January 12: Notable Births and Deaths with Quotes

Today, let’s explore notable birth and death anniversaries for January 12.

Rob Zombie, musician and filmmaker (1/12/1965–present)

“I always find it hard to talk about music.” —Rob Zombie
Fitzmaurice, Larry. “We’ve Got A File On You: Rob Zombie.” Stereogum, March 10, 2021, https://www.stereogum.com/2117146/rob-zombie/interviews/weve-got-a-file-on-you/

“I like making new songs and I like playing them live — not tons of them, because you have to slowly incorporate new material since you have an obligation to play the songs that people love, because that’s what they come for.” —Rob Zombie
Fitzmaurice, Larry. “We’ve Got A File On You: Rob Zombie.” Stereogum, March 10, 2021, https://www.stereogum.com/2117146/rob-zombie/interviews/weve-got-a-file-on-you/

“Obviously, Charles Manson has died now, but I always thought that if he were to be released from prison, everyone would be fighting for him to be their first guest on their talk show.” —Rob Zombie
Gorman, Howard. “Rob Zombie on why he’s revisiting his Firefly Clan: ‘They’re vile people, but I want audiences to sympathise with them.’” NME, September 12, 2019, https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/rob-zombie-interview-3-from-hell-2546940

Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and entrepreneur (1/12/1964–present)

“I was one of those people who every time I looked at something it looks like it could be improved — there’s something wrong with it. So I’d go through, like, how could this restaurant be better?” —Jeff Bezos
Dopfner, Mathias. “Jeff Bezos reveals what it’s like to build an empire — and why he’s willing to spend $1 billion a year to fund the most important mission of his life.” Insider, April 28, 2018, https://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-interview-axel-springer-ceo-amazon-trump-blue-origin-family-regulation-washington-post-2018-4

“I have been passionate about certain things forever, and I fell in love with computers in fourth grade. I got very lucky: My elementary school had a teletype that was connected to a mainframe computer that some business in downtown Houston donated a little bit of computer time to.” —Jeff Bezos
Dopfner, Mathias. “Jeff Bezos reveals what it’s like to build an empire — and why he’s willing to spend $1 billion a year to fund the most important mission of his life.” Insider, April 28, 2018, https://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-interview-axel-springer-ceo-amazon-trump-blue-origin-family-regulation-washington-post-2018-4

“Everybody who’s been to space says it changes them in some way. And I’m just really excited to figure out how it’s going to change me.” —Jeff Bezos
Thorbecke, Catherine. “Jeff Bezos says he’s curious how space is ‘going to change me’ ahead of historic flight.” ABC News, July 19, 2021, https://abcnews.go.com/US/jeff-bezos-curious-space-change-ahead-historic-flight/story?id=78922067

Howard Stern, radio personality (1/12/1954–present)

“In therapy I began to explore other ways of communicating, and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been on the radio. And it’s not to suggest that the radio show isn’t completely insane still — which it is. There’s a lot of outrageous humor in things, but what I also began to guard and protect are certain things in my personal life, that some things became precious and off-limits. There became a better balance.” —Howard Stern
Gross, Terry. “Howard Stern Tells Terry Gross His ‘Pure Id’ Days Are Behind Him.” NPR, May 14, 2019, https://www.npr.org/2019/05/14/722832463/howard-stern-tells-terry-gross-his-pure-id-days-are-behind-him

“I paint now, and I want endless hours to paint. I wish I could go back in time and start as a young child and learn to paint. I have so many things that I’m interested in learning about, and I wish I had more time.” —Howard Stern
Gross, Terry. “Howard Stern Tells Terry Gross His ‘Pure Id’ Days Are Behind Him.” NPR, May 14, 2019, https://www.npr.org/2019/05/14/722832463/howard-stern-tells-terry-gross-his-pure-id-days-are-behind-him

“My mother was depressed. She was very sad. She had lost her mother when she was nine. She had really grown up in difficult circumstances. And I felt as a kid growing up there was no greater joy in my life than to sit with my mother — and it gives me chills to think about it — and entertain her.” —Howard Stern
Colbert, Stephen. “Howard Stern’s Extended ‘Late Show’ Interview.” YouTube, May 22, 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7fqlJ_dTFI

Maurice Gibb, musician (12/22/1949–1/12/2003)

“I sing high harmonies in a normal voice, and sometimes I’ll do an octave lower.” —Maurice Gibb
“Maurice Gibb – Interview – Legend.” March 27, 2011, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1qwNbfWcdQ

“Every time you release a new record, if it’s successful, you attract a new audience. Then the old catalog gets revived and people get reminded of what we’ve done before.” —Maurice Gibb
“Maurice Gibb – Interview – Legend.” March 27, 2011, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1qwNbfWcdQ

“I crossed into alcoholism when I was about 25 because I was drinking every day.” —Maurice Gibb
Redgrave, Lynn. “Fighting Back – Maurice Gibb of BEE GEES, talking to Lynn Redgrave about alcoholism and his recovery.” September 25, 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVP1cxZtrAI

Agatha Christie, author (9/15/1890–1/12/1976)

“What can I say at seventy-five? Thank God for my good life, and for all the love that has been given to me.” —Agatha Christie
Christie, Agatha. “Agatha Christie, An Autobiography.” William Morrow Paperbacks; Reprint edition, September 11, 2012

“Life seems to me to consist of three parts: the absorbing and usually enjoyable present which rushes on from minute to minute with fatal speed; the future, dim and uncertain, for which one can make any number of interesting plans, the wilder and more improbable the better, since — as nothing will turn out as you expect it to do — you might as well have the fun of planning anyway; and thirdly, the past, the memories and realities that are the bedrock of one’s present life, brought back suddenly by a scent, the shape of a hill, an old song — some triviality that makes one suddenly say ‘I remember…’ with a peculiar and quite unexplainable pleasure.” —Agatha Christie
Christie, Agatha. “Agatha Christie, An Autobiography.” William Morrow Paperbacks; Reprint edition, September 11, 2012

“I like living. I have sometimes been wildly despairing, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.” —Agatha Christie
Christie, Agatha. “Agatha Christie, An Autobiography.” William Morrow Paperbacks; Reprint edition, September 11, 2012