According to a report by the Las Vegas Sun, former Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil plans on building a house for Habitat for Humanity in Las Vegas. On Thursday morning (June 9th), he is turning over his cantina at Circus Circus to the charitable homebuilding organization for a breakfast fundraiser, and he’s recruited Robin Leach to MC the gathering and carry lumber when construction starts.

Habitat for Humanity is one of the largest homebuilders in the country and since 1991 has provided affordable homes to low-income families in need in Southern Nevada, serving 105 families in Clark County.

“It’s not a handout,” Vince pointed out. “It’s a hand up.” 

Individuals, corporations and foundations sponsor the homes, and 100 percent of their contributions are applied to home building. Homeowners must be willing to partner with Habitat for Humanity and contribute 300 hours of “sweat equity” through a mix of 150 hours on the construction site; 50 hours of financial and Home Works curriculum; and 100 hours that can be donated by friends and family.

While hanging out in an airline lounge at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Neil called Palm Springs Life to discuss golfing with Frank Sinatra, why he’s still able to sing in those higher registers, and what he thinks Mötley Crüe’s legacy will be. An excerpt follows:

Q: You can still hit those higher registers on a number of songs, but a lot of other singers from your era can’t. How do you keep your voice in shape?

A: “I have an old road singer/saloon singer mentality. I love performing; that’s what I do. I’m thrilled to be there, and I’ve done it so much. Younger, up-and-coming singers will say, ‘Hey Mr. Neil, what do you do?’ And I say, ‘Don’t do what I do, for God’s sake!’ I go in a bathroom, and (yells), ‘Hey! Heyyyyy!!!’ I scream. Even the guys in the band go, ‘What the f—?’ I do the worst thing you probably should, but it works for me. Everybody has a thing that works for them — but what I do for myself, I wouldn’t suggest.

“It’s been bulletproof over the years. Everybody gets sick sometimes and gets laryngitis, but I’ve been pretty lucky, especially in that higher-register stuff. And we don’t back away from it. It’s exactly where all the original tunings were. I understand a lot of people don’t want to do that, but if someone calls something out, I go, ‘F— it! Let’s do it!’”

Q: Now that you’ve had almost a half-year of perspective on the end of Mötley Crüe, what do you think the ultimate legacy of the band is going to be?

A: “It’s forever. The End, the movie of the final show, is coming out in the theater [on June 14], and there’s also going to be the movie The Dirt [based on the band’s 2001 best-selling, warts-and-all group autobiography]. I see it in the reaction to the songs, you know? I could be walking into a place just picking up a prescription or something, and somebody’s got an old Mötley shirt on.

“I’m proud to be that guy. I’ve never run from who I am, and the legacy is not only going to continue, it’s continuing as we speak here. Like I said, I’m thankful for the support, and I’m thankful for the love. And I’m very thankful for the people helping to keep this music alive. Without people like you, it wouldn’t have the legs that it has.

“Listen, I love the stuff. I proudly call the tour, ‘The Legacy Continues.’ You have to live every day like it could be your last, but I also plan on doing some great things ahead. I am who I am in my own skin, and I’m OK with it.”

Read the full interview at Palm Springs Life.