|
Click to view pictureHollywood Professional School
7th Grade - 1975
Click to view picture
Hollywood Professional School
5400 Hollywood Boulevard
accredited private school ~ 1931-1985
Nursery to 12th Grade
(now a vacant lot...destroyed in the 1994 Northridge earthquake)CLICK for the school's history...Alumni: sis Dawn Lyn (6th grade), Betty Grable, Natalie Wood, Mickey Rooney, the Brady kids, Little House on the Prairie kids, One Day at a Time kids, Lance Kerwin (James at 15), Ryan O'Neal, Tatum O'Neal... Photos courtesy of the school yearbook ~ "New Horizons", 144 pp, blue cover, b/w inside, soft edition Click to view the birthday balloon that I made!
Leif turns the big 4-0 on November 8, 2001!
Click to view Leif's holiday note about his birthday...(courtesy leifgarrett.net)
.mpeg of Leif on E!'s Celebrities Uncensored #18 made by a fan which originally aired on Feb. '04. View short clips of Leif's early TV / movie features made by a fan. Enjoy!
4KQ Radio ( http://www.4kq.com/au )
Brisbane, Queensland Australia
transcript of Ian Keenan / "Classic Five for the Drive" interviewing Leif Garrett - aired March 31, 2003
(compiled by leifgarrettfans.com)
Surfin' USA plays in its entirety
IK: Good times and great classic hits at Brisbane's 4KQ. Now there's a song from our guest on today's Classic Five for the Drive. Surfin' USA was Brisbane's number one song 25 years ago for Leif Garrett. Do you remember 1978 well, Leif?
LG: Um, some might not think so, but yes. (both laugh)
IK: I would have thought '78 was a bit of a blur for you. You were just in huge demand back then. Do you remember coming to Brisbane?
LG: Absolutely, I had a great time in Australia and I've been back since. I love Australia.
IK: You had a concert in '78 in our city's Botanical Gardens and somewhere between there and your hotel, you hurt your arm.
LG: Some fans were, I think, yanking on it or something like that. But I remember I think I wore a white suit. And uh, there were people who slept outside the hotel.
IK: They went crazy for you.
LG: Yeah.... they have good taste. (laugh)
IK: In which country were the fans wildest for you do ya think?
LG: Well, Australia was certainly up there in the top three. Um, Japan was always a big one...Germany...uh, yeah I'd say probably those three. America did quite well as well.
IK: Yeah, Were you ever scared for your life back then?
LG: Oh yeah, absolutely. Especially when I'd get letters from like this one guy wrote a letter...would start off every letter saying "Dear Beautiful Boy, I was close enough to touch you today".
IK: Oh, my God.
LG: That was a bit frightening..
IK: That's amazing, that's scary. What about with the crushes though. Like, I was speaking with someone who was with you in an armored van here in Brisbane. You were leaving a store and he was telling that from both ends of the laneways, they had girls running at this armored van. Were you ever scared for your life in that way?
LG: Oh man absolutely, we've almost had limos rolled and things like that. So, yeah there's been some quite scary situations. That was the reason for the armored car and of my management's brilliant thinking then, you know, if they can roll a limo they can't roll an armored car, you know.
IK: Back when you were 16, 17 year of age, did you have much input into the music you were recording at that stage?
LG: I really had none. It was basically, here record and do this, you know and that was one of the reasons that I ended up leaving the company...was because I wanted more control and I wanted to do more stuff that was more current. And uh unfortunately, I think that was part of the demise of why, you know, I didn't continue on with music at the time because, you know it was musically changing and I wanted to change with it but they figured that they had the formula and that was the way it was gonna be. So I just said well obviously you're clueless so I'm outta here.
IK: So at 16, 17 years of age, what sort of music were you really into?
LG: I was really into you know like bands like Zeppelin, the Stones. I was into all progressive stuff you know Talking Heads, INXS. I was listening to all kinds of stuff.
IK: Oh you like the Aussie band that's good!
LG: Yeah well there was another Aussie band that I don't know if they were... I've been trying to remember their name but um I'll think of it by the end of this. But uh I liked a few Aussie bands.
IK: Give me a clue
LG: Um they had this thing called uh Graffiti.....
