--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I tried to stick with what I knew best…" description: "\"I tried to stick with what I knew best, which is writing rock n' roll songs and melodies. I am as passionate as I was when I was 20.\" — Gary Cherone" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae4/gary-cherone-19615_melody_i-tried-to-stick-with-what-i-knew-best-w_1168106.png" --- # I tried to stick with what I knew best, which is writing… ![“I tried to stick with what I knew best, which is writing rock n' roll songs and melodies. I am as passionate as I was when I was 20.” quote by Gary Cherone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae4/gary-cherone-19615_melody_i-tried-to-stick-with-what-i-knew-best-w_1168106.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae4/gary-cherone-19615_melody_i-tried-to-stick-with-what-i-knew-best-w_1168106.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae4/gary-cherone-19615_melody_i-tried-to-stick-with-what-i-knew-best-w_1168106.png) > “I tried to stick with what I knew best, which is writing rock n' roll songs and melodies. I am as passionate as I was when I was 20.” [Gary Cherone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cherone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker emphasizes staying true to his core skill—writing rock music—while maintaining youthful passion. **In simple terms:** He keeps focusing on his strength and stays passionate. Key Takeaway Continue honing your craft with enthusiasm. Themes creativity passion authenticity Mood energetic determined Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - live performance - studio recording - teaching music Key Concepts musical identity career longevity Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance mastery with innovation? - What fuels your passion after years? A Different Perspective May limit exploration of new styles or growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Melody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melody/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Passionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passionate/) [Rock n roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock-n-roll/) [Rocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocks/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I've always believed that there's an amazing number of things you can do through a rock'n'roll song and that you can do serious writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-ve-always-believed-that-there-s-an-amazing-number-of-things-you-can/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Rock 'n' roll is an attitude, it's not a musical form of a strict sort. It's a way of doing things, of approaching things.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/rock-n-roll-is-an-attitude-it-s-not-a-musical-form-of-a-strict-sort/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [Good rock 'n' roll is something that makes you feel alive. It's something that's human, and I think that most music today isn't. ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/good-rock-n-roll-is-something-that-makes-you-feel-alive-it-s/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [I don't find writing for the theater that different from writing a rock song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bryan/i-don-t-find-writing-for-the-theater-that-different-from-writing-a/) [David Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bryan/) > [Writing is the rock on which everything is built.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/writing-is-the-rock-on-which-everything-is-built/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [I had the idea to spend the year off in 2008 and start writing a rock album. I wanted to do something else other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floor-jansen/i-had-the-idea-to-spend-the-year-off-in-2008-and-start-writing-a-rock/) [Floor Jansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floor-jansen/) > [“He knew that all was well, because he had done the best that he could, from day to day. He had been true to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/he-knew-that-all-was-well-because-he-had-done-the-best-that-he-could/) [Henry van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [“I have always been a creature of knowledge. When the other children drew flowers in the sand, I drew plans for war. When they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karpov-kinrade/i-have-always-been-a-creature-of-knowledge-when-the-other-children/) [Karpov Kinrade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karpov-kinrade/) > [I used to tell everyone to shut up and say I knew best - my coaches, my mum, my dad, my fiancee, my mates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-pimblett/i-used-to-tell-everyone-to-shut-up-and-say-i-knew-best-my-coaches-my/) [Paddy Pimblett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-pimblett/) > [“This is what I was made for. I felt it in my gut. In the last hour, I'd been shot by the Taliban, had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jennings-hegar/this-is-what-i-was-made-for-i-felt-it-in-my-gut-in-the-last-hour-i-d/) [mary jennings hegar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-jennings-hegar/) > [“I did then what I knew best, when I knew better, I did better. Maya Angelo”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-did-then-what-i-knew-best-when-i-knew-better-i-did-better-maya/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I let you go because I knew that it was the best thing for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-let-you-go-because-i-knew-that-it-was-the-best-thing-for-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Through life have got to realize that only few people can truly appreciate you while you are here,but in their inner most mind they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/through-life-have-got-to-realize-that-only-few-people-can-truly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He knew the best way to learn responsibility was to be given the opportunity to be responsible, and at as young an age as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesley-b-sullenberger/he-knew-the-best-way-to-learn-responsibility-was-to-be-given-the/) [Chesley B. Sullenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesley-b-sullenberger/) > [“Although he knew all the best — or, at least, the least boring — stories in the Bible, Mr. Merrill was most appealing because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/although-he-knew-all-the-best-or-at-least-the-least-boring-stories-in/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) ## More by Gary Cherone > [Whether I sound like Sammy or not is purely coincidence. You have got to hand it to him, he sings his ass off. