Rick Springfield: A rock and roll legend comes to Harrah’s Philly

This is Rick performing at an album signing at Borders in Los Angeles on April 8, 2004, for his album "shock/denial/anger/acceptance." This album is a little darker, a little edgier than Rick's usual music. Rick told me that he was contacted by a preacher who told him she used this album to heal from a horrible event in her life.When I asked Rick if he had any regrets about things in his life, things he would do over, he chuckled and said, "Buy my book." Rick wrote his autobiography in 2010 and called it "Late, Late at Night: A Memoir." Here he is at the 16th Annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Day 2, at USC on May 1, 2011.Rick Springfield has been rockin' the music world since he slammed on to the music scene with 1981's "Jessie's Girl." This photo is from the screening of "Sound City" during the 2013 SXSW Music, Film + Interactive Festival at the Paramount Theatre on March 13, 2013 in Austin, Texas.View the list »
Musician Rick Springfield of the Sound City Players performs at Hammerstein Ballroom on February 13, 2013 in New York City. Rick told me that he absolutely loves touring, especially since he can schedule it to his own liking now. He can schedule a few days on, a few days off, time with family or however he likes. 

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What do you think of when hear the name Rick Springfield? I’m betting you think first of his 1981 Grammy-winning song “Jessie’s Girl” or maybe his portrayal of Dr. Noah Drake on “General Hospital.” Rick is still going strong in both the music and acting worlds after more than 30 years. He’s appearing at Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack on Saturday, March 23 and he recently took time out of his busy tour schedule to speak with Examiner.com.

We talked about “General Hospital” and how it doesn't seem possible that it’s the 50th anniversary of the award-winning soap opera. Rick Springfield originally portrayed Dr. Noah Drake from 1981 to 1983 and again from 2005 to 2008. He made a few more appearances in 2012. Rick told me that they just fished filming the 50th anniversary episodes. He’s not exactly sure whether we’ll see him in three or four episodes but, after that, Dr. Noah Drake will be off on another adventure. You know he’ll be back.

And although acting is nice, Rick’s “thing” is the music. In a career that has spanned over 30 years, Rick has produced 17 albums and garnered four Grammy nominations, winning the Grammy for “Jessie’s Girl.” Rick is super excited over his newest album, “Songs for the End of the World,” which was released last October. It also happens to be his favorite album.

I mentioned to Rick that I loved the guitar I saw him playing, very steampunk like the art work for his new album. Rick told me it’s a one-of-a-kind guitar from Tony Cochran. Rick actually has two of Tony’s guitars. You can see more of Tony Cochran’s guitar artistry HERE.

We went further into the music and, more importantly, Rick’s very loyal fan base. Rick Springfield has fans that have followed him throughout his entire career. He sells out shows like there’s nothing to it. I asked him how he inspires that kind of loyalty, reading him a comment I received from a devoted fan of his.

“Rick’s fans are an entity like no other, there was a movie made about them. I’d love to see it. He has a rabid fan base of many women who fly all over the U.S. and follow him. Every May he does like five shows in a row up in Minnesota at some casino and a lot of people go to each one! They are such a devoted group. And his shows? Never have I been to a more intimate, interactive show (and I worked at an arena during college, I've seen oodles of concerts in my time). He spends a good chunk of time in the audience, walking around on chairs, getting shoulder to shoulder with his fans. It’s pretty awesome.”

After a poignant pause, Rick simply said, “I’m not worthy.” His fans think otherwise. And those fans will be happy to know that Rick is planning on many more fan events, like renting out Club Med in Port St. Lucie, Fla. for an intimate fan event with live shows and lots of conversation. Rick truly values and loves his fans.

This fan phenomenon that surrounds Rick Springfield is being highlighted in a soon-to-be-aired documentary on the EPIX channel, “An Affair of the Heart.” I asked Rick to describe it to me. He called it “a mixture between a rock and roll documentary with performances and a reality show.” In the documentary, Rick really gets to know and talk to his fans. He told me of one instance, featured in the documentary, where a preacher used his 2004 album “shock/denial/anger/acceptance” to heal from a horrible event in her life.

“An Affair of the Heart” will be shown on the EPIX channel on May 15. You can learn more about it by clicking HERE.

Our time together was coming to a close. I asked Rick if he still loved touring as much as he did at the beginning of his career. He told me he liked it even better now because he can do it on his own terms. And then I asked what the future holds for Rick Springfield. His legions of fans will be happy to know that Rick doesn't plan on stopping any time soon. There will be more touring, more song writing and much more music. Rick truly loves what he does.

If you’re lucky enough to be in the Philadelphia/South Jersey area Saturday night, March 23, there are still a few tickets left for Rick’s concert at Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack in Chester, Penn, but they won’t last long. The available tickets (as of this writing) begin at $42 (plus applicable taxes and fees) and you can get yours at Ticketmaster online. There is one show at 9 p.m.

If you’d like more information about Rick Springfield, be sure to pick up a copy of Rick’s 2010 autobiography “Late, Late at Night: A Memoir.”

I would have loved the time to get into more detail with this iconic musician. I’m grateful, though, for the time I had with him. Rick Springfield is truly a legend in the rock and roll universe and since he doesn't plan on stopping any time soon, there’s much more to come. That’s really good news.

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  • Musician Rick Springfield of the Sound City Players performs at Hammerstein Ballroom on February 13, 2013 in New York City. Rick told me that he absolutely loves touring, especially since he can schedule it to his own liking now. He can schedule a few days on, a few days off, time with family or however he likes. 
  • Rick Springfield has been rockin' the music world since he slammed on to the music scene with 1981's "Jessie's Girl." This photo is from the screening of "Sound City" during the 2013 SXSW Music, Film + Interactive Festival at the Paramount Theatre on March 13, 2013 in Austin, Texas.
  • When I asked Rick if he had any regrets about things in his life, things he would do over, he chuckled and said, "Buy my book." Rick wrote his autobiography in 2010 and called it "Late, Late at Night: A Memoir." Here he is at the 16th Annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Day 2, at USC on May 1, 2011.
  • This is Rick performing at an album signing at Borders in Los Angeles on April 8, 2004, for his album "shock/denial/anger/acceptance." This album is a little darker, a little edgier than Rick's usual music. Rick told me that he was contacted by a preacher who told him she used this album to heal from a horrible event in her life.
  • "An Affair of the Heart" will air on the EPIX Channel May 15. This a dcumentary about Rick Springfield and a close-up look at how this iconic musician inspires the most loyal fan base in rock history. Rick described it as "a mixture between a rock and roll documentary with performances and a reality show.”
  • When I told Rick I was in love with the steampunk guitar I saw him playing, he told me about Tony Cochran custom guitars. Rick currently has two of Tony's creations. You can see Tony's amazing instruments HERE. The design closely follows Rick's new, fantastic web site for his latest album "Songs for the End of the World." 
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Carla Ives is a Jill of All Trades, master of a few. She's a ghostwriter, freelance writer, editor, part-time history teacher and a self-confessed movie lover. When not doing any of that, you can probably find her reading something historical on her Kindle or strolling on the beaches near...

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