Quick chat: Butch Walker on avoiding rock 'n' roll 'comfort food'

Songwriter and producer Butch Walker, who recently came out with the new book "Drinking With Strangers: Music Lessons From a Teenage Bullet Belt," reflects on his aesthetic.

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Artistically, there are few things that Butch Walker hasn't done. He's written hit songs for himself (Marvelous 3's “Freak of the Week”), and co-written or produced hits for plenty of others, including Avril Lavigne, Weezer, Pink and SR-71.

Now in his early 40s, Walker has added author to his résumé, releasing a book late last year, “Drinking With Strangers: Music Lessons From a Teenage Bullet Belt,” written with music journalist and Times contributor Matt Diehl.

On the lessons he hopes the book imparts: “I've done a lot. I've tried a lot. I've done too much. So many people want things to happen overnight. They have an idea of the ultimate life and lifestyle, and they want that before they're 20. I can honestly say that it rarely works out like that, and if you're in that position when you're 20, you won't be when you're 40.”