Nigel Kennedy: I smoked pot at drugs raid party

Nigel Kennedy, the self-styled "bad boy of classical music," has admitted he smoked cannabis at a post-concert party raided by police.

The musician said he "smoked a little grass" during celebrations with members of the Czech orchestra at the party thrown for him at his five-star hotel in Bavaria.

Police raided his suite at the Sonnenhof hotel in Bad Woerishofen in the early hours of 27 September after other guests complained about the noise.

Kennedy, 53, who had been performing at a festival in the town, is thought to have been questioned by police, though his manager insisted no drugs were found in his room. German media reported today that police were still deciding whether to charge the musician for illegal drug use.

Kennedy told Germany's Bild newspaper in an interview published today: "I smoked a little grass. I can't do this job without it, I need it to relax."

He denied any knowledge of heroin being found at the party. He has previously admitted smoking cannabis to relax, but only after a concert.

Performing under the influence of alcohol or dope would be cheating the audience," he said.