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cherone/whether-i-sound-like-sammy-or-not-is-purely-coincidence-you-have-got/) [Gary Cherone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cherone/) > [You are in a state of mixing, and you just live with it. There is not one musician who is completely happy with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cherone/you-are-in-a-state-of-mixing-and-you-just-live-with-it-there-is-not/) [Gary Cherone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cherone/) > [Your woman pisses you off so that gets in there; that's rock n roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cherone/your-woman-pisses-you-off-so-that-gets-in-there-that-s-rock-n-roll/) [Gary Cherone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cherone/) > [I was growing up listening to Queen. Freddie Mercury threw those incredible melodies into his songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cherone/i-was-growing-up-listening-to-queen-freddie-mercury-threw-those/) [Gary Cherone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cherone/) > [When 5150 came out rock was king. Post Nirvana and Pearl Jam 1996 is a different story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cherone/when-5150-came-out-rock-was-king-post-nirvana-and-pearl-jam-1996-is-a/) [Gary Cherone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cherone/) > [Michael Anthony is the Diplomat of Rock N Roll. He is the regular guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cherone/michael-anthony-is-the-diplomat-of-rock-n-roll-he-is-the-regular-guy/) [Gary Cherone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cherone/) > [They hated Sammy Hagar for 12 years and they hate him to this day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cherone/they-hated-sammy-hagar-for-12-years-and-they-hate-him-to-this-day/) [Gary Cherone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cherone/) > [You have Extreme and Van Halen and the history that I have with other people I played with. There are some effects that will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cherone/you-have-extreme-and-van-halen-and-the-history-that-i-have-with-other/) [Gary Cherone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cherone/) > [I don't know if I have enough guts to do a whole standard jazz record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cherone/i-don-t-know-if-i-have-enough-guts-to-do-a-whole-standard-jazz-record/) [Gary Cherone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cherone/) > [My favorite Extreme records were the last two. I can't listen to the first one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cherone/my-favorite-extreme-records-were-the-last-two-i-can-t-listen-to-the/) [Gary Cherone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cherone/) > [I am a big Pink Floyd fan. That is where a lot of the concept lyrics come from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cherone/i-am-a-big-pink-floyd-fan-that-is-where-a-lot-of-the-concept-lyrics/) [Gary Cherone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cherone/) > [There is nothing like singing a song that 20,000 people know and are singing back to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cherone/there-is-nothing-like-singing-a-song-that-20-000-people-know-and-are/) [Gary Cherone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cherone/) > [I have a little history. I met Stone Temple Pilots, and their guitar player was a huge Extreme fan. Somewhere down the road, Extreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cherone/i-have-a-little-history-i-met-stone-temple-pilots-and-their-guitar/) [Gary Cherone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cherone/) > [If I had had a chance to tour with Van Halen before the record, I think it would have been a different record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cherone/if-i-had-had-a-chance-to-tour-with-van-halen-before-the-record-i/) [Gary Cherone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cherone/) > [I sing in a higher register, and you haven't heard that on the radio in years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cherone/i-sing-in-a-higher-register-and-you-haven-t-heard-that-on-the-radio/) [Gary Cherone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cherone/) [Explore all 32 Gary Cherone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cherone/) ## More Melody quotes > [Every time I finish a song... most of the time it's in my own head, like this sounds too much like a Townes Van…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/every-time-i-finish-a-song-most-of-the-time-it-s-in-my-own-head-like/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Some minds corrode and grow inactive under the loss of personal liberty; others grow morbid and irritable; but it is the nature of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/some-minds-corrode-and-grow-inactive-under-the-loss-of-personal/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [I am moved more by melodies, song structure, and evocative textures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geddy-lee/i-am-moved-more-by-melodies-song-structure-and-evocative-textures/) [Geddy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geddy-lee/) > [I think I need the demons in order to write, but the demons have gone. It bothers me a lot. I've tried and tried,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wilson/i-think-i-need-the-demons-in-order-to-write-but-the-demons-have-gone/) [Brian Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wilson/) > [When I first started making music, it was learning other people's songs and putting them onto four-track. Like Beatles songs and stuff. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/when-i-first-started-making-music-it-was-learning-other-people-s/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [There were people who incorporated melody before me, but I would deem myself the first person to successfully rap and sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/there-were-people-who-incorporated-melody-before-me-but-i-would-deem/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [In old age our bodies are worn-out instruments, on which the soul tries in vain to play the melodies of youth. But because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/in-old-age-our-bodies-are-worn-out-instruments-on-which-the-soul/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [“I love you beyond paint, beyond melodies, beyond words. And I hope you will always feel that, even when I'm not around to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiera-cass/i-love-you-beyond-paint-beyond-melodies-beyond-words-and-i-hope-you/) [Kiera Cass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiera-cass/) > [My plea therefore is this: Let us get our instruments tightly strung and our melodies sweetly sung. Let us not die with our music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/my-plea-therefore-is-this-let-us-get-our-instruments-tightly-strung/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [A well trained body is a beautiful instrument on which to play the melody of the present moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-yee/a-well-trained-body-is-a-beautiful-instrument-on-which-to-play-the/) [Rodney Yee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-yee/) > [If you're going to start with melody you'll need some tympani, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-krupa/if-you-re-going-to-start-with-melody-you-ll-need-some-tympani-i-think/) [Gene Krupa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-krupa/) > [“Some people look like they sound better than they actually sound, because they look confident and have good posture," once musician, a veteran of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/some-people-look-like-they-sound-better-than-they-actually-sound/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [A thrumming of piano-strings beyond the gardens and through the elms. At length the melody steals into my being. I know not when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-thrumming-of-piano-strings-beyond-the-gardens-and-through-the-elms/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 1,170 Melody quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melody/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I tried to stick with what I knew best, which is writing rock n' roll songs and melodies. 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