~Z.T.~ Friday I had the privilege of interviewing Rainn “Dwight” Wilson. We focused on his upcoming film “The Rocker,” where he plays the Pete Best part: a drummer kicked out of a band before they go quadruple platinum. Rainn began the early morning interview by singing to us:

“As they sing in my son’s preschool class. (In little kid voice) “Good morning to you. Good morning to you. We’re all in our places with bright smiling faces.”

ZT: “The Rocker” is a heavy metal movie. Did you watch “This Is Spinal Tap” for inspiration, and is it making fun of the genre or is it glorifying it?

RW: I’ve never seen “Spinal Tap,” and it’s making fun of the genre. No, I’m kidding. I’ve seen “Spinal Tap” too many times to count. It’s one of my favorite movies of all time.

ZT: Whose drumming style did you try to emulate, and who are some of your favorite rock drummers of that period?

RW: Well, I started studying drumming as soon as I got cast. And I had a great drum coach. Played along with a lot of metal tunes. I couldn’t even name the ACDC drummer, but we do a lot of ACDC because that’s great, basic, easy-to-digest heavy metal drumming.

ZT: What band would you like to go on tour with?

RW: I would like to go on tour with Radiohead. I would walk away from all of it if Radiohead would have me. But that guy could drum, probably, with his big toe. I drum with all my limbs.

ZT: Led Zepelin has a spot open.

RW: Really?! I’m there, man. Rainn Bonham.

Rainn said he grew up with classic metal- Black Sabbath, ACDC, Led Zeppelin, Guns N Roses, Metallica, etc. but beyond that he has “eclectic taste.” He’s not a huge metal fan beyond that and he’s really into The Raconteurs, The National and Josh Ritter.

Check out The Rocker August 1st. OK, Lollapalooza starts August 1st. See it August 4th.

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