Being in a rock band is like running away with the circus except you always think you’re gonna be the ringmaster. You don’t expect that on more than a few occasions you may look ... the clown, the freak.” — Bono, after U2 won best rock album

“I never like to be lied to by a girlfriend or agent and certainly not the president of the United States.” — Burt Bacharach on why he decided to make a political statement with his last album, At This Time

“Imagine being my publicist, how hard that’s gotta be.” — Kanye West, accepting the award for best rap album

“Can you really argue with an unbelievable looking mohawk and a silver jacket?” — Adam Levine of Maroon 5 backstage about the appearance of funk star Sly Stone

“This is our concept, our dream, our sacrifice, our religion.” — Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan of the metal band Slipknot explaining the band’s penchant for wearing masks

“I didn’t expect to be up here. I showed up because I got nominated. All the other nominees are sitting at home in my record collection.” — John Prine, who won for best contemporary folk album for Fair & Square.