyrics, but… — Michael Gira Construction Copy Share Image
Making those CDs, signing them, numbering them, packing them. It takes hundreds of hours, but it's worth it because I'm able to… — Michael Gira Able Copy Share Image
I used to routinely break my ribs doing stupid things onstage, but I have a healthy fear of breaking my bones now. — Michael Gira Bones Copy Share Image
I like loud electric guitars because I like how you can just lose your entire being in the sound. — Michael Gira Electric Copy Share Image
Playing an old record doesn't interest me at all. It's exactly the opposite of what I want to do. — Michael Gira Interest Copy Share Image
You find ways to push yourself into the sound through repetition. It doesn't stay the same. It morphs constantly. — Michael Gira Push yourself Copy Share Image
You make your work and you can't ask for approval when you're doing it. Otherwise, it's going to be untruthful in some… — Michael Gira Approval Copy Share Image
Nina Simone was an entertainer. Bob Dylan was an entertainer. Anyone that can occupy a piece of music and make the air… — Michael Gira Air Copy Share Image
Maybe in the future I'll put out someone's one-off project, but generally I don't have time. — Michael Gira Projects Copy Share Image
When I first started doing the quieter, more acoustic material in Swans, there was a lot of derision and outright hatred from… — Michael Gira Acoustics Copy Share Image
I am definitely less and less interested in music made by people that exist today, people that are living. I just see… — Michael Gira Business Copy Share Image
I really wanted to get to the animal core of rock music and eliminate anything that wasn't necessary. — Michael Gira Animal Copy Share Image
It wouldn't interest me to try to sound like Cop or something. It would be silly and soul-crushing. — Michael Gira Being silly Copy Share Image
“It was a kind of sado-masochism. I would take the things that were painful to me and elevate them and, through the… — Michael Gira Mantra Copy Share Image
I'm always trying to push myself into unfamiliar places with the music, sometimes without success, I have to admit. But I'd rather… — Michael Gira Always trying Copy Share Image
“When my sister was released from the mental hospital, she came to live with me in the tilting and crumbling one-bedroom house… — Michael Gira Empathy Copy Share Image
The goal is ecstasy, but I don't want to make some sort of saccharine pop music. I want to make something that's… — Michael Gira Ecstasy Copy Share Image
