Still rocking after all these years?

I have just finished a year-long tour and I am taking a three-month break to hang out with my family, take care of myself and just be a human being before I start my next year-long tour in April. I'm pretty exhausted.

So, no nights spent throwing TVs out of hotel windows then?

No. That's a myth. When you're the singer you don't have the freedom that the other musicians have because the voice needs a lot of care. Like not being around smoke, not talking too much, eight hours of sleep. I sing pretty hard and loud with a very loud band, so the voice needs all the help it can get. It's definitely not a constant party.

How will you unwind during your time off?

The last time that I had a break, I spent five months on my organic farm in Brazil. I grow everything, and there are cows and horses. It's all very self-sufficient.

You're shattering all my rock star illusions ...

I live well and enjoy myself. For me, the richness of life is in people, good fun, great laughter, good music, good food. It's not about getting smashed. But I do enjoy red wine; I'm a Bordeaux red wine freak. When you're drinking cachaça (a Brazilian sugar cane rum) all night long in a little corner bar in Brazil, getting smashed can happen, though.

So it's not all clean-living.

Every now and then I need some grease and something nasty to make me feel good, you know?

Still adhering to your celibacy vow?

Yes. It's been three years now.

Why would a man who has romanced Vanessa Paradis, Nicole Kidman and Madonna decide to become celibate?

It was a spiritual thing that I needed to do to reconnect with myself and with God. It was mainly about deciding to do it the biblical way. I was quite wild before. It has been really interesting. When the right woman comes along I will get married and start a new life. Of course, at times, it's really tough, but, overall, it has been really good for me.

But your pulling powers are legendary. What's your secret?

I have no idea. I am just myself. I love people, I love women and all different kinds of beauty.

Is religion a big part of your life?

Yes. I appreciate God's blessings. I believe in Jesus. If you listen to my music, I sing a lot about God, love and all that kind of stuff. I try to see as much of the good in the world as I can. Religion definitely helps me to form my opinions and make choices. We all have desires and are all tempted by the dark side to do things that aren't necessarily good for us. I try to keep away from those things.

Does your spirituality help with stage fright?

Well, I do some vocalising, hang out with the band, we say a prayer, and out we go. Very simple.

Where does your sense of belief come from?

My father was a Russian Jew and my mother was Bahamian, so it's a pretty good mix. I grew up knowing the Christian culture, the Jewish culture and being right in the middle of it.

Has race been an issue?

I didn't know my father was white until I went to school and everyone's parents matched except mine. All of a sudden, it became an issue that I hadn't even known existed.

You have a 19-year-old daughter. What are you like as a dad?

Everyone thinks I'm going to be a really protective father, but I'm not. She's a good girl, she's smart, and I respect her choices. If something isn't done right, she learns from it and that's life.

Bet you're not an embarrassing dad, though

Oh yeah, I'm just such a cool rock star that I can't do anything wrong!

You're in great shape. How do you stay so trim?

I'm on the exercise bike right now. Can't you hear my huffing and puffing? I don't do exercise just for my body; I do it for my mind. I feel better when I'm in optimum shape, mentally and physically.

So you've got a pretty holistic approach to health?

Yes, definitely. I've always been into the whole natural thing, healing yourself with foods and homoeopathic remedies and herbs. I try to eat everything organic and not put chemicals into my body.

And now you're looking forward to marriage and more children?

Yes, very much. I want to find somebody amazing, fun, smart and funny. I need all of that. I don't see it as being a boring thing, settling down. I want to settle down, but have the most amazing, magical time.

Lenny Kravitz's album It Is Time for A Love Revolution is out now

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