IK: Graffiti Crime
LG: Yeah something like that
IK: Yes, there was an album from Mi-Sex
LG: Mi-Sex! That's the name of the band! I love that band!
Break and Computer Games by Mi-Sex plays
IK: (station ID)...Here's the man who in the mid 70's became the youngest ever artist signed to Atlantic Records, Leif Garrett. You seemed to do everything at a young age. Leif, your first acting roles were at the age of five.
LG: Yeah.
IK: Did your parents want you to have the career or was it your own idea?
LG: Well obviously at five years old I'm not saying hey mom, you know, sign me to an acting agency...let me go. You know it was basically put across, hey would you like to try this? And it was like yeah. And then I liked it so we stuck with it.
IK: Mixing your music career with acting was either one more dear to your heart?
LG: I think music because I really connect with music. I've always liked music. But I mean, acting is just something that I've done since I was five years old so you know if anything I'd have to say that is my first love. But I'm still into music now so you know I'd say that that's the stronger of the two.
IK: You would have been about eight when you were in the movie Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice.
LG: Right
IK: A theme of wife swapping.... What I wanna know is were you allowed to watch that movie at the time?
LG: No, I wasn't. It wasn't until I was of age....until I was 18 was I allowed to see it.
IK: Surely,(truly?) oh my god
LG: Yeah how funny is that?
IK: Yeah it is, it is. You certainly worked a lot as a youngster and just an amazing acting resume you've got. Family Affair, there was Gunsmoke, Nanny and the Professor, the Odd Couple, ChiPs, even an episode of Wonder Woman called My Teenage Idol is Missing.
LG: That was my real sister too
IK: Was it really?
LG: Yeah that was my real sister and we also did Cannon together as well. We actually did a few things together.
IK: Oh I didn't know your sister acted.
LG: Yeah she was Dodie Douglas on My Three Sons
IK: And what's she doing now?
LG: She runs a hotel.
IK: Where abouts? In LA or...
LG: Yeah on Catalina Island in California
IK: Oh Ok. Of all your tv appearances, do you have a favorite?
LG: Aw man, as far as television, I'd say the Odd Couple was the most fun.
IK: Why does that one stick in your mind, Leif?
LG: I think...I like humor...I think I've got a good sense of humor so and I like live audience as well. So combine the two and I had a great time.
IK: Are there any that you're embarrassed about?
LG: I've done a couple of films I'm completely embarrassed about. (both laugh)
IK: Do you want to name them?
LG: Absolutely not. (both laugh)
IK: Ok lets get to another song. Uh Led Zeppelin you're a fan of?
LG: Yeah a big one.
IK: Do you remember what turned you on to
Led Zep?
LG: Obviously I think that with most people, the song that really turned me on to Led Zeppelin was Stairway to Heaven.
Break and Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin plays
IK: Child star in the 70's whose pop songs took him to the top of the music charts around the world in the late 70's. These days his music is rock and roll rather than pop and he's fronting a band called F8(fate). On their website it's written that when Leif Garrett sings it's with a passion born of years living on the edge. Leif, in what way have you been living on the edge?
LG: Well, you know I'm in California here. It's a big fault line, we're going to become an island.
IK: Ya reckon? (both laughing) Is that a constant worry for you? (laughing)
(serious) You've had drug addiction problems though, it's been reported here in the news. How're going now?
LG: Well let's say it's been, uh 4 or 5 years now been sober.
IK: It's one of those things that doesn't really go away. You always have to be aware of it don't you?
LG: Some say that and I suppose it's true, you know because you know sometimes at times you think about it but you weigh the pros and cons and you're figuring what's best, you know
IK: So, these days, as I said, you're the singer and the lyric writer for the band, F8(fate). Tell us a bit about the band. Where did the name come from?
LG: Well actually um I call it F-8, but you know, it does say fate. Um I was sitting at... I was doing a play with the National Theatre of the Deaf here in the United States, in Connecticut. And, I was trying to think of a name for the band and I was sitting in seat number F-8. And F-8 represents a whole lot of things. It was a fighter jet, it was the F-stop on a camera, it's uh, fate, it's the exit key on the computer. It's a lot of different things.
