Q&A with Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead, one of the 'Maxim' magazine's Living Legends of Sex

By Wade Tatangelo

Times Correspondent

Hard rock heroes Motorhead make a rare Tampa Bay performance Tuesday at the Ritz in Ybor City.

"I don't think we have ever been to Tampa," noted singer-songwriter-bassist Lemmy Kilmister. "If we did, it was a long time ago, on a tour with Ozzy (Osbourne) or something."

Few men — if any — are more qualified to discuss sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll than Kilmister. The 63-year-old cracked the Top 10 on the Maxim "Living Legends of Sex" list, has never stopped partying and owns a Grammy. When Kilmister answered the phone at his home in Los Angeles, it was late afternoon and the English rock icon sounded as if he had just stumbled out of bed. Affable and candid, Kilmister often punctuated his ribald responses with a raspy, swashbuckler chuckle.

When not stuck doing interviews, what do you do on a typical day off?

If I go out, I chase women. If I stay in, I phone them up.

What did you learn from your days as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix?

I learned that you didn't have to be wild all the time. Hendrix would tear you a new a--h--- on stage but then be well-mannered afterward.

Hendrix was also quite the ladies' man. Did you pick up any techniques from him?

No, but I got some of the leftovers.

Maxim had you at No. 8 on its 2006 list of "Living Legends of Sex," claiming you have been with 1,200 women. Does that number sound about right?

It's more like 1,000 probably. But, man, I mean I'm 63, right? I've been (having sex) since I was 15. I haven't been married ever. So, you know, that's pretty reasonable after that many years.

You have been open about your past drug use, particularly your penchant for speed. Do you dabble in drugs at all these days?

Pretty much not.

But you believe in the legalization of drugs — even the hard stuff.

The reason I said you should legalize heroin is because it's out of control. Locking people up is definitely not working. There's more heroin on the streets now than when the (war on drugs) started.

Ace of Spades is one of the all-time-great rock songs. Do you still get a kick performing it and watching the audience head-bang themselves crazy?

It's not the same kick, but it's there. We've been doing that song a long time, since 1980, so it wears off, but I'm still glad we got famous for a good song. You could be stuck playing a f------ turkey the rest of your life, couldn't you?

What's the craziest lie you have read about yourself?

I was dead once — no, dead twice. I had an obituary run in the back of a French magazine. And then there was a rumor I was bisexual on the Internet. So I called the guy up. I said, "You are going to go and get some new software for your computer or you're going to get a screwdriver to both your knees." He seemed to see the point. There was a retraction posted the next day.

How often do you get on the computer?

I don't have one. They're great fun, no doubt. But if I got one I'd never get out of the house.

What's the best thing about being Lemmy?

Probably the best thing about being Lemmy is not working in the factory anymore. And, let's see, not being an ugly woman is good, too. There are plenty of worsts.

If rock 'n' roll hadn't worked out, what would you be?

A bank robber. A f------ burglar.

Wade Tatangelo can be reached at wtatangelo@hotmail.com.