Okay, here is The Katz' Meow on platinum selling, multiple Grammy Award winning sexy, singer/songwriter, and actor Rick Springfield.
Rick and I met for the first time when he ever so graciously agreed to be my very first on-camera celebrity interview back in 2006 right before his performance at The House of Blues here in Chicago. You never forget your first. I personally love his music, so as I happily watched his sound check I grew more nervous about interviewing him.
I thought we would go off into some quiet hallway or the HOB greenroom, but as soon as sound check ended Rick was waving me up on stage to do it under the stage lights with the full crew and band watching. This turned out to be a huge favor to me, as I learned very quickly how to hold it together on-camera in front of an audience. Rick was super funny and friendly in the brief interview and it gave me boatloads of confidence for future interviews with other stars at the House of Blues, like Kevin Costner, Deep Purple and Queensryche.
Fast forward to his recent concert at The Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City, Indiana on the eve of his 60th birthday. Now I hate when people focus on the age of a performer, but in Rick’s case, it is necessary, because his physique so completely and utterly defies any images of a person three score years old. Rick absolutely ROCKED the 90-minute concert with the grace and energetic force of a young lion just let out of its zoo cage. When he took his shirt off towards the end of the set, the gasps could be heard audibly amongst the mostly female and very appreciative crowd.
The hallmark of a creative performer still in their prime is evidenced by the new music they write and produce. Rick’s current album “Venus in Overdrive” is a great listenable new CD with several “hits” like the title track “Venus in Overdrive”, “What’s Victoria’s Secret” and “I’ll Miss that Someday”.
After the show, I got to hang out with Rick’s guitarist and bassist, also incredibly talented musicians in their own right. Rick didn’t make the dance filled, fun birthday bash as promised but the ROCK- hard, bounce you right out of your chair, effort he put into that memorable and exciting concert, excuses all.
Rick will be appearing on four episodes of “ Californication” on Showtime this Fall and his never ending tour returns to our hood later this year so check out his website for his complete tour schedule. www.RickSpringfield.com
