PHOTOS: LA's 'Outsiders'

All photos and text courtesy of Los Angeles Magazine

Some Angelenos don't wait for Hollywood to discover them. Their fame is self-generated and, in a city of narcissists, hard won. Other characters express their passions in public with such missionary zeal, they make our own bashfulness all the more apparent. Music, environmentalism, and the benefits of shaking your hips drive the street personalities who brighten the schlep of our daily commute. For those about to rock public space, we salute you.

- By Laurie Pike

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Guitar Guy

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» The éminence grise of boardwalk performers is inline-skate-dancing, electric-guitar-playing Harry Perry. Thirty-six years after he first hit the beach, the practicing Sikh is still waiting for his big rock and roll break. Why? “To be a great guitarist you need to play in excess of eight, ten hours a day.” Fantasy: For Live Nation to put out his record and book him on tour. “When I was onstage in Wisconsin once and 30,000 people were cheering, I felt the g-force. I want that.” Peanut gallery: “People in Venice take my picture. In West Hollywood they’re more into the music.”

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» The éminence grise of boardwalk performers is inline-skate-dancing, electric-guitar-playing Harry Perry. Thirty-six years after he first hit the beach, the practicing Sikh is still waiting for his big rock and roll break. Why? “To be a great guitarist you need to play in excess of eight, ten hours a day.” Fantasy: For Live Nation to put out his record and book him on tour. “When I was onstage in Wisconsin once and 30,000 people were cheering, I felt the g-force. I want that.” Peanut gallery: “People in Venice take my picture. In West Hollywood they’re more into the music.”

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Band Of Outsiders

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Comments

[bornefree]

07:07 AM on 06/17/2010

I love the tall tree guy. One time he was completely outfitted as something unique from the
ocean with netting and starfish, dressed in the colors of the ocean. He is mesmerizing,
like a magical being from the deep, his moves are slow and methodical. If you are lucky
enough to encounter him you are truly blessed. My favorite of all Venice characters.

[Guitarsandmore]

12:27 PM on 06/14/2010

Last time I saw guitar guy Harry Parry he actually could sing and play the guitar well enough to get work. He seemed pretty crazy, though.

[Hardbull]

08:39 AM on 06/14/2010

Great pictures, but who took them? HuffPost really should give credit where it's due, not just to the writer of the captions. The photographer is Gregg Segal.

[EmmaJ76]

07:06 AM on 06/12/2010

Roller skating Jimi Hendrix as my fiance and I call him - Venice Beach wouldn't be the same without him. Whenever we are in LA and at the beach, he is one of the people that you see and you just can't help but smile.

[tucsoncindy]

04:50 PM on 06/13/2010

Yes...he is Venice Beach...

[Jennifer Kurland]

08:29 PM on 06/11/2010

I can't believe that the Robertson Rollerskating Dancing in black leotard guy is included! For shame! This list is grossly incomplete!

[Vivicca Whitsett]

06:56 PM on 06/14/2010

I know... how could they leave him off? Although I haven't seen him lately...

[Gina Lobaco]

02:15 PM on 06/09/2010

Where's the Lava Lady????

[Erdgeist]

01:26 PM on 06/09/2010

Some of the charm of California is that is tolerates and even adores its eccentrics. This all comes from the noble line of Emperor Norton who old Californians to this day remember. Oops, I forgot to mention Peter the Hermit. Sorry Peter! My dad said Peter could be seen on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street sometimes doing chin-ups on the lampost.

[LeeCalif]

10:36 AM on 06/09/2010

They are better and more realistic things to support.

All the tea in China can't help the Dead Gulf.

Don't fall for "Tort Reform" !! That allows criminal corporations to avoid responsibility
for negligent actions and shoddy products.
Don't allow any cap to be put on BP's damages to the Gulf. NO CAP !!

SeizeBP.org

[Nancy Scibilia]

10:19 AM on 06/09/2010

I see Jesus in Weho weekly, and in parts of Hollywood. You can usually find him at the corner of Fairfax and Fountain. He's one of my faves.

[Alf LaMont]

03:05 AM on 06/09/2010

Oh, come on! What about Melrose Larry Green and Sunset Strip Jesus?

[rktboy]

10:01 PM on 06/08/2010

I always spot Doc Abrams walking around my neighborhood, and I've always speculated about his story. Hmmm. I believe I much prefer my outlandish explanations.

[Semper Troll]

09:21 PM on 06/08/2010

Where is Chivo.

[VerizonCells]

08:59 PM on 06/08/2010

It's amazing Guitar Guy is still out there.
I used to see him all the time on Venice Beach back in the 1980's when I used to visit friends for long weekends from San Francisco.

I still see him in background shots in movies to this day.

Good for him!

[fridakahlofan]

05:22 PM on 06/08/2010

I saw #1 last summer in Venice, he looks the same, only aged a little, but other than that the same.

[boilinabag]

03:13 PM on 06/08/2010

you forgot mayor photo-op. he is always outside the city hall downtown pretending he is making a difference....