Turning Over a New Leif

Kirk Baird

Sunday, Jan. 23, 2000 | 9:11 a.m.

There isn't a lot to be said about Leif Garrett that a VH1 "Behind the Music" episode hasn't already covered: the fame, the fall, the sex, the drugs, the rock 'n' roll. The former teen heartthrob who juggled a singing and acting career still maintains both as a frontman for Godspeed, which is scheduled to play at the House of Blues at 8 p.m. Thursday. Recently Garrett talked about his teen-idol days, his new band and what the "Behind the Music" episode -- during which he emotionally implored, "Turn off that camera!" -- did for his career.

Question: When people think of Leif Garrett, what do they think of?

Answer: They think of long blond hair, Spandex and disco tunes. Possibly a skateboard.

Q: Is that a good thing?

A: It means back in the day it was a really strong image. Hopefully that's not the way it is; hopefully people think of me as an evolving artist. It's not a bad thing. Just to be remembered at all is really great, especially since it's been such a long time. It shows it was a strong image, and there is a fan base out there and they do remember.

Q: Have you ever had any contact or conversations with anyone with similar experiences, a Shaun Cassidy or Bobby Sherman?

A: Out of all the people, David Cassidy, oddly enough. Andy (Gibb) and I knew each other before he passed away. Shaun and I never hung out. He always thought I jumped on his bandwagon. David and I did a movie together, "The Spirit of '76," back in, like, '90. We talked about the similar experiences ... sharing war stories, stuff like that. What was amazing is that he felt the same way I did as far as, like, not wanting to do the music he was doing at the time.

He was into Hendrix and the Beatles and all that, whereas I was into Led Zeppelin, Elton John, Rod Stewart, the Stones, and we both wanted to be doing music like that. The big difference now is that he sort of needed to be famous more than he needed to quench his thirst for his true wants, or (maybe) he is just afraid. But I made a decision that I would never do the old stuff.

Q: Talk a little about your new band, Godspeed. How did it all come about and where do you see it going?

A: It came about because I did not want to come out as myself -- solo, just Leif Garrett -- because I felt there was a stigma with the name and how people would think of the music. Originally, I wanted to just come out as a lead singer. I want it to stay a band situation. So many people keep telling me, "change it to the Leif Garrett Band, change it to the Leif Garrett Band." It's like, no man, you're missing the point. I just did a compilation record with the Melvins. And we did a remake of "Smells Like Teen Spirit." I did the lead vocals. I asked them not to release it as "Smells Like Teen Spirit," but "Smells Like Teen Idol." Hopefully they'll get it and release it as that.

Q: You seem to have maintained a sense of humor about the whole teen-idol thing. Would you say that's true?

A: God, if I didn't I'd probably be another statistic, six feet underground.

Q: What about your acting? I know you're in some upcoming films.

A: Just finished a film called "The Art of a Bullet." I don't know when the release date is going to be on that. It's an independent picture; it will either get a small independent release or it will get a straight-to-video release. I think it's good enough to get a theatrical release. I also did a "Suddenly Susan" (episode). I played myself back then, if that makes sense. It was like I had stuck with the old stuff and never grew. When I first read the script I was, like, "Oh man, I can't do this." Then I got the producers to change some stuff. Then I thought, if I can make fun of myself, (and) I do have a sense of humor about myself, and I'm able to do this, what can anyone else say? Plus, it was a lot of fun, it was crazy. I actually sang "Once, Twice, Three Times a Lady" to Susan on the show.

Q: How did the VH1 "Behind the Music" episode affect you? Obviously, there was more talk about you around the water coolers than before.

A: In a huge way. I didn't even realize the impact that it would have. It did jump-start things like crazy. The timing was perfect because I was already working on stuff. I still would have done it even if I wasn't recording at the time and doing new music. For me, it was an exorcism. I needed to get the truth out about a lot of things. The meeting between my friend Roland and I, my friend who I hadn't seen in 20 years, that really took such a weight off my shoulders that I didn't realize was there; one that was so detrimental to my life.

Q: Does doing a show like "Behind the Music" make things easier for you, or does it just drag out the past?

A: It made things easier. All those questions that people obviously have had -- because otherwise they wouldn't have done a show with me if there wasn't an interest -- it was my chance to answer everybody at once, as opposed to going around the nation and doing it individually with a tour. It was a pleasurable thing to do. It really was amazing how much it really helped get a lot of people to think about me again.

Q: After baring your soul on the show and saying you were clean, you were then arrested and charged with drug possession this past summer. Did that make it more difficult?

A: No, because I was clean at the time (of the TV show). And trust me, it was a struggle every day back then before I did the rapid detox (a new detoxification program where the patient is put to sleep for four to six hours and the opiates are completely flushed from the patient's body). My girlfriend of five years had passed away and I went off the deep end. I was on my way to going cold turkey. It was really (expletive) stupid.

Q: What about Roland (who was left paralyzed in a car accident with Garrett)? I understand you two have kept in contact but aren't particularly close.

A: Still true. We were never best friends, which was odd that it was played up. I guess it made a better story for people that we were best friends. We were friends of friends.