--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We started the band when I was about 19…" description: "\"We started the band when I was about 19 or 20. At that age, it would have been kind of hard to imagine a lot of the stuff that I've written. We were pl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df8/john-rzeznik-3305_age_we-started-the-band-when-i-was-about-19_2521870.jpg" --- # We started the band when I was about 19 or 20. At that… ![“We started the band when I was about 19 or 20. At that age, it would have been kind of hard to imagine a lot of the stuff that I've written. We were playing garage rock. I wanted to dash out three chords and scream. But if you do that for 20 years, what's the point?” quote by John Rzeznik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df8/john-rzeznik-3305_age_we-started-the-band-when-i-was-about-19_2521870.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df8/john-rzeznik-3305_age_we-started-the-band-when-i-was-about-19_2521870.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df8/john-rzeznik-3305_age_we-started-the-band-when-i-was-about-19_2521870.jpg) > “We started the band when I was about 19 or 20. At that age, it would have been kind of hard to imagine a lot of the stuff that I've written. We were playing garage rock. I wanted to dash out three chords and scream. But if you do that for 20 years, what's the point?” [John Rzeznik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rzeznik/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early career reflections on youthful ambition versus long‑term artistic purpose. **In simple terms:** Young musicians often start with raw energy, later questioning its lasting value. Key Takeaway Reevaluate goals as you mature. Themes music growth reflection career identity Mood nostalgic contemplative Type personal musical When to use this quote - band formation - songwriting - career planning Key Concepts artistic evolution purpose legacy Questions to Reflect On - How has your artistic purpose changed over time? - What sustains you after early excitement fades? A Different Perspective Creative passion can wane without deeper meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) ## Related quotes > [Formerly known as The Muslims, The Soft Pack brings a lot of swagger to its garage-rock sound. 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We got tired of waiting, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-shinoda/when-we-started-the-band-it-was-because-we-were-waiting-for-a-sound/) [Mike Shinoda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-shinoda/) > ['Daydream' brought us to the top of the heap of the indie-college market and recognition by all of our peers; 'Daydream' kind of capped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-ranaldo/daydream-brought-us-to-the-top-of-the-heap-of-the-indie-college/) [Lee Ranaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-ranaldo/) > [When I first started out in the band, I had so many walls up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrianne-lenker/when-i-first-started-out-in-the-band-i-had-so-many-walls-up/) [Adrianne Lenker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrianne-lenker/) > [If I were to give advice to someone that just started a band and how to get someone's attention, you've gotta have a central…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-joseph/if-i-were-to-give-advice-to-someone-that-just-started-a-band-and-how/) [Tyler Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-joseph/) > [When we started the band, I was really like, "We just want to make a lot of records" - not quite unlike Guided By…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-finn/when-we-started-the-band-i-was-really-like-we-just-want-to-make-a-lot/) [Craig Finn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-finn/) > [Patrick and Joe were so young when we started the band. 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These sticks break easily, but they feel good. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-brody/i-started-a-band-big-japan-for-fun-these-sticks-break-easily-but-they/) [Adam Brody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-brody/) > [Shannon and all of us started the band so it just felt really natural, and then she quit, and then she came back, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-wayman/shannon-and-all-of-us-started-the-band-so-it-just-felt-really-natural/) [Theresa Wayman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-wayman/) ## More by John Rzeznik > [I think about my daughter when I'm doing stuff, and I want to see it through her eyes, and I want her to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rzeznik/i-think-about-my-daughter-when-i-m-doing-stuff-and-i-want-to-see-it/) [John Rzeznik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rzeznik/) > [There are a lot of reasons to be hated in pop culture, and being a straight white male is one of them. 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That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We started the band when I was about 19 or 20. At that age, it would have been kind of hard to imagine a lot of the stuff that I've written. We were playing garage rock. I wanted to dash out three chords and scream. 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