The Guitar Man
In American History X, you play a neo-Nazi skinhead. How did you research that world?
I didn't want to spend an enormous amount of time there, but I did want to get a healthy sense of who the kids involved in it were, and try to get some of the tactile details, like the tattoos. A lot of these kids don't even know the meaning of the things they have on their bodies.
You put on 30 lbs for the role. Didn't Arnold Schwarzenegger ask if you used steroids?
Yeah. He was impressed by the size and definition I'd achieved. But for me, it was just a matter of eating, almost to the point of boredom, four or five times a day. A light protein diet combined with lifting weights a lot. When I finished the film, I deflated pretty quickly.
You've just finished shooting The Fight Club with Brad Pitt. Did you get to trade fists with him?
Yeah, Brad and I have a few rounds. We were choreographed up to a point, but there were some shots were we had to go fast and loose. We got an equal share of knocks.
Did you ever feel you were taking a big insurance risk, clouting one of Hollywood's highest-paid boys?
Brad's pretty game. Brad's as far from vain as anyone I've ever met.
You also worked with Helena Bonham Carter on The Fight Club. Was she up for a laugh?
She was hilarious- probably the last thing anyone would think of "The Queen of the Corset Drama", as she styles herself. Helena's got a very dry sense of humor. We were doing something very intense and I was pacing up and down between takes. She said to me: "You know, I'd never presume to give advice as an actor, but having worked for years in film I will say there's something I've learned for sure." I said, "What?" She said, If you're standing and you could be sitting, sit down. And if you're sitting and you could be lying down, lie down." So I went and sat down.
Was it through Courtney Love that you met so many people in the rock world?
No. I have other friends in that world as well. I went to the Superbowl with The Red Hot Chili Peppers this year. We're a mutual interest society, you know? But it's not some rarified world of celebrities, moving around in packs.
There was a story that you played guitar with Hole recently...
Yeah, I played two gigs in LA last Christmas. I don't think I should give up my day job, though.
You also complained to New Yorker about a review by "Daphne Merkin". Did you ever suspect that might not be her real name?
Why? Tell me. What do you know?
A "merkin" is a pubic wig...
That's a great word! I'm going to keep that one on my files. I wish I'd known that at the time. (DW)
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