['Rocker' role a real Rush for Wilson]

Several folks sent me this Sun Media article which talks about how actor Rainn Wilson (aka Dwight Schrute of The Office) got to play Neil Peart's kit while researching a new movie role. From the article:

"I play a drummer from an up-and-coming heavy metal band (in the 1980s) and I get kicked out right before they make it really big," said Wilson, who is best known for playing Dwight Schrute on The Office.

"Then 20 years later, my life has kind of gone nowhere and I get a second shot at fame by joining my high school nephew's garage rock band.

"So I wear a nice heavy metal wig and I reveal a lot of my butt crack and my torso."

Wilson knows how to play several instruments, but he learned to play the drums specifically for this role, and at one point he went to see legendary Canadian band Rush.

"They're not really a hair metal band, but I got to see them on their warmup for their tour and got to meet Neil Peart, who probably is the greatest drummer of all time," Wilson said. "He let me sit behind his kit and play it. So I was initiated in the world of drumming." ...

The movie is titled The Rocker and is currently due to be released late summer.

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