April 21, 1999

TWEC.COM: Rick Springfield has entered the building! TWEC.com would like to welcome Rick to tonight's chat! Hello, Rick!
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Hi everybody! Sorry I kept you waiting. Thanks for waiting. I've been away for quite a while and I'm back with a new album. Hope to see some of you out on the road.

MK4RLS: Rick, now that "Karma" is released, will you be doing a lot more songs from it in concert?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Yeah, we have to get into a rehearsal hall. I usually do three or four songs from an album. It's usually what I've done before.

SONYA: Rick: Hi! Most folks have someone they admire and respect. Who is that person/persons for you?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Hmmm...lots of different areas: my dad, in general; Oscar Hammerstein as a writer; Paul McCartney as a writer and a singer; Peter Gabriel; my dog, Scooby. Apart from spiritual teachers, that's about it.

CARI: So, what cool cars are you drivin' now?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: No cool cars. I have a dad car at the moment. I want to get a rod. I got a dad car for my kids. Looking to get something hipper soon. I love rods. I want to get an old Buick. I have a Lexus. I'm sorry!

MCSW1234: How does it feel to be back touring and to realize you still have a huge fan base?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Very, very, very, very, exciting. The playing live has been so much more fun now than it was in the eighties. It's great to have new music to play now, too. My relationship with the audience is much truer and much more enjoyable for me.

DINO: What made you decide to do the Sahara Snow project?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: That was a project, an experimentation with a couple of friends of mine. I wanted to do something as a band. Try and do something as maybe a band with music that didn't necessarily sound like it came from me. We pushed a kind of dance/rock attitude in it. But, basically, kind of well-produced demos is pretty much all they are. A German company came to us and said we'd like to put this out in Europe. I didn't necessarily want it out in America and so we put a band name to it and put it out as the three of us: Bob Marlette, Tim Pierce and me.

SHUTRBUG: Anna in Auburn, CA asks what was your most memorable show?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Ever? Probably, so far, the Carousel of Love in Phoenix and if anyone was there they'll know what I mean. It was pretty wild. And back in the eighties, probably the most memorable show in the eighties was the Nuberg Ring. There were almost two hundred thousand people there and the energy was amazing. It pretty much lifted you off the stage. Well, me. You weren't there.

BECKY4RICK28: Hi Rick. Wanted to know if you are still a vegetarian?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: My publicist put out the fact that I'm a vegetarian? I really just survive on ribs and milk scraps. I've always eaten fish. It kind of got around that I'm a strict veggie, but I've always eaten fish. I'm still very, very aware of what Ieat and have been since I was 25, since my dad actually first got sick. That's when I started being aware of what I ate. I pretty much stopped eating red meat then. I occasionally will have turkey, but mostly it's just fish and that kind of thing. A lot of vegetables and salads. I'll be writing a book soon. Ha ha ha. It'll have one recipe in it. When I was a bachelor, I could cook one thing. It was rice and tuna in a dish. Rice, tuna and onions and I would make a week's worth and live on that. That would be my cookbook.

SEATTLESMILEY: Rick, Do you still have a Macintosh?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Yeah, baby! I'm a Mac man forever, especially now that they've come out in yummy colors. What color's yours?

TGROTTS: Rick, how do feel about your music spanning more than one generation of listeners? For example, I attended my first Rick concert in the eighties and am taking my 12-year-old to her first Rick concert at Six Flags in June.
RICK SPRINGFIELD: It's great. It's wonderful to see. I was on stage about two months ago and I was singing "My Father's Chair" which I wrote in '84 - a song about my dad's death. There was a nine-year-old girl sitting on the side of the stage who wasn't born when I wrote the song, basically, and she sang every word. It was pretty astounding. I love that. I love to see that the music still has something to say.

ARCHANGEL: I was blown away by the track, "His Last Words." What was the inspiration behind it?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: That's a short piece I wrote, again, about my dad's death. My dad's a very influential figure in my life and his death was a big changing point for me in my writing. I wrote this and I always wanted to do something with it but it wasn't appropriate to put it in a song. So, I had my sons speak it and my brother and I did it and I edited it all together in a sampler. I added some weird stuff around it that I thought was appropriate and made it a kind of sound-scape. But it's my sons, my brother and me speaking in the poem.

NNJ'S MOM: I'm a teacher. Did any teachers play a special influence in your life?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Yeah...my 7th grade teacher. They used to spank you back then, back in the days when I went to school. She bought a new strap to spank kids with and she took me in the back room and asked me to hit her with it so she could test if it was very painful or not. And that was kind of a highlight of my life at that point. I hadn't spanked anybody and...She had quite an influence on me, that woman. I thought, hey, there's something to this. As far as book learning...let's see...probably the headmaster that kicked me out of high school. He forced me to make a choice about what to do with my life and that was to head into music professionally, which was what I had wanted to do. Then there was that weird German music teacher that used to spout German at us. I forgot about him. But it got me interested in history. And then there was the science teacher that used to shave his legs. I forgot about him. He was a trip. That's the first time I had seen that. I was like, wow, this is really strange. So, it was kind of life experiences. I got all my book learning from books I read outside of school.

