He plays a doctor on TV, but Rick Springfield is still a rocker at heartJudith Salkin • Desert Post Weekly • October 4, 2007
Rick Springfield's not a doctor, but he plays one on "General Hospital."
He's also a rocker, who, for nearly four decades (where did the time go?) has managed simultaneous careers with seeming ease.
Case in point: this past summer Springfield found himself once again on GH, playing both the erstwhile and disarmingly sexy Dr. Noah Drake, who didn't see the uncanny resemblance he bore to his patient and rock star, Eli Love. (Does this sound even vaguely familiar?)
When Eli Love couldn't rouse himself from his hospital bed for a big concert, dashing Dr. Noah stepped in and lip synced to Love's vocals. "Yeah, that was interesting," Springfield says wryly.
Dr. Drake's return has been so successful, what was supposed to be just a summer run has been extended.
"So now I'm taping a whole week's worth of scenes and touring on the weekends," he says. "Which is what I was doing in early '80s. Nothing's changed."
Coming of age
You can't really say nothing's changed in Springfield's life and career. In between stints as the good doctor, Springfield has kept busy filling up his IMDb profile with appearances on episodic TV, a series or two of his own ("High Tide" and "Human Target"), soundtracks and touring, just about everywhere except his native Australia, until earlier this year.
And there was his stint in Las Vegas taking over for David Cassidy a few years ago in "FX." (note - EFX - Rick took over after Tommy Tune)
"Yeah, the first year was great," he says. "The last six months I wanted to shoot myself."
With the exception of a six-year hiatus, Springfield continued recording new works, too.
Springfield's most recent disc, "The Day After Yesterday," features covers of songs that were either hits during his halcyon days or are songs he wishes he'd written.
"My voice has toughened up a bit over the years," he says, and has more depth than in earlier days, which at 59 is to be expected.
At this point in his career Springfield is finally trying to please himself rather than record company execs or his legions of fans.
There's also a new holiday disc that drops Nov. 6 - "Christmas With You." Thirteen of the 14 tunes are familiar holiday music. "I like traditional Christmas music," he says. "This album is very acoustic and organic. It's the way I like my Chirstmas songs."
While Springfield still likes hitting the road, he's not up for long tours.
"Three to five days at a time that's my limit," he says. "I would want to go out for a year like I did when I was starting out. It's brutal."
Originally posted at mydesert.com
'80s rockers showdown
Judith Salkin • Desert Post Weekly • October 4, 2007
Rick Springfield made his rep as a heartthrob singing songs about young lust. On the flip-side, Pat Benatar was the take-no-prisoners rockers with the heart of steel and claws to match. At least on stage, anyway.
"Yeah, Rick opened for us years ago," Benatar says with a laugh when she finds out he's playing down the road from her Fantasy Springs Casino gig Saturday night in Indio. "Tell him I said, 'Hi.'"
Springfield is similarly pleased to hear that Benatar's in town while he's performing at Spotlight 29 Casino in Coachella.
"Yeah, I've worked with Pat," Springfield says. "That's really funny we're both playing the same night. To bad I can't catch her show. You know Neil's (Giraldo) played on a couple of songs for me?"
Benatar or Springfield? It all depends on how you wanna rock.
But you can only choose one.
Rick Springfield made his rep as a heartthrob singing songs about young lust. On the flip-side, Pat Benatar was the take-no-prisoners rockers with the heart of steel and claws to match. At least on stage, anyway.
"Yeah, Rick opened for us years ago," Benatar says with a laugh when she finds out he's playing down the road from her Fantasy Springs Casino gig Saturday night in Indio. "Tell him I said, 'Hi.'"
Springfield is similarly pleased to hear that Benatar's in town while he's performing at Spotlight 29 Casino in Coachella.
"Yeah, I've worked with Pat," Springfield says. "That's really funny we're both playing the same night. To bad I can't catch her show. You know Neil's (Giraldo) played on a couple of songs for me?"
Benatar or Springfield? It all depends on how you wanna rock.
But you can only choose one.
Rick Springfield made his rep as a heartthrob singing songs about young lust. On the flip-side, Pat Benatar was the take-no-prisoners rockers with the heart of steel and claws to match. At least on stage, anyway.
"Yeah, Rick opened for us years ago," Benatar says with a laugh when she finds out he's playing down the road from her Fantasy Springs Casino gig Saturday night in Indio. "Tell him I said, 'Hi.'"
Springfield is similarly pleased to hear that Benatar's in town while he's performing at Spotlight 29 Casino in Coachella.
"Yeah, I've worked with Pat," Springfield says. "That's really funny we're both playing the same night. To bad I can't catch her show. You know Neil's (Giraldo) played on a couple of songs for me?"
Benatar or Springfield? It all depends on how you wanna rock.
But you can only choose one.
Originally posted at mydesert.com
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