IK: And is the band a full time project for you these days?
LG: Actually it is. Um, I just finished doing a movie with David Spade actually. And we sold a song to them called Former Child Star.
IK: And so, I've got a copy of that here. Let's play a bit now.
Break and Former Childhood Star is played partially.
IK: Leif, you've certainly moved on musically since Surfin' USA and listening to that. Tell us a bit about the movie. Former Childhood Star sounds really good.
LG: It's actually really funny. David Spade and his partner Fred Wolf wrote it and it's called Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star. And he plays this really tainted character. Um, somewhat of a cross between Michael Jackson and somebody like oh Emmanuel Lewis or something. And it's really funny and I play his best friend in it.
IK: And there's cameos from a number of other former child stars too isn't there?
LG: Yeah, there's a few in there. There's the guy from the Partridge Family, Danny Bonaduce and the Brady Bunch and a few others. It's quite good.
IK: I believe that'll be released here in Australia towards the end of the year. So, we'll look forward to seeing that.
LG: It's to be released here in the states October 3rd.
IK: Great. Fantastic. Let's get to another song. You picked out an INXS tune. Where did you hear INXS over here or over there?
LG: Actually, I first heard INXS in America, but I became friends with Michael here in America as well ...in California. But you know I've heard them all over the place. I've gone to their concerts all over the world. I just love 'em.
Break and I Send a Message by INXS plays
IK: Leif, as we illustrated just before with your band, F-8 you've certainly moved on musically. Am I correct in saying you don't perform your hits from the 70's with the band?
LG: Absolutely not. You know I did do a couple of shows on our last tour uh just for fun we did kind of a rock and roll remake of I Was Made for Dancing. But just, I don't know, it just sorta rubs the hair on the back of my neck the wrong way...makes it stand up.
IK: Am I right to say that you've really tried hard to distance yourself from that time musically?
LG: Absolutely, because, you know the past is the past and that's all fine and well. But re-establishing myself, I want to get away from that you know. There'll be a time and place when we perform that stuff again possibly.
IK: Looking back over the years and being a former child star, would you want children of yours to go through what you went through?
LG: I want them to do whatever makes them happy.
IK: And how's life for you right now? Are you happy?
LG: I think I'm pretty ok. I'm pretty happy. You know things are going quite well and uh you know I'd be happier if I had a, uh, a wife. (laughs)
IK: Well I'm sure there are some Aussie girls who remember you from that 1978 tour who may want to catch up with you in that regard.
LG: Fine, well, you know, let me give you my phone number. (both laugh)
IK: I'll tell you what - there is an address we can give and that's for the band www.F8Officialsite.com. So if people want to catch up with more of your music and more of the news as to what you've been up with, that would be a good place to do it, right?
LG: Excellent yes
IK: Ok. Well before I let you go and I'm really grateful for your time today, I wanna take one more trip back in time to when you were topping the charts as a teenage heartthrob...I Was Made for Dancing.....What are your memories of this song?
LG: It was probably the biggest hit worldwide. So, ya know, I have nothing bad to say about it and I had a great time dancing to it.....as well with my fans and stuff so I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did.
IK: And do you ever listen to it at home these days?
LG: Absolutely not. (laughs)
IK: I knew you were going to say that, I did. Leif Garrett, good to talk to you at 4KQ.
LG: Thank you very much and Cheers.
And...I Was Made for Dancing plays in its entirety----- Interview by Liberty N Justice:
In our sixth interview, we talk with none other than Leif Garrett, the 70's teen idol, musician, and actor. So, without further delay, here is Leif Garrett!
First, Leif, can you tell us what you've been up to? Where can people go to find more about you?
My website is www.leifgarrett.net. Besides recording the song with LNJ, I recorded a song for the movie I did with Aaron Carter called "Pop Star." I worked with Michael Lloyd who was the first producer I ever worked with. Michael produced my biggest albums.
You've had a long career, landing acting jobs at age five and having hit records at 16! But that was back in the 70's, and now it's 2005. Why do your fans still have a strong attraction/fascination with you?
