Great interview with Rourke. I like the part when he gets overheated. There’s that weird vulnerability he has in interviews – it’s startling because he looks like such a bruiser. The story about Springsteen writing the song that rolls over the final credits is really cool:
You were responsible for getting Bruce Springsteen to write the song for the end credits. How did that happen?
MR: After about six days, I knew something magical was happening on the movie. It gave me the gumption to write Springsteen a letter. I told him we had no money, but we shot it in New Jersey. And we even shot an extra scene in Asbury Park! He wrote back, and then five months later he called and said, âItâs Bruce,â and I said, âWho?ââI think I was on my Vespaâand he said, âBruce. Springsteen.â I was like, âOh fuck! Oh! OH!â He said, âI wrote you a little something.âI donât think Darren had a clue what The Boss was all about. I took him to Giants Stadiumâthere were like 80,000 people thereâand he was like, âHmmmm, they really like him.â So we go backstage, and Bruce picks up a guitar and plays the [song on an] acoustic guitar for us. It was the first time we heard it, and I was like, heâs got words to it and everything! Man, he really got it. He didnât see the movie, heâd only read the fucking script, but the song sums up the whole character. He did me such an honor, such a favor.
For some reason, the “he’s got words to it and everything!” brings a lump to my throat.
You’re right. There’s an odd sweetness to it. I love how he uses the word “gumption”; I mean, to me, his is not a face that looks like it would ever say “gumption.” Or talk about needing gumption. And I love “I think I was on my Vespa.” Wha?? Mickey Rourke rides a scooter?? Now I’m kind of hoping he has a little basket for his little dogs.
Also, he writes Springsteen “a letter”. Not an email. Maybe it was an email, but he says “letter”.
I am now picturing a bike basket full of 17 chihuahuas, as Rourke zips along the Pacific Highway.
Just a random hello and a quick story for Sheila. You see, my favorite aunt and certainly a top 10 of all time favorite person in my Aunt Sheila. Recently she was captured on camera snuggling up in a Cleveland Browns blanket, she was clearly at some one else’s home, as she is a Cincinnatti football fan, an Ohio rivalry that has no room for love of the Browns. I’m the Browns fan. So my cousin (I see you love cousins) sent me the photo of her. You see, Sheila knows I HATE being photographed and she’s tortured me with the camera ever since I can remember. Why am I boring you with this, well…I’ll be brief. I searched Google for a wave file, hoping to find one with someone shouting “SHEILA!!!”. I came across a 2003 writing from you about a dream of tidal waves that washed over large areas of land. Strange dream that you seemed to enjoy, maybe a feeling came from it that you needed change in life? Anyhow, you wrote it near the holidays and it touched the “blah” part of my day. I thought you might find it mildly interesting that a 2003 dream could lead to someone reading about you and your life. Good luck Sheila, I hope you too are someone’s favorite Aunt.
Rick
sheila — hahahaha! I can see it too!
Sheila — Not exactly on topic (except for Mickey), but did you catch him over at GoFugYourself:
http://gofugyourself.celebuzz.com/go_fug_yourself/2008/12/the_fugstler.html
Mickey Rourke
My giant piece is now live at House Next Door. All my pieces on Mickey Rourke on my site can be found here…