Fred Armisen Quotes

Powerful Fred Armisen for Daily Growth

About Fred Armisen

Fred Armisen, born on December 4, 1966, in Happauge, New York, is an American actor, comedian, musician, and writer best known for his work on the popular sketch comedy shows 'Saturday Night Live' (SNL) and 'Portlandia.' Raised by a Japanese mother and an American father of German descent, Armisen developed an early interest in music and began playing drums at age 12. This passion led him to form several bands throughout his teenage years, including Trenchmouth, which gained modest success in the Chicago indie rock scene. In 1997, Armisen's comedy career took off when he joined 'SNL,' where he remained for nine seasons. During this time, he created and portrayed numerous memorable characters, such as President Barack Obama, Prince, and various European leaders. Armisen left SNL in 2013 to focus on his project with Carrie Brownstein, the critically acclaimed IFC series 'Portlandia.' The show, which parodied life in Portland, Oregon, ran for eight seasons and cemented Armisen's status as a versatile performer. Throughout his career, Armisen has demonstrated a unique ability to blend music and comedy, appearing on stages with artists such as Björk, Neil Young, and Miley Cyrus, while also releasing several albums under various musical personas. Armisen's work reflects his diverse influences, from music legends like David Bowie and Prince to comedians such as Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. His contributions to comedy and music have left a lasting impact on American pop culture.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I'm a chameleon. I can fit in any situation."

This quote implies that Fred Armisen is adaptable and capable of blending seamlessly into various situations or environments, much like a chameleon changes its color to match its surroundings. It suggests that he possesses a unique ability to adjust his behavior, demeanor, or approach to suit different contexts, making him versatile and comfortable in diverse settings.


"I think people should get married earlier because then they would have more time to get divorced before they retire."

This quote by Fred Armisen suggests a humorous perspective on the length of marriages in contemporary society, particularly the tendency for some individuals to delay getting married while simultaneously postponing retirement. Essentially, he is implying that if people were to marry earlier in life, they might have ample time to go through a divorce before reaching retirement age, allowing them to avoid potential complications during their golden years. It's important to note that this quote is meant as a joke and not intended to be taken too seriously, as the goal of marriage is not to end it prematurely but rather to build a strong and fulfilling partnership.


"You don't want to be a part of the procession, you want to be the corpse."

This quote suggests a desire for individuality and originality over conformity or compliance with societal norms. Just as being a corpse in a procession is passive and traditional, Fred Armisen implies that one should strive to stand out rather than follow the crowd, to make a unique impact instead of merely blending in.


"I never learned how to play drums so I could read music. I just kind of made it up as I went along."

Fred Armisen's quote highlights his unconventional approach to playing drums, emphasizing self-discovery, improvisation, and a reliance on instinct rather than formal training or adherence to traditional music notation. This suggests a creative and innovative spirit that values originality over rigid structure in the pursuit of artistic expression.


"I can't imagine how boring it must be to be really good at something."

This quote suggests that Fred Armisen perceives excellence or proficiency in a skill as potentially limiting, due to the absence of challenge or novelty involved. In other words, he finds the idea of being extremely skilled at something monotonous, as there would be fewer opportunities for growth and exploration in that area. This perspective highlights the double-edged sword of mastery – while it brings a level of comfort and expertise, it may also limit one's exposure to new experiences and challenges.


The day of parts of the country hating each other, or rivalries like that... I feel like that's dead.

- Fred Armisen

Country, Other, Like, Hating

Wayne Coyne has put out Flaming Lips records in gummy bear skulls and all these different kinds of packaging that's really, really inventive. And that's what you should always do.

- Fred Armisen

Always, Records, Flaming, Packaging

The worst art is when it's really convenient and comfy.

- Fred Armisen

Art, Worst, Really, Convenient

My showbiz career started with 'SNL,' and to write an 'SNL' book... well, there are already enough of those.

- Fred Armisen

Book, Career, SNL, Showbiz

I'll just say that there are times when TV shows, like 'The Honeymooners' or 'I Love Lucy' or something, where they're totally in their stride, and this thing happens, where you can tell they got everything they wanted. And it starts to look a little relaxed. No criticism to the shows whatsoever; these people are geniuses.

- Fred Armisen

Love, Tell, TV, Relaxed

I would really like to do a movie. Schedule-wise I don't know when exactly, but I think it would be great to do a Portlandia movie. Some of my favorite television shows have done it and they've been great. Like Monty Python. I think it would be great.

- Fred Armisen

Some, Been, I Think, Monty Python

My favorite album is 'Ram' by Paul and Linda McCartney.

