Big Shot
BILLY WIRTH
BILLY WIRTH
If that story reflects Billy Wirth's on-screen image, his off-screen presence is no less compelling. One night I watched from the sidelines as he effortlessly negotiated his way into Roxbury . Granted, this club is closer to Billy's turf than a Beverly Hills party, but at least 50 people were in line that night trying to get in. And word had it that fire marshals wouldn't anyone else inside. But there was Billy. He had a few words with the guy doing crowd control and suddenly he and nine friends got in free. What makes this move remarkable is that Billy doesn't have the profile of a LUKE PERRY. And yet, I wonder, does Luke have Billy's access?
A few days later, when I meet with Billy at The Living Room coffee bar, I remind him of the Roxbury episode. He quickly downplays his special-privilege status. "The more clout you have," he points out, "the less fun it is." Scamming your way in with a little creative ingenuity is more his style. Which is not the way he got into the movies. A track jock at Brown university, he stumbled into a small role in The Lost Boys" and then got a leading part in War Party, both movies that brought him to the attention of Zalman King, director of the very erotic Red Shoe Diaries series. This spring Billy stars in Warners'update of The Invasion of the Body Snatchers. He is, in other words, a "Golden Boy," one of those guys with a mystique… a combination of physical beauty and an aura that says your life is charmed. In Hollywood, nothing is more compelling, especially, if the golden guy is also a bid of a bad boy.
Franc Roddam, who directed the actor in War Party say that Wirth has the quality of a your Warren Beatty: wholesome, sweet and dangerous". "Plus he is fearless", says Roddam. "when you're casting an Indian movie like War Party, you get to the point where you say to the actor, 'Can you ride' and they all answer something along the lines of "Like the wind." But you get out there on the set with the horses and they get timid. But not Billy. He took it on. He's on of the last great wild men."
Wild on horseback, Billy does harbor some timidity when it comes to sitting throught an interview. He shows up later, casually attired in black jeans, T-shirt and a hat with a military logo--- a souvenir from the camp where he trained for his Body Snatchers role. The overall effect is more shy than cool. He brings along two buddies, he says, because he isn't quite sure how to do an interview. The friends are part of his rock band. They go by the name of ** The Nest or Nest: it's still up for discussion.
"Being an actor is the greatest thing in the world", says Billy. "You're paid to go out there, investigate, be aware, examine life and then play it out." It's music though, that feeds his soul. "If I didn't have this," he says, motioning to The Nest or Nests, "I don't know what I'd do. It's such a joyous experience."
Billy quickly turns the interview into an improvisational jam session. Topics are discussed in a kind of free association----everything from movies and clubs to how bar codes are showing up on every single thing you buy these days. And then there's his politics, a hybrid of 90's cynicism ("There's so much stuff going on with the government and the Federal Reserve, stuff we don't know about and if we did, wouldn't believe") and 60s optimism (Our people are waking up even as the powers that be are locking down").
He sees rock as an integral part of that new wake-up call. "Music is raw again." He exclaims. "Young artists are out there doing their stuff."The Nest included? "right now, we're just five guys putting together some songs. But, he adds, "The Nest is growing."
If they sound as good as Billy looks, we're all ears.
** I discussed this article with Billy in August of this year and after leaving Dust N Bones he got together with 4 other guys and started another band... when I asked about the name "The Nest" he laughed and said yes they had hung out and did record a couple of songs but didn't release anything, 3 of the guys "flew the nest" and this left Billy and Stephen Costintino. He and Stephen formed "The Cronies" sometime later. They are working on a CD of their songs.... according to Billy there will be some news on The Cronies and their objectives coming soon..... Maxine August 2002
cg 12/05