Salame: A Rooftop Chat With David Liebe Hart

Images: Ben Thomson

Some things you may or may not know about David Liebe Hart. He is a musician, actor, ventriloquist, train enthusiast and staunch Christian Scientist. He also claims to have lived with comedian Robin Williams, played in a punk band and is related to the Wright Brothers and 18th President of the United States, Ulysses S Grant. He says that as a child he was abducted by a group of aliens called Korendians.

Born in Chicago in 1955, Liebe Hart moved to Los Angeles in the mid 70s where he produced a public access television show called the Junior Christian Science Bible Lesson Program. Starring a cast of puppets that sang songs about the teachings of the Church of Christian Scientists the program developed a cult following.

His eccentric puppetry eventually brought him to the attention of John Stewart’s Daily Show where he made an appearance in 2004, followed by a spot on The Jimmy Kimmel Show. But Liebe Hart is best known for his appearance on Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! where as a semi regualr guest he’s performed puppetry and tracks such as “Email Song” and the Korendian greeting “Salame”.

Before his recent Melbourne performance we caught up with Liebe Hart and his puppet friends Albert Hermann and Chip the Black Boy on the rooftop of the Evelyn hotel.

Noisey: Christian Science plays a big part in your life. Did you want to be a preacher?
David Liebe Hart: I was doing class instruction at the Christian Science Church, but they had a drug addict [teaching me] about the bible – she only gave me one lesson. The church’s board of director’s states that you can only be taught scripture by one person, so that was ruined and I can’t be a church leader now.

What does the church think of you as a performer?
I’ve been trying to get them to give me a write up in the Christian Science Monitor, but they haven’t done it. I have a high profile as a performer, but the board of directors won’t listen. They’re so conservative…

Is it a racist church?
There’s racism in all churches. I dated a white girl, I was engaged to be married, and she told her pastor at the ELCA Lutheran church she was dating a black man. He told her she’d burn in hell if she married a black man. This church is supposed to be liberal, and accepting gays, blacks and everybody – but they don’t do that.

How long have you been in the Christian Science Church (CSE)?
I was born and raised in the CSE. My family were Christian scientists, they were Quaker and Lutherans. On my Caucasian side, I’m related to the Wright Brothers and President Grant.

You’ve been a long-term opponent of alcohol and drugs, is that a personal thing or a spiritual thing?
It’s a spiritual thing. I saw what it did to Robin Williams…

Robin Williams was your housemate?
I lived with Robin Williams at the Saint Moritz Hotel across from Channel 5. He used to go to the CSE with me, but he left and went to the Episcopal Church, and I saw him just after he was discovered [as an addict].

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What’s your take on Iggy Azalea and how in America she’s under fire for sounding ‘too black’?
The first race was the black race and all other races came from that, so she sees talent in African Americans.

Do you think she’s exploiting that culture?
No no, I love her and I think she’s proud to show her black genes. If that’s what she wants to do, so be it… Do you know who else is from Australia, who used to be my friend but doesn’t return my emails or phone calls?

Who?
Olivia Newton John.

Really?
I used to see Olivia at the Screen Actors Guild meetings, and on different sets – but I’ve emailed her and she’s never emailed me back.

How did the Tim and Eric connection come about?
They had a public access show and Eric used to be a punk rocker. I was pitching myself to many different TV shows and got a lot of rejections – I didn’t have a talent agent at that stage, but managed to connect with them… Even Jay Leno didn’t let me on his show for many years, because I didn’t have an agent.

Cartoon Network has told Tim and Eric that they don’t want a show with me in it. In fact I was supposed to be on the Eric Andre show. I did [Tim and Eric]’s movie and I’m only in it at the very end, and the fans don’t like that they don’t use me anymore.

What about the other guest that are on their shows?
I worked with John C. Reilly. He’s from Chicago like me, he’s part Irish and German like me, and he’s very talented.

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You said you were in a punk band, have you had any conflicts from punks towards your Christian beliefs?
I set Christian values to punk music, and they’ve all liked them. I’ve had to take my music to get licenced from the Christian Copyright Licensing International, because the CSE didn’t want to promote music from a minority.

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What were your reasons behind becoming a vegan?
My cousins were vegan, but it was mainly because of the Korendians. The Korendians were all vegans and they live to be three thousand-years-old. They don’t eat any meat or sugar. My grandmother, right before she died, told me I’d meet Korendians.