- Fred Armisen

Album, Favorite, Paul, Linda

The way James Franco goes to new projects, he does it the way an artist should, which is with a question mark. Like, will this work?

- Fred Armisen

New, Projects, Which, None

James Franco has turned his life into a real art project. In my opinion, that's the way to live.

- Fred Armisen

Art, Turned, In My Opinion, None

I will admit that I purposely stress myself out. But I think I like stressing myself out. There's a glamour to, like, 'I've got to get to the airport!' I just like the caricature.

- Fred Armisen

Stress, Think, Caricature, Glamour

When I used to see Rick Moranis do something, to me that was immediately funny. Or George Carlin or Martin Lawrence.

- Fred Armisen

Used, George Carlin, Carlin, Rick

Something about Portland just really resonated with me.

- Fred Armisen

Me, Just, About, Portland

When I first started going to Portland, people told me about Stumptown. They were like 'Oh, it's the best coffee,' and I thought, 'How good could it really be?' I'm like, 'Sure, great, uh... I'd love to see it.' But then when I went, it truly, I am not kidding, is the best coffee I have ever had.

- Fred Armisen

Love, Thought, About, Portland

There's something really easy and just somehow un-crowded about the Portland airport. Every time I go there I'm like, 'Why is this so easy and sweet?'

- Fred Armisen

Go, Like, About, Portland

Sometimes in Portland I'm like, 'Who is funding this city?' It's doing great - there's all these new shops; there's a synthesizer store. Where is this coming from?

- Fred Armisen

Doing, New, Funding, Portland

I like to think Portland and L.A. are not rivals; they're cousins. As cities on the West Coast, they're distinct in their own way but still culturally similar.

- Fred Armisen

Think, Still, Similar, Portland

I think a comedian has a more specific job. Whereas a musician can fall into different categories, you know, of making background music or doing a soundtrack or wanting to be in a band or writing the song, or writing your own songs. And then comedy is a very black and white thing. You want to make people happy.

- Fred Armisen

Doing, Wanting, Very, Categories

I've always been a fan of instructional videos. The bass-player ones are insane. The music on them is fascinating. It's not something you hear on CDs or would really ever play in bands. You listen to it and are like, 'What is happening?' It's this blizzard of notes in weird time signatures, and they're trying to teach you that.

- Fred Armisen

Play, Been, Notes, CDs

Discomfort is the way to go if you want to make something you feel is worthwhile.

- Fred Armisen

Want, Go, Feel, Discomfort

I have an inability to relax. I try to make every day a work day. I get pleasure from work... I try to think of sketch ideas, stand-up pieces. I am incapable of leisure and leisure time.

- Fred Armisen

Relax, Think, Inability, Incapable

Everyone knows deep in their hearts that the drums are the coolest instrument, and that a band is only as good as its drummer. So I'm all for drum solos. I'm all for drummers hamming it up. I'm all for drummers standing up and kicking over the kit.

- Fred Armisen

Deep, Drum, Instrument, Coolest

I am immediately disinterested when I hear mountain-climbing stories.

- Fred Armisen

I Am, Stories, Immediately, Disinterested

I have the capability to have a close relationship with someone.

- Fred Armisen

Someone, Capability, Close Relationship

Panned or not, 'Dune' is a real part of science-fiction filmmaking.

- Fred Armisen

Real, Part, Dune, Science-Fiction

Talking Heads were a big influence on my comedy. For David Byrne, every album had to be different. With 'Portlandia,' every season has to be different. You gotta reinvent the look, all of it.

- Fred Armisen

Comedy, Big, Reinvent, Big Influence

When you're in a band, you spend most of your time in a van. Like, there were four of us, we toured all the time, and you're stuck looking at three other people for a month straight. And all of those times, we all just liked making fun of people, doing impressions of people, coming up with songs.

- Fred Armisen

Doing, Other, Your, Toured

I love my bandmates, and they're my friends, and even though we had fun and got to tour and I got to play the drums a lot, which I'll always appreciate, we had a really rough time. We toured and tried to get people to come to our shows and put out records, and we really struggled.

- Fred Armisen

Love, Play, Rough, Toured

Music documentaries are tricky because of 'Spinal Tap.' That movie has stood the test of time.

- Fred Armisen

Music, Movie, Tap, Spinal Tap

I believe in limitations. I think the worst art ever made - in my opinion, because it's all so subjective - is where the artist had complete freedom.

- Fred Armisen

Artist, I Think, Complete Freedom

As a kid, 'The Monkees' was such a cool show. I had such a thrill saying, 'OMG, I was in a sketch with one of the Monkees.'

- Fred Armisen

Cool, Kid, Show, Monkees

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