It's almost one of his finest moments – from the song Big Night Out – brought to life. Well, he has a supermodel near his D, if not exactly on it. But
Huey's expression is one of detached amusement; it's as if this is an everyday occurrence for him. And certainly the native New Yorker doesn't lack attention from the ladies, with his Latin looks, sharp suits and
sharper wit.
But this is not an everyday day. It is the day of the FHM Collections cover photo shoot to which Huey was invited to turn up at midday. He has, in fact, just got here – at 7pm. Granted he did have
a pretty good excuse: a fall off his BMX and a near-dislocated shoulder. "For the record," he says, "I think that readers should know that I injured myself in a biking accident and I am drinking on pills, so if my eyes
are half closed in the photos, they should take that into consideration."
On inspection, the FHM Collections
fashion team couldn't actually detect any scrapes or bruises in the shoulder region, and the T-shirt Huey said he'd been wearing at the time remained whiter than the driven snow. But when you're faced with an ex-marine, head of a garbage company and international rock star all rolled into one formidable person: who's going to argue?
You divide your time between London and New York: which dresses best?
I'd give London an eight. And New York a six out of ten. London, by and large does the right thing. They do great – not too many
accessories, which is good. New York's one of those towns where you get a lot of people that wear the suit jackets without the lapels and the shirts without the collars – they just have no idea. Lapels are wonderful.
You could take someone's eye out with a good lapel. You don't need a handgun, you could just pop them in the eye with a jacket.
New York had loads of hat shops: is that something you miss in London?
Yeah,
the hat's a really important thing. My friend Stuart [Zender], who played in Jamiroquai, used to wear this wonderful bowler which he titled just so. Sometimes a hat can make an outfit really nice. But you do have
to tilt it.
If you could transport one shop from London to New York, which would it be?
Well, it would have been Vivienne Westwood, but she has a store here now. And I'm not just saying that – I pay retail
when I buy Vivienne Westwood.
Which city gets more of your clothing dollars?
I only buy T-shirts in America now. Everything else I get in Italy or London.
One big difference between the Americans and
the English is their love of you: why hasn't your native land really got the Fun Lovin' Criminals yet?
When you find people who can laugh in the face of adversity, you've found your kin. The English are kin, they
understand where we're coming from.
What do you think of the adoption of the hip-hop look by European youth?
That's cool, especially in France where the homeboys used to ear pants so tight it was almost
comical; it's good that the bagginess is coming into play. Everybody wants to be a gangster these days. So, go ahead, be a gangster, wear your baggy pants, get your 9mm in your waistband, that's fine.
Given your Puerto Rican background, have you ever worn a bandanna?
No. Not even in my back pocket. I carry a handkerchief like everybody should a clean one for the ladies. If they need one I am there with it
ready.
What about big jewellery – is that a cultural trait you've inherited?
My ring – 13 diamonds on a horseshoe shape in a platinum setting – was my 30th
birthday gift to myself for having made it this far. But I'd never wear chains and stuff. The only necklace I wear is a dog tag of an ex-girlfriend of mine who I still adore, but she turned into a doctor and doesn't like me any more. It's not a medical objection, just lifestyle changes.
What kind of underpants do you favour?
Boxer shorts. Always. Although if I'm wearing a suit, I got to have the tiny clingy boxers, because you don't want panty line. I would never, ever
wear a G-string – of I was wearing pant's that tight, I wouldn't wear any underwear. That's comfortable, unless you sit down funny and cut off the circulation.
Would you ever ear a penis-enhancing pant?
Wow! I didn't even know they had 'em. Someone wearing a pee-pee enlarger? I think it may be a little in bad taste. I don't know, I never got any complaints.
You got a new drummer recently. Did you check out his wardrobe first?
One of the great things about Mackie is that he fits into the band in every way, shape you can imagine. He looks great in a suit and he has a
very robust, Latino look. And he is an amazing drummer.
Do you think you'll ever tire of the suit?
No, the suts of suits have gotten a lot better. John Barlett for instance, he makes the most amazing white
suits in a whole bunch of different styles. A lot of English designers know what a suit should look like: Alexander McQueen is amazing. Dirk Illard makes a great suit, I wear a lot of his. The whole suit thing came
about because we want our family to be able to say to friends: "Oh, look at my son in this magazine, he's got a suit on, he looks very nice."
You own a garbage company in New York. Do the employees wear suits?
They work on garbage trucks so it's not really cost-effective to suit them up. But they do have Gucci jump suits with a big G on the zipper. No – they wear regular orange boiler suits so they can be seen in all
weathers.
What's the sexiest thing a woman can wear?
There are these new Gucci shoes out I really like – a stiletto with a strap around the ankle – that are extremely sexy. You see a lot of them in London.
New York has cornered the markey on women's chi-chi wear. You go to Latin clubs and the women are all in short skirts and very high heels; that's a good look.
Do you think a girl in grungey combats is letting the side down a little?
No, I think it's better if people are very different – that's when good things happen. Women have this thing where tonight they are this
kind of girl, and tomorrow they're that kind of girl; and we have something new to look at.
What is a woman's most attractive feature?
I am Puerto Rican, so I guess legs and behind. I play guitar so the
guitar-shaped woman appeals to me. And I play big guitars so I don't really like flaca – skinny women. I love big women – you gotta have something to hold on to, God bless.
Do you take great care of your own shape?
I just kind of roll with what happens. At my age, I'm just I'm still around. Sometimes I get a little beer belly. I have tried to resist: be good, go to bed early with a
glass of water. I tried that last night. I think it was about five minutes between thinking that and going out the door. My friends go: "What? What are you doing? You are a fucking musician – go out, enjoy!"
Are you disappointed by rock stars who go home and don't live the life?
That's their business, but it reinforces the fact that people like me have to do it for all the people that can't because they have
responsibilities, like children.
Can you see yourself going home to bath the baby?
I'd have to be in a serious relationship with someone first, so that's way down the line. Most women don't take me seriously.
If you were a woman, would you want to shag Mick Jagger?
Oh, I can see the attraction of Mick, yeah. And the fact that he liked Luciana is kind of cool: she's great. She is so loca
, as we say – completely crazy.
Who is your favourite designer?
Alexander McQueen. I actually made a sweatshirt that says "Al McWho would you most like to be sponsored by? Queen" on it. He needs to get into
sports wear, so all he has to do is call me – I got the line already hooked up.
Have you ever tried to walk off a shoot with the stuff you wore?
All the time. There was a pair of white pimp shoes once. I
asked the stylist if I could have them. She said no, but I was out of there before anyone noticed.
Interview by Bridget Freer