Rick Springfield phoned us this week to chat about his upcoming four-episode guest arc on Showtime’s Californication. (The David Duchovny sex romp returns this Sunday at 10 p.m. ET; Springfield makes his grand entrance on Oct. 11, playing a twisted version of himself. We’ll tell you more in the issue of EW on-stands Oct. 2.) At the end of the call, he dropped the news that he’s currently shopping his autobiography. He sent the prologue and opening chapter around town last week. Though (hopefully) not as explosive as Mackenzie Phillips, Springfield assured us he’ll be “brutally honest about anything other than the things that will put me in prison.” Nice start! Asked for a sample anecdote, he gave us a pretty great one:
“Well, I went to Vietnam in 1969, with a band when I was 17 or 18, and we toured Vietnam for three months. I almost killed the band, blew us up with a hand grenade. And we basically lived off the good grace of the hookers there and bought dope off the little kids. I look back on that and I think, I’m lucky I’m not dead from it. The only way girls could make money back then was to be a prostitute. I was a young man, and we were all pretty cute, and they would give us freebies. I went home with this one, and I said, ‘Okay, I got to go back to the barracks now,’ because we stayed with all the soldiers in tents. It was pretty rough, it wasn’t like a USO tour at all. It was just this private guy that brought Australian bands over because we’re the closest occidental country to Vietnam. She threatened me, ‘She said, if you leave tonight I’ll kill you.’ So I said, ‘Okay, I’ll stay.’ [Laughs] You never knew who had an AK-47 under their bed in Vietnam back then….”
And here, we thought we’d just be reminiscing because 2009 marks the 25th anniversary of Springfield’s film debut, 1984’s Hard to Hold. Looking back at that, Springfield admits he learned a valuable lesson. “You can only polish bad writing so much. I thought Eh, the writing’s okay, but I think I can nail this one. It’s got to start with great writing.” He also acknowledges that “playing a rock star might not have been the very best thing because people thought I wasn’t acting. I don’t think people quite understand that when you’re a musician and you play a musician, if you’re doing it right, you’re still playing a character. I mean, you don’t hire a doctor to play a doctor on TV, you hire an actor to play a doctor. The fact that I was also a musician didn’t really enter into it when it came to the scenes because the scenes weren’t something I would say.” (For the record, Rick Springfield will be acting on Californication.)
One other bit of news: The second annual Rick Springfield & Friends Cruise is set to sail on Nov. 12 from Miami. Roughly 1,200 fans came aboard for last year’s jaunt. This year’s trip to Cozumel will feature special guest Richard Marx, who will also play intimate concerts and share the stories behind his songs; the company of Springfield’s 88-year-old mother, Eileen; a free CD of Springfield’s hits re-recorded with reggae beats; and, fingers crossed, plenty of alcohol. “Last year, I had a few too many glasses of wine and wandered into the piano bar at 2 a.m. and started playing songs,” he says. “To see hundreds of people crowding into this little piano bar, it was hilarious.” Drunken adventures with fans, Chapter 2?
Photo credit: Jordin Althaus/Showtime
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Uh oh, I think I’m about to find out way too much about my first love.
Is there anyone here willing to go on this cruise with me?
Lets hope he wasn’t sleeping with Mackenzie Phillip’s father, too.
One thing Springfield is know for is his openness and honesty. You can hear it in his music. I’m sure that same honesty and openness will reflect in the auto-bio as well. I’m looking forward to reading it.
Rick is the best a great person!
Awesome Singer Songwriter Musician and Animal Lover and Humanitarian!
Grammy Winner Dad Husband and Our Friend!!!
Sincerely,
Jane & Enrique,
http://www.myspace.com/janeandenrique
Thank you so much for this interview! I am thrilled to hear he’s finally doing an honest book about his life & quite happy he was willing to share this excerpt with us. Can’t wait to read it!!
To Broadway Baby (and any other Rick fans who are able)…you should GO on the cruise! I went last year with my husband & it was a dream come true sailing the high seas with RS & friends.
You won’t regret it.
The piano bar impromtu was the best experience ever!!!
Rick rocks!!!
Wherever you go, whatever you do, my career is dying just next to you…what a sad group of men dying to still be adored.
Yikes…do you have nothing better to do today than be a moron. If Rick is “adored” it is well deserved adoration…and who are you to judge others if someone chooses to be a fan? Go find something better to do.
i love rick springfield
OOOOO! I can’t wait for the Oct.2 newstand issue to read more! Wow! He’s an amazing guy! AND, doing another cruise? Wow, what an actor, musician, humanitarian.
Ok, enough about this loser. His answer is F****** appalling, and would get him in jail at this point. But he’s probably lying to make himself feel like a “badass”, instead of the loser 80s person he is.
Just sad.
It’s sadder still that you feel the need to come here and make personal attacks against Rick. Says more about you being a loser than it does about him.
1200 Fans went on this cruise last year? Where are they on this blog, defending him? Oh, that’s right, the shuffleboard crowd shuts down early on the Florida Keys…and how many on the cruise knew who the hell he was, and didn’t just fall into the bar that night? Pathetic much?
Whoop! Whoop! Anti-fan alert….anti-fan alert. What’s that sound? 1200 fans letting your rude comments go in one ear and out the other. It takes pathetic to know pathetic and looks like you know ‘em all, sugar!
I’m not sure what is more sad, Rick and the other has-beens, or the sad women paying to get attention from them.
It’s a sad exchange of money.
Hey Taylor, nothing in that article is more sad than a person who has nothing better to do than post THREE nasty comments to one article at EW.com. Get a life, buddy.
