Rick Springfield tour interview 2025: Where to buy…
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Midway through my interview with Rick Springfield, I requested the ‘80s icon an unusually pointed query for what is finally a puff piece selling his ongoing tour.
“What would you say to critics that call you a one-hit wonder?” I inquired, biting my lip.
It’s not precisely a honest query — he’s had 5 songs hit the highest 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart over the course of his 50+ 12 months profession — but relatively than write me off as a two-bit journalist not value their salt like lesser rock stars would possibly, the singer/actor/writer/soon-to-be grandfather thoughtfully answered.
“I’d say you obviously weren’t listening in the eighties,” Springfield coolly replied. “[You know] there was a point where Elton John and I were tied for the most top 20 songs of the eighties…which is a funny thing to say. Elton has been following me all my career.”
The rocker, at all times fast with a a quip, isn’t off-base right here. While primarily recognized for the mega-smash, ubiquitous-to-this-day “Jessie’s Girl,” he not only ruled the airwaves in the early ’80s but also starred in “General Hospital” (which Brian Wilson, Elizabeth Taylor and Sammy Davis Jr. all let him know they religiously watched while he was on), appeared alongside Meryl Streep in “Ricki and the Flash,” penned a pair of humorous, considerate novels and delivered a new album as lately as 2023.
Yet, above all, he’s a requisite showman who has been touring tirelessly since his ’80s heyday.
These days, Springfield is halfway through his ‘I Want My ’80s Tour’ with particular visitor hitmakers John Waite (“Missing You”), Wang Chung (“Dance Hall Days”), Paul Young (“Every Time You Go Away”) and John Cafferty (“Sleep Walk”).
This week, the quartet of MTV period vets are scheduled to stop into Atlantic City’s Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on Friday, July 11 and Newark’s New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Saturday, July 12.
Ahead of the exhibits, The Post requested Springfield all about the tour, back catalog and, yes, “Jessie’s Girl.”
Below, you’ll discover the multi-hit marvel’s tour schedule, an in-depth interview, factoids about his tour-mates, a current set checklist of his and more.
Rick Springfield tour schedule 2025
An entire calendar including all tour dates, venues and hyperlinks to buy tickets will be discovered below.
Rick Springfield tour datesJuly 11 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, NJJuly 12 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, NJJuly 13 at the Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem, PAJuly 18 at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, TXJuly 19 at the Riverwind Casino in Norman, OKJuly 20 at the Music Hall at Fair Park in Dallas, TXJuly 25 at the United Wireless Arena in Dodge City, KSJuly 27 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CAAug. 1 at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, CAAug. 2 at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, CAAug. 3 at the Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, CAAug. 6 at the Red Butte Garden in Salt Lake City, UTAug. 7 at the Fiddlers Green Amphitheatre in Greenwood Village, COAug. 9 at the Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, AZAug. 10 at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, NVOct. 3 at the Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, FL
with Richard MarxOct. 4 at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, FL
with Richard MarxOct. 5 at the King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne, FL
with Richard MarxOct. 7 at the BJCC Concert Hall in Birmingham, ALOct. 8 at the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville, TNOct. 11 at the Newton Performing Arts Center in Newton, NC
Rick Springfield Q&A
What does a Rick Springfield show appear to be in 2025?
Very high vitality. We play all the hits plus some deep cuts and keep it fascinating enough for us as effectively. I’ve an superb band and we all get along, which interprets on stage. You can at all times inform if there’s some animosity going on in the band.
Plus we’ve a new ten-minute medley now where I throw in completely different songs so we’re not doing the identical factor all the time and retains me on my toes. We get to match more songs in and play 25 songs as an alternative of 18.
I never thought of a medley as the Tiktok-ification of a live performance, but that’s 100% correct.
Absolutely.
What is your favourite monitor to carry out proper now?
It’s often the most recent music because you haven’t performed it 30,000 occasions yet.
We’re taking part in a music known as “I’ll Make You Happy, which is on my “Shock/Denial/Anger/Acceptance” album that we haven’t performed a lot dwell. It’s a good heavy starter. There’s a lot of heavier stuff in my dwell show, which surprises people because they suppose of me as pure pop.
So much of people suppose I stroll on a cleaning soap opera and mentioned, ‘hey, I can sing.’ They don’t know my musical background. I’ve been through the golf equipment and performed music since I used to be 13.
What retains you coming back to the highway?
Going onstage is my Prozac and all my worries don’t come onstage with me.
It’s a high you may’t get any different approach unless you do acid or drink closely and that has a actual draw back. I really like taking part in dwell. I at all times say I receives a commission to journey. I play for free.
Tell me about John Waite.
I’ve been buddies with John for fairly a while, truly. We used to rub shoulders at Sound City when he was with The Babys. He’s just obtained one of my favourite voices. When we first began this tour he had a bit of a cold and still sang like a bastard.
Wang Chung.