I've collected new fans because of things like "Behind The Music" and my association with other rockers - playing with people like Dave Navarro, Camp Freddy and stuff like that. I think the reason why the old fans have hung in there is because they genuinely liked the music that I did. Also, that was a very influential time in their life and I was a part of it.
Rumor has it that your former record label released a greatest hits album entitled "The Leif Garrett Collection" in 1998 without your knowledge. How has the record sold? Did you ever see any royalties from this CD?
My former record label was bought out. The label was started by me; meaning my music started it, funded it. And then it was bought out by some company that released the Greatest Hits Collection. Not only have I not seen any royalties from that, but they wanted me to promote it; the compensation being a couple of CDs.
We recently saw you in the movie "Dickie Roberts Former Child Star." In the DVD features we saw you in a music video with other former child stars. For one minute you're in the group, but then you're gone! Where did you go?
I wasn't comfortable in that setting. I did one take and then I left.
What did VH1's Behind the Music do for your career?
Yes, it helped. I think that it introduced a lot of young people to my career and my past and present music. It has been apparent in the fan mail.
Leif Garrett and The Crush Ups have a new song called "Betty Ford For X-Mas." Can you tell us about this song?
It's a joke song. It was for fun. A friend wrote a poem called "Betty Ford For Christmas" and then I reworked the lyrics and wrote the music. We recorded it and put it out for fun. The single is available at iTunes.
Name the three highest and lowest points of your musical career to date.
High points: First, playing the Houston Astrodome for 35,000 people. Second, flying back from London to New York City on the Concorde to make it in time to interview for "The Outsiders" and getting the part. Third, just knowing that I've pleased so many people with what I've done.
Low points: First, becoming addicted. Second, working with some of the people in the music industry that I've worked with. Third, not having a record deal right now.
Name the three highest and lowest points of your acting career to date.
High points: First, doing all the great television shows that I did as a kid. Second, winning Cowboy Hall of Fame for "Peter Lundy & The Medicine Hat Stallion." Third, doing "The Outsiders".
Low points: First, doing "Cheerleader Camp." Second, not working as much as I want to be right now in film. Third, people still coming up to me and talking to me about the "CHiPS" episode.
You recently did a song for the new Liberty n' Justice CD called "Sight Unseen." People who have heard the song say you did an amazing job. Some could not believe it was "Leif Garrett." People at the session said you were doing okay until the girls showed up or the Red Bull kicked in and then you were amazing. Which was it: the girls or the Red Bull?
It was none of the above. It was getting comfortable by working with new people and learning the song; or becoming 100 percent comfortable with the song.
What did you think of "Sight Unseen?" Was this your first time singing a Christian rock song?
Yes, it was the first time that I've done a Christian rock song. But I don't think of it that way. I think of it as a really good song about a good subject matter.
One night I was watching TV and an episode of Star Dates came on and there you were, going on a date. My goodness man, what where you thinking?
Good question. I still ask myself the same thing.
Spiritually what do you believe?
I believe in a higher power and I believe in good and bad, right and wrong. You sleep in the bed
you make.
Your biggest hit was a pop/disco song called "I Was Made For Dancing." What style of music do you like doing? Is it true that in the late 70s and 80s your record label would not let you pursue the music that you wanted?
I prefer rock n' roll, but obviously pop is based in rock n' roll too. But yeah, it's true. The record label wanted me to do a lighter style of music than what I wanted to do. I wanted to do The Stones, Zeppelin, Bowie, Elton John.
What advice would you give any former or present teen idols?
Don't believe your own publicity and stay on top of your finances. Don't leave that up to others.
You had a role in the 1983 blockbuster film "The Outsiders." Do you have any stories from the set you can share?
Francis Ford Coppola gave the Greasers and the Soc's different rooms. The Soc's got suites and the Greasers got regular rooms. He tried to create animosity between us so that we would bring it to the set, to work. We used to have rumbles in the lobby for fun.
You do a lot of charity work. How has this work affected your life?
I've done a lot of work with the March of Dimes and lots of other charities. I'm about to perform at a charity event for the American Red Cross for the South East Asia Relief Fund. I still like to do whatever I can for charities.
What does 2005 and beyond hold for the musician/actor Leif Garrett?