SEATTLESMILEY: Rick, are you excited for the new Star Wars movie?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Oh totally! YEAAHHHH! I've already downloaded the trailer. I actually have a huge collection of Star Wars toys and they're just rocketing in value. Actually, I'm going to do a charity event on Saturday with Mark Hamill. I've known Mark for a while...for a few years. I have a pretty big science fiction card collection - one of the few things that I collect. That and music stuff.

SHELL: There is rumor that you will sell the "Live & Kickin'" video online. True?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Possibly. We're working on the legal aspects of that right now.

SEATTLESMILEY: Rick, do you have any plans to tour outside the USA?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Yeah, we will. I'm sure we'll go to Europe. The record's not released out there yet. When the record's released we'll probably head over there. And, if things start looking up in Japan, we might go over there. We had an offer to go to Australia too, but it didn't work out right away.

RHONDA: Rick, are you doing any movies in the near future?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: I'm looking at stuff now. There's nothing that's final, but I'm looking at some different projects. The tour is gonna take me out for three or four days and then back again so that I can still do acting projects.

DOUGHNUT 68: What is the weirdest thing a fan has ever given you? - Donna
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Ha ha ha. The weirdest thing...wow...hmmm...God...I don't know. I'm trying to think. Anything I can say over the internet? Actually, there was a pretty amazing thing. A guy made this sculpture - it wasn't weird, it was amazing - of me, this cartoon kind of sculpture. I got some pretty weird presents in Japan. I had some thousand-year-old eggs from someone in China. That was pretty weird. They didn't travel too well. If you've ever seen a thousand-year-old egg, it's not starting out in great shape either at the beginning of the trip. They're ugly. They're black.

LAURA INFOSYSMGR: Rick, what are the chances of you playing New Year's Eve at Pleasure Island again this year?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Actually, we were gonna do that but, because of the Y2K thing, I think I'm gonna stay in the house.

JAYNE: Rick, are you still a runner? How far and often do you run? I still run. You were a great role model. Thanks.
RICK SPRINGFIELD: I started working out in a gym. I'm using the treadmill more. Running started to hurt my knees and my back for a while and I took a break by just using the treadmill. I think I'm gonna start running again. I haven't run, probably in about a year. But now that I'm on the road, I need to get my stamina back. But I've worked out, pretty much, continually.

JJ: Would you encourage your sons to follow in your footsteps?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Definitely not following my footsteps. I'd like them to find their own. If they wanted to... I'd want them to follow their passions, whatever that was. That's really the thing. Whatever it is - doctor, lawyer, musician, actor, or whatever they wanted to do. Dog trainer... As long as it's with passion.

DONNAGBSN: Scooby, do you have a girlfriend?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: His answer is: "I'm afraid they removed my testicles when I was a young lad, so I don't have much room for a girlfriend. I am, however, interested in cyber-chatting with any prospective cyber-pals. But please don't ever mention my testicles again."

ELLELEIGH: Scooby, What are your favorite doggie treats?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Doggie treats? Scooby particularly likes milk bones. Yes, he's a Milk Bone fan. He likes anything that comes off the barbecue. He'll even eat green stuff off the barbecue. His favorite treat is actually whatever I'm eating. He wants some of whatever it is - one of those dogs. He doesn't want it if it's in his bowl but if you're eating it he wants some. Oh, and he just said please don't mention his testicles anymore - or lack of.

ELIZCAT: Hi Rick! Looking at the scope of your career which phase - '70s, '80s or '90s - has been the most fun? Which the most fulfilling and why?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: I really see it as one career, one kind of period. To be honest, the seventies, it's kind of almost like a memory. It seems like it happened to someone else it was so far past. The seventies were kind of difficult. It was a lot of wishing and hoping. The eighties were difficult too - a lot of fulfillment, but also lot of pain came with it. The nineties, actually, probably towards the end of the 90's, this part now, has been the most fun because I have a better attitude about it, I think, now. The sixties were fun, too. I was there. I was actually playing and had a record album in the sixties.

RM0370: Any plans to appear on General Hospital again?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Not at the moment. Not right now. I love acting, but I'm looking at other things right now.

CATHY: Hi Rick! Will there be a video with your new release?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Yes, we're just deciding on which one that will be. Which one do you want?

LIVINNOZ: Rick, is it true you are going to be on Broadway?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Yeah, looks like I may be doing a show in October/November called "Smokey Joe's Café." It has a revolving part that they have guest people come in and do and I may be doing that if we can work out the scheduling.

