Rick Springfield appears at Borgata Nov. 5.
Singer and actor Rick Springfield, who headlines at Borgata on Friday, Nov. 5, was a teen icon in the 1980s thanks to his smash hit singles (“Jessie’s Girl,” “Don’t Talk to Strangers”) and his regular role as Dr. Noah Drake on General Hospital. His loyal fan base has continued to support his musical career. You can expect a lot of excited, 40-something females to pack the Music Box this Friday. As well as his touring schedule, Springfield just released his memoir, Late, Late at Night, and will headline his third annual Rick Springfield & Friends Cruise, which sets sail November 15 from Miami with Kevin Cronin from REO Speedwagon, Doug Davidson (Paul Williams) from The Young & The Restless, Mark Goodman (MTV/Sirius XM Radio) as the host and Eric Martsolf (Brady Black) from Days of Our Lives.
You have a memoir that just came out called Late Late at Night. Why now, and what is the significance of that title?
I turned 60 and I thought it was a good time to look back. I’ve had a pretty amazing life. I wanted to tell my story so far. There’s no ghostwriter, I wrote it myself. I didn’t want to tell it to someone else and have that person interpret it. The title is a line from “Jessie’s Girl,” and it is also when I do my writing.
So how did it feel turning 60 as a rock ’n’ roller?
It was no problem at all. I suffered my midlife crisis in my early forties. I think that happens with musicians because of the arrested development.
You went through a tough period when you’ve admitted that you were depressed and thought about suicide. What helped you recover?
There were a lot of things. It’s a pretty involved journey, which is one of the reasons why I wrote the book. A lot of people have gone through it or are going through it. I wanted to offer my version of dealing with it, which is basically meditation and being thankful and working at something I love to do.
The music business is very different than when you started. How do you feel about the whole Internet world in regards to music?
It’s great. I’m excited about the possibilities. The music business was this over bloated thing that needed a pin stuck in it, and that’s exactly what the Internet was, that pin. There was a lot of excess and bad management. I guess it’s easier for me to say that because I was part of that bloated excess for a while selling records and I’m thankful for that. Bands don’t sell much from records these days and that’s why touring is so important now. The onus is on us to be good live, not just in the studio.
What can the audience expect from your show at Borgata?
We have a great live show and a thundering band. I love the fans. After twenty or thirty years I learned a lot about them. I’ve come to understand and be grateful. My music has been a part of peoples’ lives for that long and formed a pretty strong bond. That's especially true when you [became a fan] as a teen and are really wide open to experiences. That’s what happened with my fans. And [in return] I still put out the best music I can put out.
Rick Springfield
Where: Borgata Music Box
When: Nov. 5, 9pm
How Much: $50
A particularly sought-after stand-up comedian on the collegiate circuit, Steve Hofstetter brings his unique slant on social commentary to Richard Stockton College of New Jersey’s Lodge at Lakeside student center on Monday, March 28, starting 7pm. Tickets are $10 in advance.
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