Bowie [David Bowie], as we look back now, was an almost unbelievably imaginative and remarkable artist.

In 1985 I had the unspeakable honour of being one of the broadcast team of Live Aid (1985), which was such a remarkable experience, and when it was over I got home and I thought, well that's the highlight of my career and everyone else's, because it was the greatest jump there had been. There had not previously been an international live concert. There had been national live concerts. To have a comparable jump we would have to make a live broadcast from another heavenly body, which I don't think is going to happen in my lifetime. So therefore it's safe to say Live Aid (1985) was in that sense the highlight of my life, but also to have been close to Geldof when he was germinating the idea of this and then to have been backstage interviewing the artists.

[on Freddie Mercury and Kenny Everett] Two of the greatest men of my life.

Freddie [Freddie Mercury] took to the gay scene in New York like David Attenborough making a wildlife programme. He'd report on what he'd seen. There was this one particular place called the Anvil which seemed to have invented new uses for parts of the human anatomy. He was never shocked. He was eager to be involved in everything. It was like he was a social field worker.

[on Michael Jackson] He was the greatest live entertainer of his time.

[on the resignation of Lesley Douglas as Controller of BBC Radio 2 in 2008] I realise that the BBC is an executive hierarchy where all credit and the blame goes to the producers rather than the performers but nonetheless, to make Lesley go and have Jonathan (Jonathan Ross) stay for something Jonathan said shows a very interesting set of priorities.

I find his continual presence on Radio 1 unacceptable. Chris Moyles should be gone. His recent comments about Auschwitz involved real people and their ancestors. That is no joking matter for them. To encourage this or sit by whilst it happens is unprofessional. He has done it so many times. He has no sense of responsibility. I am nauseated by the Radio 1 press office constantly rationalising his behaviour. If we do not get our own house in order, then sooner or later somebody else will, and they might break the furniture in the process.

[in 2005] Pink Floyd have had at least one album in the American chart without interruption for 32 years. They continue to inspire new generations of bands.

Freddie Mercury was a master showman, an outstanding composer and a first class lyricist, capable of writing works of genius. He lived life as he faced death, with courage and humor. He is one of the giants of the music world, not in the sense of being a commentator or protest singer, that is not what Freddie wanted at all. What he wanted was to entertain. His songs, his performances and his personal impact have proved to be lasting.

The Beatles are the most important act in the history of recorded music. The Beatles were a truly experimental group but because they were so popular people didn't even realize they were experimenting. No album has ever had the effect that Sergeant Pepper had. The phrase 'concept album' becomes popular after Sergeant Pepper. And that was the ultimate achievement in rock music to that point. The record industry expanded to accommodate the popularity of The Beatles. The album became the predominant form of expression for rock artists and has remained so to this day. That's how revolutionary The Beatles were.

Elvis Presley was the spearhead of youth culture. This was the first time that young people liked something their parents didn't. He opened the door and was as responsible as any single individual for the long overdue racial integration in the United States.

I have been waiting for a UK music hall of fame ever since The Beatles broke up and gave way to a new generation of stars.

[in 2002] With the concentration of non-album artists - dance and matinée-idol television personalities - singles by album artists are no longer doing as well as they used to.

Outside the US, it's Britain that's dominated pop music for the last 40 years. It's something this country doesn't properly celebrate.