Harry Perry - Legend or Freak?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.ย. 2024
- Street performer Harry Perry in his most revealing profile ever. Is this Venice Beach musician a street performing genius or just a another bizarre Southern California beach freak. You decide!
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he's the coolest guy in venice beach .. i talked with him for hours and it never got bored ! he is no freak , he is a legend !
legend - no doubt about it - met Perry for the first time when I was 19, now I am 43, like everyone says, he is Venice Beach
i lived on venice beach on the streets from 1982 until i was shot in november of 1987. i do a solo act with a saxophone and/or flute and at that time, a frisbee dog , who would also play fight with the local wino clowns, ralph and willy. harry and i would often do our morning warmups at the same time on the storm drain at rose avenue, with harry doing long pole kempo and me dancing around him in my modified krav maga style.
harry is the busker prince of venice beach for sure and a beautiful man following the sikh faith. i wish him nothing but the best for all eternity and commend you for an excellent feature story about him.
he came through our campsite at Bonnaroo and played "too much steak and chocolate cake" We were all very appreciative and three sheets to the wind. God Bless Harry Perry.
Harry Perry is The Voice of Venice Beach. I was there as a tractor trailer driver in the late 80's and early 90's. Dropped the trailer at the Ontario TA, and would head to Venice every time I was around LA. I loved walking up and down the boardwalk, and seeing the sights. While there were many freaks there, Harry was not one of them. He plays a mean guitar, has been there for years and years, and is as good as an ambassador for LA or Venice as one could wish for. He's been in movies even.
Awesome! He is indeed an actor as well; he even has an IMDb and indeed, it appears he was on the TV show Heroes.
I met him a few times when I was at Venice Beach he was very friendly to me
I remember this guy from when I was 18 back in 1982, I have a picture of him off my little Kodak 110, I can't believe the dude is still alive. I went out to CA and bummed around for a coupe weeks, great solo trip. I sure had my small town Canadian eyes opened on that run. Good times.
My first encounter it was I guess right at the beginning of his busking "career," in about 1973 or 1974 (ish) - La Brea tar pits & museums in Midtown Los Angeles. As I recall, he had no amplification, may have been playing an acoustic guitar & no rollerskates yet. At least not where we met him.
August 5, 2019 He's still at Venice Beach. I bought his t-shirt for my 15 y o great nephew Ashton, from PA. Nice guy, but don't try to take his photo without putting the greenback into his hand first! I told him that $20 was a bit expensive (in my book) for a t-shirt. Until he told me the story about the original artwork screen-printed on it. That made me happy to pay for the art! He threw in a cd. I don't think I've ever been to Venice and NOT seen him. He's as much a part of Venice as Muscle Beach!
sagency I saw him Sunday by the basketball court and he was still jammin
I was serenaded by Harry Perry in the early 80's. He played an off-world, dreamy melody & sang like a cool alien. I liked that better than the wall of noise thang. He's cute too.
Funny you say that - my friend and I first ran into him about 1973 or so at the La Brea tar pits on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. We felt he was sort of "serenading" us, so we dubbed him "The Serenader!" :-)
I knew Harry when he was 16 years old. He was in my boyfriend's band and the name of the band was HP and the Grassroot Movement. His smile was always a killer. Hi Harry from Molly
Around 2004 I didn't know who he was; but when I saw him skating around playing a guitar, I gave him the devil horns. lol He came over singing "I think she likes me!" haha! Such an awesome guy. I bought a cd from him and I listened to it for quite a while. I could still sing some of the words if I heard the songs again.
That man is a brilliant artist and soul as well. His CD is awesome and genius shines through the lack of expensive audio engineering. He is an inspiriation for all mankind and especially aspiring artist everywhere. Period.
I've been a fan for 24 years. A friend ran into him, told him I this and Harry said "call her on your cell and I'll play a song for her". He actually played the whole song which got weird because it was long but this speaks to his sincerity. He claims that the street is the only uncensored stage but it's hard to survive there. Support Harry Perry. Buy his Greatest Hits on itunes.
I just ran into him playing the sidewalks of the Las Vegas strip (April 2019). I had moved out of LA & have lived in Dallas for almost 10 years, so it was awesome seeing him again!
1) He's an original. 2) He always rocks. 3) He's a nice guy, cool to people. 4) Check out his CDs, the tunes are very catchy!
