I remember being about 14 years old, hanging out in the pool with my girlfriend. Talking about things that teenage girls talk about including music. She said to me...."have you heard that new song Jessie's girl". I remember making the connection that they guy who sang Jessie's Girl was also the hot doctor on General Hospital. Dr. Noah Drake.
Not long after you could find my room covered in Rick Springfield posters and that February you would find me jumping up and down with excitement when Rick won his first Grammy award for Jessie's Girl.
Rick Springfield was my very first concert I ever attended. I'll never forget it and to this day every single time he comes to town you will know where to find me.
When you mention Rick Springfield to the general public they will remember him for Jessie's Girl, they will say...is he still around?
When you mention Rick Springfield to the hard core fan, they will know every word to every song, they will know facts like Sammy Hagar actually wrote "I've Done Everything For You". They will tell you that he is still making music (in fact one of my most favorite cd's is something he released a few years back called Shock Denial Anger Acceptance). A true hard core fan will tell you what a great guitarist he is and will let you know that he has written two books.
I have numerous friends and family members that tease me about my Rick Springfield Obsession. I don't care, I love the man. He was my first rock star crush. So I have to admit I was nervous meeting him. I'm not one to be at a loss for word but when I got face to face with him I was frozen. I was in such awe. I had him sign my Working Class Dog album and somehow managed to speak and say that it was the first album I ever bought with my own money. He also signed his memoir and of course the experience would not have been complete without a photo.
Of course it goes without saying that the concert was amazing. It was in Boston at the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion and it was hot, so hot that Rick had to perform shirtless much to the delight of all his fans. Rick always comes out into the audience to since Human Touch and this amazes me still.
Yes, you may still remember Rick as the bubble gum pop artist of the 80's or the pretty face on General Hospital, but we have all grown up since then and Rick has grown as an artist. It's just unfortunate that in this business once you are identified in a certain category you can't get out.
I may have started out as a crazy teenage fan (and yes I did send him plenty of letters, I believe one even said I was going to marry him) but I have matured into a crazy adult fan. I love his music, I love his writing, I love his guitar playing. I will always be a champion of Rick Springfield.
Did you know....
Rick was born in Australia
Rick's last name is actually Springthorpe
There was a real life Jessie's girl
Rick dated Linda Blair (from the Exorcist)
Rick's dog on the cover of Working Class Dog and Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet was named Ron
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH1Om5NmmHc
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