Ari Lehman
Ari Lehman, Actor, Musician
Y Spy: Who are you and why are you here?
Ari Lehman: My name is Ari Lehman, and I am the first Jason Voorhees from “Friday the 13th,” here, at HorrorHound Weekend in Indianapolis, because the friends and fans of Jason Voorhees mean more to me than life itself.
Y Spy: How did jumping out of a lake dressed like a half-rotted mongoloid affect the rest of your life?
Lehman: In fact, when I did it, it was a fun summer job. I was very fortunate to be able participate with the greatness of Tom Savini and Sean Cunningham.
Y Spy: How old were you at the time?
Lehman: I was only 14 years old. It was a great honor and a great opportunity. But let’s look at the image of the pond and the water, of all that decaying vegetation, of the mother image, of the girl in a boat image, the decapitation. There’s so much there. The first “Friday the 13th” is mythological, and it has so much room for expansion. I want to let all the fans know, there’s more coming to this story. Every story has a beginning, and that story will be told.
Y Spy: And how do you fit into that?
Lehman: I wish I could tell you, but let’s just say this: all signs are good, and all systems are go for something that will satisfy that need in the fans to understand the origins of this wonderful character. They’ve never told how he made this transformation, why he behaves the way he does.
Y Spy: Tell me about your band, “First Jason.”
Lehman: I’ve been a musician all my life. First Jason is a punk/metal band; we play all over the United States and Europe. I just returned from Spain, where we played at the Festival de Cine de Terror in Barcelona. I just did a singing presentation – a concert and a finale – at the Fantasy Horror Awards last weekend in Italy, where I presented gold awards to Dario Argento, Robert Englund, and many more. That was a lot of fun.
Y Spy: So when did you first learn to tickle the ivories like a mad motherfucker?
Lehman: Thank you! When I was a kid. The same time I was being little Jason.
Y Spy: What else has been happening?
Lehman: I’ve been participating in many independent films, most notably “Vampira: the Movie.” I did the soundtrack. First Jason has been an element, but working on soundtracks has been another. Also acting in independent films like “Terror Overload.”
Y Spy: What scares you?
Lehman: Alienation.
First Jason Album Cover
Ari Lehman can be found at www.firstjason.com.
Leave a comment
No comments yet.
Y Marks the Spot 
Leave a Reply