Dealing with Lifelong Depression, Rick Springfield Heals Himself and His Loyal Fans. Rick Springfield, the 1980s Pop Icon Rocker/Actor, has a loyal fan base that travels thousands of miles a year to see his shows. This isn’t your typical Rocker/fan relationship. This is a friendship and a spiritual healing and a mutual devotion.
Rick Springfield broke onto the Pop scene in the 1980s. and he has had 14 top 40 hits throughout his career, some landing at the #1 spot. He was also an actor on the General Hospital soap. His signature song, “Jessie’s Girl” is his most popular song but others that still play on the radio and bring back memories for me are: What Kind of Fool Am I?, Love Somebody, Don’t Talk to Strangers, Human Touch, Affair of the Heart, I Get Excited, and the tribute to his dad dying, My Father’s Chair.
Why Am I writing about a Pop Star from the 1980s?
I saw this new movie on Netflix recently, “Affair of the Heart,” It was about Rick Springfield’s life. It was a docudrama-historical-bio, actually, I haven’t a clue what genre it belongs but it was really powerful. I walked away from the TV in awe of Rick Springfield’s talent, struggles, and perseverance. I totally admire the way he endears himself to fans and how genuine he is. His sincerity is almost disarming to the point of, “Wait, this is a really good looking guy who is a rock star, etc,” Where did this humanity come from? He is supposed to be a jerk. This must be a scam. But It isn’t. Rick is Real. Rick is flawed. Rick is fragile. Rick is tortured. Rick is genius. Rick is a prick. Rick is Rick.
Rick Springfield’s journey
Rick has had anything but a smooth road in his 64 years on Earth. His life has been a roller coaster ride of ultimate highs and depressing lows. Some of his problems were self-inflicted, others part of his mental make-up and some caused by excess of drugs, alcohol, and sex. He also got screwed by the world. Being a stereotypical “pretty boy rock-star,” has worked against him more than it has helped him. If ever anyone’s good looks were a negative, this is the prime example. No one took his music seriously, no one took his acting seriously, and no one even gave him credit when he reached millions with his music, they just classified it as “Pop junk.” All because he was the “pretty boy” from Australia on the latest issue of Tiger Beat magazine . What a shame and a tragedy that we all missed out on a body of work that is genius has lasted almost 40 years.
Rick and his demons
I think what makes Rick so humble is the fact that he has hit rock bottom so many times from his first suicide attempt at age 17 all the way through his 60s. Rick has some issues with the dark side of his soul, which he has referred to as “The Darkness,” which in his world is more than a feeling, it is a physical presence, a passenger, that shares his space and torments him daily. It also was the reason he “dropped out” of life for a decade. As he has said many times, “I’m a one-man wrecking crew”…”I Hate Myself ” as sung by him on his titled song that gives us a glimpse into his own perception of self. Rick has had some legal issues with alcohol being a major contributor and some marital issues concerning infidelity. No shock there as I said he is flawed but that’s what makes him an amazing artist and probably the reason why he commands a legion of devoted fans. He is human just like them.
Shock/Denial/Anger/Acceptance
His 2004 album, “Shock/Denial/Anger/Acceptance” is his healing album. He finally comes to terms with “The Darkness” and you can hear it in his music. The anger that comes out on the album is painful to hear. He is stripping away everything that is Rick Springfield and it shows. He is letting us all in to his inner closet where most of us hide our short comings. He is letting us use him to heal ourselves through his music. I listened to this album and found my own demons being slaughtered by his anger. What a ride! If an artist ever connected with an audience, this is the album. If you haven’t heard it, buy it. Listen particularly to “My Depression,” it is his wake-up call. The life that controlled him for a long time and the demons that he still deals with today. He has found a way to live with “The Darkness.”
The 64 year old rocker
Rick plays over 100 shows a year all over the world. He goes on cruises with his fans. He hosts a Club Med in Port St Lucie in 2015. What other rocker can you go on vacation with? What other rocker can you have a drink with or crowd around a piano and sing a song together. None I know of. This is the Rick all should get to know. His legions of fans are to some a cult. That’s a cruel word to describe loyal, loving people and I hate it. They aren’t his groupies either. They are his friends and he is their friend. He has connected with them on a level that no other band will ever get to, no matter how many #1 hits they have, how much money they make or how many asses they put in the seats. Rick will always be the Rocker who connected. His song, “Don’t talk to Strangers,” is exactly the advice he has ignored. Not only has he talked to them, he loves them and they love him.
How lucky I am
How lucky I am that I was surfing Netflix bored one day and watched “Affairs of the Heart.” I would have never found out who Rick Springfield really is. As soon as the movie ended, I found out that Rick is playing in Primm, Nevada at the Star of the Desert Arena on June 14th. I had plans to go to Phoenix Comicon to review the convention that weekend. I immediately bought tickets to my first Rick Springfield concert and decided to do both. I will attend Phoenix Comicon Thursday to Saturday and then drive straight to my first Rick Springfield concert. I can’t wait and I promise myself, I will make up for the time I missed out on Rick Springfield. I am 50 years old and going to my first Rick Springfield show and I don’t feel weird. Welcome me to the party Rick, I’m coming buddy.
JibbJabber 