Its good to see Someone who knows... Again ... Harry is a Friend ... of mine.
Nov 2023 I saw him 2 day ago walking not playing down on Venice Beach said ..hey Harry Perry! He smiled. Well he's always has a smile. He ain't getting any younger folks! Go see him play alway fun
1988-89 Oakland Colosseum New Years Eve Grateful Dead concert! This guy is DEFINITELY a LEGEND!!!
He's been doing this since I was a little kid in the 70s.
i miss seeing that dude. I used to live 4 blocks from the boardwalk.
Why did you move?
I vote LEGEND!
Legend and a Freak--- used to see him in Detroit- he was the Leader of HP and the grassroot movement-- always wondered what became of him… then one day I was in Venice beach walking around and there he Was.
He advocated for all of Venice Beach to be able to stay.. without him the hippies of Venice would not exist today. Corporations were trying to take everything away, you can now not sell tshirts if docked on the mobile shop side. Squares have been created to mark maximum occupancy and size of shop. But only because he went to court.
I saw this guy play with System of a Down at ozzfest a few years back in Va Beach.
cool dude... i just got back from venice/sana mon.,..he skated up to me and i tried singing to his riffs,..but dont ask him to do covers..lol!.....oh yea, i bought his shirt w/cd...
Harry was already on the beach doing his thing in the mid 70's, I know him from way back then. He's in his early 60's now, must be a coincidence.
I love this guy, I think he's terrific.
I ran into Harry at Bonnaroo, and had no idea who he was... i was so high and he rocked my face off!
I think he's a visionary. To be honest, I was in Venice in the 80s and I was a little scared of him. Venice was cool back then with people selling handmade lavender candles. And they had a booth of NORML trying to legalize pot. And now pot is legal. My how the times change.. ..
I LOVE this dude. My favorite tune of his is "Under Seige".
Legend for sure 👊
Legend
He's a legend and a freak! He's the perfect balance. He's done what he wants against all odds. I for one need this example in a world gone mad. An original for sure. I moved to LA in late 89 and it came time to roll one and head on down to Venice Beach for my first time not knowing anything about it. As soon as I stepped of the curb, there he was telling me invaders were coming from another planet ( the invaders are US!)- I was mesmerized and a little horrified as a result of the weed. When it was all over, he offered me a cassette tape for 5 dollars which I still have today. My friend still reminds me that out of all those thousands of people that day, He skated up to me, as if I was chosen...and I was. Thanks Harry! those few years in LA were a blast and I have that memory for ever. I hope when the world blows itself up you'll still be skating like a motherf*****!
Seriously , I love that guy! Have an autographed photo of him in a place of honor.
I have his CD and a poster~ NOT a freaK!! HES AWSOME!!!
I met him today! First time busking down there and he gave me some encouraging words. Told me not to be phased by haters and to keep playing whatever I wanted (only because some lady told me I sucked as she walked by).
Buy Harry Perry's CD it's fucking amazing. I'm the biggest music nerd and his CD is super neat i swear.
landed in LA 1990 from England 1st time in US,stayed in Venice beach for a couple of weeks Saw Harry skating on the boardwalk strumming his stuff,He sold me a tape,Venice Beach Songs,Then he gave me a comp ticket for his gig at the Troubadour,It was a night to remember.30 years later still got the tape but nothing to play it on.
I want to meet him and ACTUALLY buy his CD. :(
Some one down in the comments said" He's as much a part of Venice Beach as Muscle beach" That is spot on. Venice Beach wouldn't be the same without him! This guy has been in movies for crying out loud. First time I met him was in 1997. He looks the same only his guitar has aged big time.
he,s legend. saw him in 1983 as i justed to live there, great time. and this guy knows , wie es geht.
love him😂❤️
Skated past me once whaling on that guitar. I knew him from Heads of Skin. I waved and smiled and he smiled at me. Got to meet a guy I knew from Dr. Demento that day.
Why can't he be both. Back in the day we wore the freak flag as a badge of honor.
I could swear he went to my high school in Canoga Park in the late 70's. He always walked around playing the guitar thinking he was Hendrix or something. One time when I was down in Venice I confronted him and told him who I was and who I thought he was. He denied it! Though not very convincing I didn't push to much. I figured he's doing his own thing and that's cool. Play on brother, play on.
