In times of tragedy, isn’t it hard to make sense of life when you don’t believe in anything?

No, because for me, death is a celebration of a life hopefully well lived. I’m the guy at funerals who smiles and remembers the good things. When my grandma died and people at the funeral were weeping, I smelled the pancakes she used to make and the cigarettes she used to smoke and I heard the sound of her flip-flops on the floor.

Do you have any vices left?

Smoking. I’ve been trying to cut down for a long time, but it just doesn’t seem to work. I’m so stressed out I smoke three packs of Marlboro Lights a day, but now I only smoke one-quarter of a cigarette. A couple puffs and it’s gone, which is an incredible waste of good tobacco.

Give us one crazy story about hanging out with Bam Margera.

There are so many to mention, but they all include illegal stuff. I remember in 2002 I was seeing a lady who was based in New York. One day I flew in to see her, and when I got to the airport I called Bam, and he said they were having a big party at their house. So he rented me a limo to pick me up at this girl’s apartment in New York and drive us over to Pennsylvania. The limo pulls up and I opened my eyes and there are mini-ramps and all the skaters and everybody from Jackass just going crazy, shattering windows and mirrors and getting fucked up while Bam’s parents are shouting at everyone not to break things. It was like being in a movie. That was one of the wildest parties I’ve ever been at, and it was a good first date.

Many people who become sober find God in the process. Are you still an atheist?

As much as I’ve always been. In America there are very, very few rehabs that are not affiliated with the 12-step program, which is basically religious. It holds up to Christian values, and the steps are that you have to believe in a power higher than yourself. And you say the serenity prayer. I always said, “Ozzy, give me the serenity” to do this and that instead of “God.” But I never went to the A.A. stuff after I came out of the prison I was in. The Malibu experience was invigorating, but I still don’t feel that any part of me is willing to accept any of those scriptures that have only caused a lot of pain and suffering in so many people’s lives and 99 percent of all the wars.