[After seeing his song "In Dreams" being used in Blue Velvet (1986)] I was mortified because they were talking about the "candy colored clown" in relation to a dope deal... I thought, "What in the world...?". But later, when I was touring, we got the video out and I really got to appreciate what David gave to the song, and what the song gave to the movie - how it achieved this otherworldly quality that added a whole new dimension to "In Dreams".

Once I started singing, it was sort of a wonder. It was a great feeling, and it didn't hurt anybody, and it made me feel good, and some people even said, "Roy, that's nice.".

I was frustrated as a singer for a long time, particularly when some friendly rivalry broke out between me and a young guy in Texas named Buddy Holly, who, within a couple of months, had a couple of Number One singles and soon had stardom that reached to the Moon. I tried not to take it too hard, but when "Only the Lonely" happened in 1960, I reckoned it was about time too. I was an avid follower of the charts. I lived by them until "Only the Lonely" - and then I didn't look at them anymore.

I may be a living legend, but that sure don't help when I've got to change a flat tyre.

There was a lot of loneliness in West Texas where I grew up. We used to say it was the center of everything, five hundred miles away from anything.

I thought maybe in 1964 I could have been swamped by The Beatles. But it turned out the other way round and I was voted Number One vocalist in 1965.

Whether I'm in London, Sydney or Hong Kong, it makes no difference. There is always someone who knows me. I must be one of the most unloneliest people in the world!

People often ask me how would I like to be remembered and I answer that I would simply like to be remembered.