Goonies.

Stand by Me.

The Lost Boys.

Three of my favorite movies from the 80’s. I knew every word to these films. I saw each of them countless times. Hundreds. They were the staples of my junior high sleepovers. We’d pop in one of my VHS tapes of these films, and my friends and I would quote the films while eating Domino’s pizza. What did all three of these films have in common?

Corey Feldman appeared in each one.

Truth be told, I was more of a Haim girl. But the two Coreys were ever-present in my pre-teenage bedroom, both together and separate. I loved seeing the two of them together. The ultimate bromance. A yin and yang of the blond, all-American boy with the more goth, dark-haired guy. I followed their every move in Teen Beat, Bop, and whatever other magazine my local drugstore stocked that was emblazoned with their photos.

I watched Surreal Life, both seasons of The Two Coreys, and kept a vigilant eye for any news items related to the two. I think I may have cried when I learned of Haim’s passing.

Oh – and I almost met Feldman. That was a year ago. He was at my local minor league ballpark, promoting his latest music project. He was going to sign autographs during the game. My family really didn’t have the same level of excitement that I did, I ventured over to the area where he was to be signing.

And then the rain started.

It was coming down in sheets. Like, I literally have never been this wet in my life. But if it meant meeting Feldman, I was ok with being soaked. Plus, I immediately befriended the people in line around me, bonding over our shared love of 80’s nostalgia. Corey arrived and he was a lot shorter, more petite, than I expected him to be. But he looked the same as when he was last in the spotlight … black, long hair, dressed head to toe in leather, looking like a late-career Michael Jackson. He signed several autographs, and took the time to talk to everyone who passed through the line. But the rain was just coming down too damn hard. I was about 10 people back in the line when they decided to end the autograph session. He apologized to the group that was still waiting, and I could tell he genuinely felt bad. I took a bunch of pics with my phone, which I had miraculously kept dry enough that it still functioned. And away he went. So close … yet so far.

With all that history, and my level of dedication, you can imagine that I was excited to read Feldman’s memoir, Coreyography.

It was a fascinating read, starting from page one. Learning about the darker side of fame for both Feldman and Haim was heartbreaking. The drugs. The sexual abuse that took place. It’s all horrifying. But the book isn’t just about the horrors that happened along the way, it’s also about the triumphs. Feldman’s rise to fame. Having a best friend like Haim. His relationship with Michael Jackson. Though he’s had a lot of ups and downs, Feldman seems rather grounded and grateful to have gotten where he is in life. This book was written a couple of years ago, probably prior to his ballpark visit and my near-brush with meeting him, but I think he’s still doing pretty good.

It’s funny, thinking back to when those films came out. And buying the magazines and the posters. Seeing the smiling faces of Feldman and Haim together. You’d never think these two kids had any worries. Now, after reading this memoir, I see everything in a different light. When Dream a Little Dream came out, and Haim had a broken leg … that’s likely where his lifelong addiction to painkillers began. (And, btw, I loved that movie. Feldman says it was poorly constructed, and confusing to the audience, but I thought it was really charming. I loved License to Drive too.)

Anyone who loved those films as much as I did should read this book. You will not be able to put it down. But it will change your perspective a little bit.