Hopefully it'll hold the rest of what I want to achieve: to sign a deal and to be able to do the music that I want to do. As far as acting goes, to continue working in film.
And finally, a LNJ 4-ALL word association. We will mention a name or thing, and you give us your thoughts:
Michael Jackson (pop singer)
-I'd rather not comment. Let's let the justice system do it's work. I don't know all the facts.
Slash (Guns n' Roses / Velvet Revolver)
-Twice bitten by success.
Corey Feldman (80's teen idol)
-Oh my; I don't know.
Mike Layne (producer of Liberty n' Justice)
-For the brief time that I got to work with him, really cool.
Hank Williams, Jr. (musician)
-Bad football jingle.
C.C. Deville (Poison)
-Hyper.
Michael Hutchence (INXS)
-Rest in peace, my friend.
Barb Papageorge (manager)
-A great friend and business partner.
Justine Bateman (Mallory Keaton from Family Ties)
-I wish her all the best.
Anne Robinson (The Weakest Link)
-Not as cold as she appears to be.
"June 13, 2003
Dear friends, fans, and everyone who supported F8,
Well, it was an interesting trip to say the least. Never have I been involved in something that had so much love, hate, passion, jealousy, comradeship, fun, and work rolled into one. On one hand I'm glad it's over and on the other I truly believe F8 could have gone on to bigger and better things if it wasn't for all the crap. What makes it worse is most of it came from within the band.
But it's all in the past now, time to move forward. The last thing I have to say about the matter is inlight of recent findings of which I was previously unaware and had absolutely nothing to do with. I apologize for any gross indiscretion or lewd behavior presented to you.
I am appalled. But again time to move forward. See you next time around.
Peace love and endless happiness to you all!!!
Leif"
Brad Elterman's Debut Photography Exhibition, 'Like It Was Yesterday,' Extended to January 29, 2005 at the Don O'Melveny Gallery in West Hollywood, Calif. Date : Tuesday - January 25, 2005
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Sherman Oaks, California-born Brad Elterman's first photography exhibition, "Like It Was Yesterday," commenced with a star-studded opening night party on Wednesday, January 19th, 2005, at the Don O'Melveny Gallery, 9009 Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood, California, telephone (310) 273-7868. The exhibition will now remain on display, by popular demand, during normal gallery hours through Saturday, January 29th. Attending the opening night reception was Leif Garrett, Kenny G and wife Lydnie, Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols, Michael Des Barres, Cherie Curie of The Runaways and The Mayor Of The Sunset Strip, Rodney Bingheimer. Former Teen Idol, Leif Garrett was the first boyfriend of Nicolette Sheridan of the hit TV show, Desperate Housewives. "I was the first one to take her photo," says Elterman. The photo is an iconic image with Sheridan in a string bikini at the age of 17. [Publishers' note: Here are 2 links to Brad's 1980s Leif photos that were displayed at the gallery: sexy Leif & Nicolette at home (best seller for Brad!) Leif hunky studio portrait See more fun photos (& stories) in Brad Elterman's book published in 1985, Shoot the Stars: How to Become a Celebrity Photographer, 158 pages, softback. If any of you attended the gallery and would like to share your experiences here, let me know. Enjoy!] Leif & Brad meeting again (after so many years) at the gallery, hugging in front of the Leif/Nicolette photo.
My story about finding 2 Leif items... eBay / About Me "funcollector" (ID) My "Time Capsule" -- scroll way down to find Leif's birthday times (that I sent him for his birthday)! My [printable] "Leif Garrett lyrics compilation" My scrapbook page of "Beau meeting Leif"
|
1978.
1981 (back of his 5th LP).
Photo courtesy of stargalaxy.com
Beau having a ball posing with...top left: Britt Ekland ("Mary Goodnight" of James Bond's The Man with the Golden Gun & singer Rod Stewart's former flame of the mid-1970s); top right: Leif's sis Dawn Lyn ("Dodie" of My Three Sons TV series); bottom left: TV's Too Close for Comfort cast- Deborah Van Valkenburgh, Nancy Dussault, Lydia Cornell, & Jm J. Bullock; bottom right: Alison "Nasty Nellie" Arngrim of The Little House on the Prairie TV series.