Rick Springfield plays the River Rock Show Theatre this weekend

June 13, 2006
Success hasn't spoiled him
By Michelle Hopkins

In the early '80s, what teenage girl didn't swoon over a poster of fresh-faced singer Rick Springfield, or at the sight of him as Dr. Noah Drake on ABC's General Hospital? Today, the actor/singer/guitarist has revived both careers. The News caught up with the unpretentious star in California, where he was waiting to board an airplane for the next stop in a whirlwind North American tour - which brings him to our shores this weekend to perform two shows at the River Rock Show Theatre. "It's exhausting but the shows are a lot more fun today," says Springfield. "I choose to make the concerts less rigid, more freeform and for the audience it's a big party."

His soulful, smoky and strong voice belies the fact that he's 57 years old. He belts out a smooth rendition of I'm Not in Love (by 10 CC) on 2005's The Day After Yesterday, a compilation of great songs from such rockers and bands as Gerry Rafferty, John Lennon, Foreigner and The Beatles, among others, as well as Springfield's original hit Cry.

Springfield, along with his four-piece band, will cover lots of musical ground this weekend. From his '80s mega-hit Jessie's Girl to a medley of his other original material and cover songs, fans new and old will be transported back to the good old days of pure rock'n'roll. Fans might be surprised to know that Springfield has penned thousands of songs, many written while he took a 10-year hiatus from acting and touring."I took time off to raise my sons and to deal with that whole Hollywood thing," explains Springfield. "I became a house-husband. It was at once wonderful and terrible. However, I've always kept writing songs and right now it's at the forefront," adds Springfield. After this tour wraps up, he'll focus on a new CD with all original tracks.

Springfield has put out more than two dozen CDs in his more than 30-year musical career, but it was 1981's Working Class Dog that earned him a spot in Walkmans everywhere. The album's wildly popular Jessie's Girl hit the Top Ten Billboard music charts, along with I've Done Everything for You. Springfield followed up with Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet in 1982 and the Hard to Hold soundtrack in 1984.

In 2004, he released another original collection of tracks, shock/denial/anger/acceptance, a raw emotional and spiritual CD with songs like Your Psychopathic Mother, Every Night I Wake Up Screaming and God Gave You to Everyone. He followed up with The Day After Yesterday, released last year. "I've always wanted to record these songs," says Springfield, of The Day After Yesterday. "I wanted to be faithful to the originals, but still treat them a little differently and also give them the benefit of the new technology."

His passion for music came at an early age. Born in Australia, Springfield grew up a "military brat" - his dad moved the family around Australia and Europe."Dad was shipped all over the world, it was an odd upbringing but one that made us a solid family," says Springfield. Music and books were a great escape from the difficulty of making friends when you are always on the move, he reflects.

However, he credits strong family values for avoiding the trap of his era's teen idols who fell prey to drug addiction - such as '70s teen idol singer/actor Leif Garrett who's been busted a number of times for his cocaine and heroin habit."I've always been grounded by my family and I never tried to get away from family or fame," he says. "I never bought into the whole Hollywood teen idol thing ... I'm not saying I never did drugs, just that whole scene just wasn't for me."

In between shooting scenes as the recovering alcoholic doctor and touring, the busy Springfield tries to fit in "much-needed" workouts."I swim a lot and head to the gym to work out," he says. So who is the singer behind the youthful good looks and the smoky voice? "A spiritually searching person," says Springfield, as he hears his boarding call and we bid adieu.

Springfield brings his good old rock'n roll to the River Rock Show Theatre this Friday, June 16, and Saturday, June 17. Both shows start at 8 p.m.