Awww…did he ignore you when you asked for an autograph at the tender age of 13? Isn’t it time for you to get over it by now? LOL
I spent 1/2 a day with Rick this summer in Minneapolis during a private concert for my brother’s company. He’s 60 and looks and sings like he’s 30! I must tell you he was incredibly gracious and kind to everyone including the little kids in the crowd… to the 22 year old blonde babes… all the way to the screaming 50 somethings. I can’t say enough nice stuff about him..I work for a popular Rock Station KQRS, and he performed easily as well as the guy he used to be confused for “Bruce”. You’re a good man Springfield!
I would do this cruise in a heartbeat, but why is Richard Marx tagging along? Ugh, he is a deal breaker!
No way! Richard Marx is just as awesome.
Taylor, jealousy has madey you ugly my friend. I think your the one who needs a life because Rick does for charities and organization, what have you done? He did concerts with proceeds going to the family of a sick girl, what have you done?
Rick is a celebrity who is sweet humble man who didnt let it go to his head. And you sit behind a computer screen acting all high and mighty, whose the loser now?
I saw RS in concert in Atlantic City in 07 i think. He was amazing. There was about 400 middle aged lady’s there with thier unwilling husbands and Rick played as if he were at Madison Square Garden. He didn’t care about the size of the crowd at all. It was amazing. Everyone loved it. I have a lot of respect for the guy who appreciates those who still dig him.
I feel so sorry for anyone who has to down talk others to make them selves feel better,people like that are usually very sad lonely people..that are very unhappy in their lives.Here is a little tip from someone who does have bad days or weeks and needs a break from life…..try going to a RICK SPRINGFIELD CONCERT AND HEAR HIS AWESOME MUSIC AND GREAT GUIATER PLAYING AND HIM AND THE BAND JAMMIN..And afterwards you will be surounded will the best bunch of people to hang out with…alll the RICK FANS….they are GREAT…jUST HAD A WEEKEND AWAY IN PRIMM A CONCERT WITH RICK AND BAND AND THEN AFTER THE CONCERT….HUNG OUT WITH THE FANS….THEY ARE AWESOME ALSO…WE ALL HAD A BLAST!!Also if you could ever manage a soundcheck…you would get to see what goes into making one of his concerts so great,and yes he will take pictures with you and sign a few things and is really interested in what you have to say,and his band members ALL OF THEM ARE GREAT AND SO FRIENDLY!Its like you tell you kids when you trying to get them to try and eat new things …give it a try and you might like it….its so much fun!!!!I hope you become a happier person!
Rick is AWSOME. He always has been. But since he had taken some time with his family and came out of that post ATV wreck time he has beome more personable. He realized it is not the arena size crowds that is best for him. He does the “fair venues” with just as much energy as the big arenas in the 80s. But it would be a hard thing o meet a long time fan that does not prefer the way he performs now. And as for the cruise me and my 16 year old dd were among the 1200 last year and are taking my dh and ds this year. Rick was the first, concert for myself and both of my kids. And yes he did do the concert for Sahara, the girl who evenually lost the cancer battle. But that little girl fought like a warrior, with Rick and many of his fans rooting for her.
Taylor should not be jealous just because most males cannot hold their own against this 60 year old man. He is one of a kind.
Wow Taylor you must not have much going for yourself and a very low self-esteem. That is just so sad. I hope you get better or you will die alone and bitter.
I’m a #1 fan of Ricks, but I wonder why his wife never goes along on any of his tours. What can be so important in Malibu to stay home all the time. The boys are grown. If I had a husband that wonderful, I’d be going with him just to be proud of him.
As it happens she and members of his extended family do occasionally go to some of the shows. Rick himself has mentioned it…and you can best believe she’ll be on the cruise, too. Thing is, I don’t understand why people are so concerned about Rick’s marital life. Maybe folks should mind their own business rather than his. I think the comment you’re making is more about potential insecurity and jealousy and distrust rather than pride. Maybe his wife is more mature than that….
Calm down, you don’t know her, why are you sticking up for her or their marriage! The odds of Rick reading this are slim to none, so you don’t have to worry about sparing his feelings.
Oh, and one more thing 10/28/09 marks their Silver Anniversary…25 years…a rarity in Hollywood! So he and his wife MUST be doing something right to stay married that long…
Rick is a good man, with a great talent. His steady flow of music that is catchy, beautiful, and meaningful has filled a gap in music that has existed for those who were stuck without a venue for music for the soul. Rick is an amazingly gorgeous man, he gives a great performance that never gets old, his music is timeless, and only has gotten better with age. Rick connects with his fans, and we connect to him. Join the party if your here to have fun, make life long friends, and have a few too many once in a while. Not a bad life, if your lucky enough to look past the image and get to know the man….Love ya Rick!
I totally agree. I have made some good friends going to his concerts..I always enjoy myself going to his concerts.
I’m very happy to hear that you are working on your autobiography and hopfully it will be done soon. I am very anxious to read it and get to know more about you. I have been keeping up with you sense 1974. Will be watching you next week on the Californication. I refuse to miss it. Dottie
I have been a fan of Rick’s since he first came to the USA.His music is from his soul. He is a gracious man. I went on the cruise last yr. and had a BLAST!! it was so much fun!! Was so awesome that he did a concert out on the Deck for the whole ship to hear!!! I was talking to a security person at Mystic Lake Casino and he said They liked having Rick there. Because he was such a nice person and easy to get along with.. Yes that sounds like Rick to me..
Should be very interesting to read his new book.
I can’t wait to read your auto-bi it should be good!That will make my day!And add to my reading list as well.How will you bring the broadcasting equipment on that?? You know your cruise is it sold out yet??I may break down and check it out !! Can’t wait for the book.