BRAD: In what ways would you say your songwriting has changed over the years? It is so damned good!
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Well, thank you, Brad! I have just tried to write the best songs I can write and, actually, be as truthful as I can be. That's really where I can try and go with my songs. And as more stuff happens to me and you get older and there's more to draw from, my goal is to draw from those experiences and be as succinct and honest about what I'm writing about. In the end, I'm the only one, I'm the judge of whether the song gets out or not because I hate playing songs for people when they're still in the baby period. My criteria for a song getting out is just that if I'm satisfied with it and even when it's done I still go back and forth and back and forth. I think every song on "Karma" at one point, through the recording, I said, that's it, this one's off the album.

TRUDYJILL: How did you do on Rock and Roll Jeopardy? Was it a fun show to be on?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: I haven't done it yet. I think it's next week.

SILENCER: I loved the acoustic version of "Jessie's Girl!" Can you release a whole album of you singing acoustic?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: That's something that I've been thinking about. That and a live album. I've been thinking about doing something like that. Right now we're obviously concentrating on "Karma." That's definitely a possibility, yeah. Actually, a lot of the songs lend themselves to acoustic versions.

ANITA: Rick, boxers or briefs?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: BOXERS...I wear briefs with leather and boxers with everything else. Oh, behave.

JENNY WILSON: How varied will your tour be this summer as far as your past and present music?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Well, we're getting quite a repertoire together here as we pull out more songs and I have pretty much almost 2 shows worth of material that we can switch back and forth. Some of it I just like to stream together because I like the way it runs and it has a certain energy. But, I do throw stuff in for my own sake and to keep the band on their toes.

ABFAB21: Are there any facets of your career that you laugh about now?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Oh, I think the caveman outfit in the '70s - I had a pretty good laugh at that. And the cartoon show was a pretty bizarre sidestep in my career. It was a Saturday morning cartoon show. Maybe some of the acting roles I could look at and laugh now.

LIVINNOZ: Rick, what did you think of your VH1 Behind The Music special? It was very touching!
RICK SPRINGFIELD: I liked it. I thought it came out pretty good. I think they did an excellent job on it. It's hard for me to watch myself sometimes on things like that because I am embarrassingly revealing. But I was happy with the way it came out.

MELVSRICKSPRINGFIELD: Rick, will you ever have a reunion with Zoot? I love you man!
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Zoot. Hhmm...actually they talked about that a little while ago, about a couple of years ago they were talking about it, but I don't think anything came of it. It would be kind of fun to go back, actually, and play. I'd be very up for that. Just do, like, one show or something. If they did a revival show. I have a lot of good memories from that time. And I'm pretty sure all the guys are still alive. I keep in touch with some of them still.

LJACO: Rick, what is your favorite kind of ice cream?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Cherry Garcia.

JODIE: Have any bands asked you to do a remake of any of your older songs?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: There have been a couple of punk versions of some things that bands have sent me that were pretty cool. Bands don't have to license it. Once it's recorded anyone can re-record it. Scooby answered that one.

RICKRULZZZ: Hi Rick! How does Barb feel about all these women that just adore you?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Well, she adores me too so she understands. Ha ha ha. No, she's great about it. We've been together for 18 years. There's nothing we haven't been through. Actually, she's great with the fans - very open to talking to them. She's part of it.

MARKIE: Do you spend much time surfing the Internet? What do you do when you're online?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: I don't spend a lot of time on it. Most of the time going on the internet is for specific things - mostly it's for helping the kids do their homework, or to buy STUFF. I sometimes check in the auction sites to see if there are any toys that are interesting.

DANIELLE: Does the whole family tour with you?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: No. No, we've never really considered that. It's a rough life out there for a whole family. I have friends who tour with their families. It's pretty hard. I don't enjoy it and my family doesn't. Joshie came out once. He came out for about five days. My sons will come out separately. My sons will come out with me through the summer. There isn't much time for anything on the road. Not much time for social interaction on the road. It's pretty much sleep, travel, play, eat, sleep. Liam is 13 and Josh is 10...and they rule.

NICKNOO: What is the significance of the capitalization of "In Veronica's Head?"
RICK SPRINGFIELD: I was wondering when someone would catch that. That's for me to know and you to find out. It's a secret message to the person who the song is about. I do that occasionally. I have done it before.

MK4RLS: Rick, now that "Karma" is released will you be doing more songs from it in concert?
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Yes, we will, definitely. I've got to get the band into the studio and start rehearsing some more. It's kind of hard rehearsing when you come off the road. Last thing you wanna do is go back into a small, dark room and play loud music again. So, I'm gonna have to rope 'em and drag 'em into a room to get some of the new stuff rehearsed.

ZOOEY: What is said in the mumbling during the opening of "Woman?"
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Ha ha ha. It's a father talking to his son about women. And it's not particularly sage advice. The point is that the father is completely out of touch with where his son is regarding girls and sex and tried to talk him in a way that he understands, but he doesn't. I don't know. It may be something from my past.

RICK SPRINGFIELD: I would like to say thanks to everybody for your energy and I'm very excited about going out and playing again. I hope to see as many of you out there as I can. I'm really excited about having new music to play. And Scooby said that if you find his testicles, please mail them in to the address on the record cover. I'm sure they're out there.