Mr. Kilmister

Though the thought of waking up Lemmy Kilmister to do an interview might seem like a scary proposition (1 p.m. may as well be dawn to Lemmy), the Pitch was almost shocked by his friendly, easygoing manner. We caught up with the legendary Motorhead frontman at home in Los Angeles, readying for this weekend’s Freaker’s Ball and a subsequent European tour.

The Pitch: L.A. seems too fake for you. What do you get out of being there?

Kilmister: It’s isn’t fake. There’s a lot of really talented people here, too, don’t forget. And anyway, home is in your head. You live inside your head. If you ain’t comfortable there, it doesn’t matter where you live. And if you are comfortable there, it doesn’t matter where you live. So I’m quite happy. I’ve made a lot of really good friends in the States. I like Americans, apart from the government. I’m having a good time over here, so why shouldn’t I live in L.A? It’s no worse than anywhere else. There’s a lot more fakes in New York, I think, because of that fuckin’ artistic scene. All them wine-and-cheese parties in the afternoons. Painful.

How many of those have you been invited to?

Only one. [Laughs] My God, have you heard the way these people talk? Do they study at some sort of college for this shit?

You just have to pray they have some good booze and some good food to stuff in your pockets to take home.

[Laughing] Pockets full of cheese biscuits and leggin’ it for the door!

You mentioned the U.S. government.

I don’t like any government, truly. I hate all politicians just by definition. If somebody wants to be a politician, there’s already a serious question mark next to them. Imagine wanting to kiss other people’s babies! Fuckin’ hell, it’s hard enough kissing your own, you know! You have to be two-faced. That’s the first requirement. In case the party changes its stance on something, you gotta be able to turn straight around 180 degrees and lie.

And say, “I always felt that way.”

Yeah — “I always thought they were cunts!” [Laughs]

What’s your take on 9/11?

September 11th was George Bush’s Reichstag fire. It’s exactly the same. Politician seizes disaster and takes away civil liberties in the name of freedom. It’s just crap. The American people are no safer than they were before. It’s just difficult to get on a plane.