March 1, 2003

Question: pasadena, ca: Since EFX is dark on Sunday and Mondays what do you do with your days off? Do you go home on those days??
Rick Springfield: Fly home to my family in L.A. and get lots of sleep!

Pasadena California: Will you release a soundtrack from your EFX show?
Rick Springfield: Yes. It won't happen for a while since we're still working on the show, but it'll probably come out in the next few months.

Edmond, Oklahoma: How does your stint on Broadway in Smokey Joe's Cafe compare to your present role as the EFX Master? Michelle OKC:-)
Rick Springfield: It's very similar in that it's an actor's community backstage, but the effects show is a lot more demanding, and because of the size and scope of the show a lot more fun.

Charlotte, NC: I've read that one of your favorite songs that you have written is Honeymoon in Beirut. (one of my favorites too!) Any chance you will ever perform this live?
Rick Springfield: Anything is possible in my live show. It's a very complex song, so it's not one I can just throw in at a moment's notice. But it's always been one of my favorites, so maybe next tour.

Liz4RLS from St. Louis, MO: Do you miss the crowd interaction of your live shows now that you are in a more 'controlled' audience setting of EFX?
Rick Springfield: Yes, I miss the energy and party atmosphere at my live shows, and it's a lot different doing a staged show. But there's some good energy to the audience in EFX.

Rahway, NJ: You have basically done it all.. TV, Music, Movies, etc. What is the one thing you loved most?..and would you consider a TV show again in the future? Cathy*
Rick Springfield: I love songwriting the most. It's something I always do and CAN always do, even when I'm old and ugly. We'll be looking at TV after EFX.

Athens, Greece: I'd like to hear some of your influences, as a singer and writer.
Rick Springfield: Originally Rogers and Hammerstein as writers (when I was a kid). That's what my parents played. But when we moved to England I discovered Cliff Richard and the Shadows, and then when I hit puberty the Beatles happened.

Sydney, Australia: Rick, Did you have any idea how big "Jesse' Girl" would become when you were recording it? And do you miss Australia at all?
Rick Springfield: I didn't think Jessie's Girl was anything special at the time. I thought it was a good song and wanted it on the album "Working Class Dog", but didn't think it was a hit. I have an invitation to a 60s reunion of all the bands from that era in Sydney in a few weeks, and would love to go but can't because of EFX. Yes, I miss Australia, and just finished reading new Ned Kelly book, so I guess I'm due for a trip home soon.

Rahway, NJ: What was the Most embarrassing thing that happened to you while you were singing on stage?
Rick Springfield: Playing the Rock God at a show in Japan in the 80s and having a girl in the front tell me my zipper was down. And it was.

Rochester, NY: Why don't you perform songs from 'Sahara Snow' in concert? It's a great CD.
Rick Springfield: They're not that well known, and they're quite difficult to do live because of the thousands of vocal overdubs I did on the CD. I may re-record one or two of them on my next new CD, though.
One of the reasons I took the EFX gig was that it would hopefully give me time during the day to write. I'm moving my studio to Vegas this week and hope to have a new CD by the end of the year.

New Orleans, Louisiana: Which of the three specials about your life (the TNN version, the Behind the Music version, or the A & E version) do you consider the best at telling your story?
Rick Springfield: It's very hard for me to watch myself talking about myself, so I only watched the shows long enough to make sure they were factually correct. I think they all have their merits AND things that make me cringe.

Aliso Viejo,CA: As a parent and a songwriter, what are your feeling about explicit lyrics in today's music?
Rick Springfield: I think there are times when the expletive lyrics are warranted. It's the way a lot of us actually speak, and it certainly adds to the emotion of a song. When there's no real emotion in the song to begin with and it's done purely for shock value, I think it's ridiculous.

Waukegan, Illinois: Do you do (or don't do) anything superstitious before a show?
Rick Springfield: Not any ritual. I try and connect with the audience mentally before I go out on stage. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

Denver, CO: Is there anything you wish you would have learned to do?
Rick Springfield: Be a good father BEFORE my kids were born.

Seattle, WA: We just survived a 6.8 quake in Seattle. Do you have any earth quake stories you'd like to share?
Rick Springfield: My first earthquake in L.A. in 1972 bounced me out of my bed, and I almost got on a plane and went home.

Stacey H....Old Bridge, N.J.: Rick...How DO you manage to stay on that flying disk?
Rick Springfield: A great big seat belt and nerves of steel.

-USA Today