He never thought he was Hendrix
He’s born in Detroit then was from DC before ÇA. He’s 72 now. Does that fit in w HS @ CP? Nope. Another guy for sure. Cool memories tho!
Definitely a freaky legend!!!! His playing inspired everything that follows on guitar for less Ismore.
I was in Venice buying an ibanez and i wanted to see if id run into him to get his approval but i missed him...hes a legend for sure!
Haaaah i remember seeing him all the time !!! :D
Originally it was a Charvel bullseye from circa 1982. However it's been re-necked. How would I know this? Same dude was there back in 1987, playing just as badly. The neck was maple on the original, I remember thinking when I saw it, "Cool, strat head charvels are getting so hard to find.. how did this bozo get one?" I have no idea what the newer neck is and who did the hack job on the original bridge, but that's the body. He had a pignose portable amplifier hanging on him then. The only thing I can say with certainty about this guy is that he DID NOT spend the handouts on guitar lessons.
And all that being said, he's still more famous than I will ever be. LOL.
snappydoodad remember the old clay wheels ... jaMan ... Space invaders from another planet... you invade the beach
When You Live There , You may have a voice ... otherwise , bugout. Rookies
lo vi en Venice Beach en set 2001
I ran into him at Bonnaroo too...I can't remember the year.He was with a bass player too...hmmn.good times
"too much steak and chocolate cake..too much booze and tv news"....Harry Perry
@101chia i grew in LA and me and my buddy jhonny use to jam off hitch hiking hollywood Harry is a GOD
R.I.P
Legend! Hes got some sweet punk riffs!
Not a freak but a cool Venice guy I thought he was Jimmy Hendrix when I was a child
I lived there in the early 90s. Could never really have a conversation with him because he never stops playing, so I don't know if he's sane or not. Always heard he was wealthy and had a house nearby.
He’s lucid, but I know the first time we met he did that to me too…
Shoreline Amphitheater, Dead 9/89, sunset, epic!
@@flashbackactivator6565 I think I'm forgetting things, actually I did chat with him now and again. I remember he showed me his little amp and the effects pedals he had. I remember asking him why he never turns the phaser effect off. I think he laughed. I knew people who sold incense on the Boardwalk and they knew him pretty well. He talked to Ari Up a lot... she always seemed to be around. Sometimes I'd see her with her stepdad, Johnny Rotten. He was always friendly with me, which I found surprising at the time... I must have passed his hazing routine.
My man reminds me of a cross between Hendrix and Fletch....
*He’s in “Fletch” during the opening sequence!
Why a freak...???He"s a Venice legend.
It's a knock off, not a real Fender. Harry had a brown sunburst Les Paul copy when he first started out in the 70's.
It's a Charvel. Fender never had a guitar like that.
haha, wonderful
All hail the LV85 rollerbard.
Dude was decidedly unchill when I was down there last summer. I don't go to Venice very often and I didn't even know he was a thing until today. I was just walking down the boardwalk and he was there going my direction and I'm like 'Dude, yeah, jam on it bro.' And then afterward got really insistent that I buy his CD and I had like 5 bucks on me and 40 in the bank at the time so I was like 'Ahhh, sorry dude I literally have like almost no money' but he got kept up like 'No, we can go to an ATM.' and I was like 'no dude, seriously I can't' and he wouldn't stop, like 'There's an ATM right over here.' and getting to be like way too much like come on dude I was just trying to buy a pepsi I don't need none of this.
Ceremor The easiest way to get rid of Perry is to either tell him you already bought one of his CDs or offer to sell him one of your own CDs. He'll desert you immediately.
@@tinkles30 😅
But also. “Decidedly unchill”…
Just say I’m broke man I can’t. It’s his job to be a hustler/busker … it’s the boardwalk bby. You came to a page of fans here… ✌🏼 😅 so your comment is decidedly unchill 😆 “business hippy” ifkyk
@101chia whats a venice?
I took a random candid photo of a couple walking on the venice board walk. Harry was in the background of that photo. I did not even know who he was until a few days ago. I recognized him from that photo i took...sure enough.
flickr.com/photos/thecolbyfiles/6035383115
Heavy riffs
he s all right. doing his arbeit jeden tag. er ist grade. setzt sich für natur ein.
That so called "freak" as you call him is worth 5 mil. So Freak on That.!😡# Legend is more like it
Looks like a fender but I can't read the writing, could be a knock off
It's a Charvel.
this dudes punjabi!!!!