Explore Quotes by John Mclaughlin

To pay attention to flattery or criticism is a waste of time for artists.

I'm not a classical player. I don't want to be a classical player. I love to improvise, because things happen that never happen anywhere else.

In my world, if you want to make a record to make money, you're already off to a bad start.

Frankly speaking, if I care what people write, whether it is positive or negative, I believe, personally, I'm on the wrong path.

The Mahavishnu Orchestra - when it came out, it was an explosion, completely unexpected as far as I was concerned. I was just forming a band.

As far as favorite tunes, 'You Know You Know' is one, and why it is important is difficult to say. The rhythmic cycle is very interesting and challenging to play, since it can be considered three bars of 4/4 or four bars of 3/4. 'The Dance of Maya' is another, and I have to mention 'Sanctuary.'

I already experimented with free jazz in the 1960s and, in my opinion, to play free jazz, you have to be a perfect musician and a perfect human being - and none of us are!

I don't have any particular goals in making a recording. In a way the recording is itself the goal. The music comes into my mind, and from there the main job is to give form to it.

At the risk of sounding hopelessly romantic, love is the key element. I really love to play with different musicians who come from different cultural backgrounds.

One of the advantages of playing in a club is that even with bass and drums, the atmosphere remains intimate with the audience.

I was 11 years old, and I had been playing classical piano for three years, and suddenly the guitar came and landed in my arms. I fell in love with that instrument, and I still love it today. I love it so much.

There are two kinds of success. One is musical or artistic and the other is commercial.

I have a profound affection for Buddhism, and Zen Buddhism's particular ways of meditating.

If I had to live on record sales, I'd be pushing up the daisies.

Music is closer to poetry than anything.

Every day, I discover something utterly unbelievable when I play.

Miles Davis himself, I discovered him when I was 15, and he rocked my world.

The first LP, 'Inner Mounting Flame,' is, of course, one of my favorites, and also 'Visions of the Emerald Beyond.' But the others are also very dear to me.

I discovered flamenco when I was 14, before I even got involved with jazz music. I was so crazy about flamenco music. I wanted to be a flamenco guitar player.

I'm not the sort of chap who can sit down and write music. When it comes, I'm happy.

In my opinion, there is one singular problem with religions in general: they are exclusive. To me, this exclusivity is not right.