I used to be a big fan of their first album back when they had been “Huang Chung.” I used to be listening to it when we began touring. They still sound great and have some great songs.
Paul Young.
The quintessential English gentleman. I used to be a fan of his first report, too.
John Cafferty.
I hate to sound like this but one of the sweetest human beings I’ve ever met. You just need to hug him like a teddy bear. He’s so superior.
What is the craziest factor to have occurred at a dwell show of yours?
Having (famed male ballet dancer) Rudolf Nuryev watch from the facet of the stage was fairly on the market. I performed half a show with my fly open — I assumed everybody was trying at my my mighty man bulge and going — but my fly was open. That was humiliating.
I used to have people come up on stage. When I began out, I’d deliver one lady up and she’d get under the guitar and I’d do the music “I Get Excited.” Once I obtained more fashionable, the hardcore followers who adopted us would leap onstage and strive to get under the guitar. At some level there have been like 30 girls onstage and it collapsed.
Do you keep in mind the second “Jessie’s Girl” got here to you?
I had the music first and I had the phrases to the B-verse “she’s watching with those eyes.”
I still have the lyric sheet that I wrote out as I used to be writing the music and “Randy’s Girl” was the unique title, which fortunately didn’t make it.
What was the second that you knew “Jessie’s Girl” was a hit?
I used to be at Sound City in the rehearsal room preparing for my first tour, and my supervisor, Joe Godfrey, got here in with a low cost bottle of champagne — which was very Joe, God bless him — and mentioned, We just hit primary.
What’s the craziest place you’ve heard “Jessie’s Girl”?
Walking previous a bar as a bar band was taking part in it. That was enjoyable. People will at all times ship me video if they’re in a store or one thing and they hear it. One good friend heard it in a little store in the North of England. That was so weird.
Were there any different songs of yours that you thought would have actually blown up?
“Carry Me Away” was a good music. “Everybody’s Girl.” I assumed “Light of Love” was a sturdy music. Really all my songs that had been three minutes long, with a huge coronary heart and about intercourse. That’s what you suppose of when you’re that age.
“Love Somebody” was a actually distinctive music and I keep in mind opinions saying, “this is a game changer.”
My ’60s band Zoot coated The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby,” which was a hit in Australia but I heard someplace — although I’ve no proof — that somebody heard John Lennon say ‘I like that version better than The Beatles.’ I’ve no proof and no cause for anybody to ever say that to me either.
Favorite “General Hospital” behind-the-scenes story?
I can’t inform you that one.
Do you have got something new in the works?
I’m writing a new album now. I’ve my guitar, keyboard and little recorder out right here. I put headphones so my spouse doesn’t have to hear to the identical musical phrase over and over. It’s my therapy and passion.
The new album shall be a little heavier. More adventurous. I need to write a bunch of significant songs to me with huge hooks and some taste of what’s going on.
What would you like to say to people on the fence about coming to see you reside?
It’ll put a huge dent in your a– and in all probability provide you with hemorrhoids. No, come down and see the show itself. You gained’t be sorry. It’s wall to wall hits and a actual bundle show with 5 acts. Everyone’s at the highest of their recreation and, and there’s no wasted moments.
This interview has been edited and condensed for readability.
Rick Springfield set checklist
Although Springfield has a deep catalog, he sidesteps the highlight at his dwell exhibits to make sure everybody will get a second in the solar.
Should you see him in live performance this 12 months, right here’s what he’s been taking part in at ‘I Want My 80s Tour’ gigs, courtesy of Set List FM.
01.) “I’ll Make You Happy”
02.) “Affair of the Heart”
03.) “I’ve Done Everything for You” (Sammy Hagar cowl)
04.) “Living in Oz / Bop ‘Til You Drop / Souls / Two Tickets to Paradise / Jessie’s Girl / What’s Victoria’s Secret? / What Kind of Fool Am I / Rock of Life”
05.) “Love Is Alright Tonite”
06.) “World Start Turning”
07.) “State of the Heart” (Mondo Rock cowl)
08.) “Don’t Talk to Strangers”
09.) “Love Somebody”
10.) “Human Touch”
Encore
11.) “Jessie’s Girl”
’80s stars on tour in 2025
If you had been apprehensive that Springfield was the only ’80s icon on the highway this 12 months, we’re right here to ease your fears.
Many of the most important names from the shoulder pad decade are touring these next few months.
As evidence, listed below are just 5 of our favourite ’80s stars on tour you gained’t need to miss in the close to future.
• Daryl Hall
• Richard Marx
• Styx
• Steve Winwood
• Foreigner
Want to go additional back? Check out our checklist of all the most important basic rockers on tour in 2025 to discover the show for you.
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post dwell occasions reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the newest tour bulletins from your favourite musical artists and comedians, as effectively as Broadway openings, sporting occasions and more dwell exhibits – and finds great ticket costs online. Since he began his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen live performance and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to title a few. Please word that offers can expire, and all costs are subject to change
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