Idol Truth: A Memoir

Remember Leif Garrett? Like lots of teenage girls, I loved him in the 70s. I had heard he had become addicted to various substances, but I have always rooted for him. This book, Idol Truth: A Memoir, tells some memorable stories from his early days as a child in show business and a little from later. It’s a super easy read made up of short stories. I breezed through it in one night. It feels honest...and it’s brutal. Some of the Hollywood stories are funny, but all in all, his life is a cautionary tale...a tale of how life goes wrong when a child is thrust into show business with little to no parental supervision. It’s heartbreaking that this promising child/teen was thrown to the wolves. It also made me happy that he is still here...still alive and is a seemingly good, thoughtful, compassionate individual, even after a tortured life. Personally, I hate that he hasn’t been able to do a book tour during the pandemic, because I think he would have been well received by lots of adoring fans from the old days. I hope he makes a lot of money on this one, and I hope he is able to beat his addictions. Maybe he can do a book tour later...I would be the first in line. God bless him. This is a great read.

I really enjoyed reading Leif's book, although not a fan I knew who you were because you shared the pages of Tiger Beat and 16 magazine with who I was crazy about and that would be The Bay City Rollers, in particular Eric Faulkner, the best looking one in my young opinion. Unfortunately, what happened to you also happened to them ( and I'm sure many musicians) taken advantage of by unscrupulous management who made a fortune at your expense. Their manager sounds like an absolute nightmare, and I'm sure more will be revealed in time about his deviant behavior. I really enjoyed your stories related to meeting other musicians like Rod Stewart and Queen. I absolutely love Queen to this day and I must say that after reading about how Roger Taylor set you up with a groupie, I think Roger wrote the song " fight from the inside " about you! Anyway I hope you are well and I'm glad you are still here after the hell you went through with drug addiction and the craziness of being an adored and worshipped teen idol that only lasts for a fleeting moment in time as you and your fans grow up.

Reading “Idol Truth: A Memoir” is bittersweet. I am only 5 years older than Leif, but was never a fan—I like his megahit I Was Made for Dancing and thought he was adorable, but never really paid much attention to him. After weekly readings of historical books since the pandemic began. I thought I’d read something light and nostalgic. It was light, but also sad, tender, gut-wrenching. I had no idea what this poor teen went through, how he was used, abused, and chewed up by money-hungry managers. He was a blond-locks sensation that became almost like a worldwide cult, much like “Tommy” in The Who fame.The book cruises along more or less in chronological order, with many very short chapters that are more like vignettes. About his early years: his father who abandoned the family; his mother who dated Burt Reynolds; name dropping the super nice stars (Burt, Tony Randall), his drug buddies (Robert Downey Jr, John Belushi, Chris Farley), the predators (Warren Beatty’s cousin, Rick Finch) and plenty more. The main theme is abuse: he was abused by the system, by himself and without anyone to really protect him. He abused drugs, they abused him. But the real monsters here are the Scotti brothers who wrung every cent out of this kid by controlling his entire life for 5 years. He was the puppet on stage and they pulled the strings. I thought the car crash when he was 17 was the turning point in his life but no. He details the crash and aftermath, which left his passenger a paraplegic, but shockingly, just sentences away: “In between recovering from the accident and getting ready for the tour of the Far East, I went to a pool party with a couple of friends.” Just like that. And there he falls madly in love with Nicollette Sheridan, which takes up a lot of pages in the book. It was a jarring read.Along with the central theme of abuse is addiction: to drugs, to fame, and above all to women. You could justly say Garrett was a sex addict as well as heroin addict. If not, he is a braggart. It was too much to read constantly, over and over, about his sexual conquests, how Aerosmith band members were intrigued by his conquests and how he had his choice of women, and the occasional threesome. But when he wrote he was frustrated “at having left Los Angeles without having consummated my relationship with my friend, Tatum O’Neal; it frustrated me when a woman made me wait. So many women were throwing themselves at me, yet Tatum was keeping me waiting.” Women were just used, conquests, much like the Scottis were using him. And how dare one stand up to him? Much like the Scottis said to him when he tried to assert his desire to perform more modern music.So there are these contradictions. A final one is that he claims “Just as I had always done in my career, I did what I was told. I was obedient, and I played along.” And yet in other places, he claims he was defiant, risk-taking, disobedient and willful. Maybe he was both. Still, I found myself believing in Garrett when he writes, “I know I want to be a good person. I’m a survivor, but I’m also a dreamer. I believe in the good of people. I’m positive. I will always believe that love is the most important, unifying force on the planet.” He might not be there yet, and may be still finding his way. I think it was good for him to write this. He was a cultural phenomenon and he matters. I agree with his coauthor about Garrett’s life: “I found it riveting. I found it sad. But I also found it very compelling.”

Wow!As a woman now, who grew up watching Leif on those shows, movies, tv appearances for his music and listening to his albums, this was quite an insightful, truthful and heartbreaking book.I feel the injustice done to him in his career and it angers me that so many sharks are out there taking advantage of young talent. A cautionary tale for certain.My father was approached by a Hollywood director when I was six or seven years old. My dad said no. My older brothers were angry about it but he stood fast. I often wondered what it could have been, but nearly every day, I thank God for giving me a protective dad who I know did the right thing for me.I wish things had been better for Leif but I commend him on coming out the other side. I believe people can change and I truly feel he has.I still remember the song “Memorize Your Number“ a great song that didn’t get the credit it deserved. Or the airplay.Leif, I hope you are feeling better about yourself, your life and know that there is someone in Portland who thinks you’re a good person.Thank you for sitting down and getting this book written.

I Absolutely love this book I have read it twice already. Leif has had a great life travelling the world with movies and concerts, he has also had his hard times for sure but he’s got through it and I am hoping for a second book

Amazing...I can't stop reading. A HEART BIGGER THAN THE WORLD, WHICH HAD HIS MOMENTS OF GLORY, BUT ALSO HAD HIS MOMENTS OF PAIN AND SUFFERING. I SUFFERED IMAGINING A YOUNG MAN, GOING THROUGH EVERYTHING HE WENT.

I have read a lot if memoirs and this is one of the best reads in a long time. Honest and so down to earth. I don't want it to end. Dud , you are amazing I too grew up in the same era and remember you in all the teen magazines but I was too poor to buy them but my girlfriend would let me read hers. I was in a fog through out the 70's and I was more into punk but your face was everywhere. I am so happy you came clean and keep strong ...fight fight fight and if you write another book I shall be reading that one too.

Interessante leggere l'altra faccia della medaglia.

Ich war damals als Teenie ein Fan von Leif und habe in den letzten Jahren immer mal wieder die Neuigkeiten über ihn gelesen. Jetzt aus erster Hand zu lesen, was wirklich geschehen ist, war sehr interessant.Das Englisch war gut zu verstehen für mich.