Yesterday we spoke with “Crazy Heart” director Scott Cooper, today singer/songwriter Ryan Bingham, nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song, talks to us about his role in the Oscar fave, opening in NY and LA today. “Crazy Heart” (read our review) stars Jeff Bridges as a washed-up country star searching for a real life off the road. Bingham knows something about life on the road, having released two albums on Lost Highway with his band, The Dead Horses, and touring constantly. We spoke to him about working with heroes like T. Bone Burnett (co-composing the score with the legend) the late Stephen Bruton, and of course, The Dude himself.
Did you have any acting experience before this film?
No, not at all.
How did you get involved?
A friend of mine, Jack Wigam at CAA, had got some songs to Scott Cooper, the director. He gave me a call before they got started and asked if I wanted to participate and write some songs for the film.
Did he know that you are a New Mexico native? The setting plays a big part in the film.
No, I don’t think so. He just kinda called me up and said “Hey man, let’s meet for lunch.” So we met and I told him who I was and what I was all about and he told me what he was doing with the movie and everything. He got me a script a day or so later and we kinda went from there.
At what point did you realize you would be working with T. Bone Burnett? Writing songs with him?
It wasn’t until after Scott gave me that script. I had just got off the road and that song just kinda came out. From wherever those songs come from, it came from that place. I called Scott and said “Hey man, I think I’ve got a song for the movie.” He’s like “Cool, man. Send it along let’s check it out.” The next day Scott called and was like “Hey man, come over to T. Bone’s house. He wants to meet you.”
Were you a fan?
Oh yeah. And Stephen Bruton, that whole crew.
Did you get to spend time with Stephen Bruton on the set? He was a big inspiration for Bad Blake.
Yeah, I did. I went over to T. Bone’s house that next day. T. Bone was there, Jeff Bridges, Bruton was there, and Scott and Colin [Farrell]. A whole group of people, just going over songs, having fun, talking about this movie. They were kinda like “Hey kid, what d’ya got?” They liked the song and right off the bat T. Bone was like “Ok, we got the title song.”
So you went into the studio with him?
Yeah. We were at his house for a while, collaborating on different stuff. Then they got my whole band to be in the movie.
So that is your real band in the film, in the bowling alley?
We’re the real bowling alley band.
Ever play a bowling alley?
Oh yeah, that’s why they wanted us. They needed an authentic bowling alley band.
Did you put the band together in New Mexico?
I met all those guys around Austin, TX. Half of us are in Austin now, me and my drummer are out here in LA.
So all the sudden you’re performing with Jeff Bridges. Obviously you must have been a fan—
Oh yeah man, The Dude! [laughs]
What was that like to be on your first film—
Smoking a joint with the Dude in a bowling alley! It was fantastic, it was great. It was really, really cool.
Do you want to do more acting in the future?
I don’t know about taking it on as a career, I don’t know. To do something like this, hell yeah. With Jeff and T. Bone and playing some music. I don’t know if I’m a good enough actor to carry a movie. I’m having fun with it. I could do this everyday if it was like that.
What’s next for the band? You had a record out, Roadhouse Sun, in June on Lost Highway.
Yeah, record out in June. We’ve been on the road since June, just got done yesterday. I flew in last night. T. Bone’s going to do a record for us next spring and keep on going. A band in a van.