I saw him do tv interview many years back and he talked about being a Christian and how he and his band miraculously survived a crash which left their bus obliterated. Bystanders thought they were dead, but they all got up and were fine. Also mentioned how he was one of a few whose manager was not a crook but made wise investments.

Also said he went for the Gothic weirdness because musically the band was inferior and needed a gimmick.