Rick Springfield will bring a night of music to the Bell Auditorium in his “Stripped Down” concert Feb. 18.
“Vocally it will be full on, but it will be laid back. There will be a lot of stories and a bit of humor,” said the Australian born singer, songwriter, musician, actor, bestselling author and rum maker in a Feb. 1 phone interview.
Springfield started making music in the 1960s in his homeland with bands including one called Zoot. The members plan to get back together later this year for a short tour for anyone who was alive back then and still remembers the music, he said.
As an actor, Springfield appeared in several daytime dramas including The Young and the Restless in the 1970s and as Dr. Noah Drake on General Hospital in the 1980s. More recently, he appeared in American Horror Story and Supernatural.
Springfield wrote many of his own songs including the GRAMMY Award winning, “Jessie’s Girl,” which he admits is one that he’s most known for and might end up being played at his funeral one day, but he said he really hoped it wouldn’t be.
In the “Stripped Down” concert, fans will get a chance to experience firsthand his wry wit.
“It’s very informal, very one on one,” he said. It’s a chance for me to talk to the audience.”
While he was a heartthrob of Generation Xers who were teens in the 80s, Springfield has never slowed down continuing to write music and explore as many musical genres as possible.
“I’ve still been writing and recording. I’ve done blues and a Beatles type album. I’ve done all different things, but I’m going back to pop. I’m writing a lot about things going on in my life,” he said.
Springfield has written two books. The most recent audiobook, narrated by Springfield, is “World on Fire” and came out in January 2021. It’s a follow up to the 2014 “Magnificent Vibration.”
And he’s also expanded into the rum-making business with fellow rocker Sammy Hagar. The two of them have developed Beach Bar.
Hagar and Springfield have a long relationship going back to their collaboration of the 1981 hit Hagar wrote called “I’ve Done Everything for You.”
“Our first collaboration was a home-run, so we though why not try again,” according to Springfield via his website.
Springfield cited Hagar’s success in the spirit business as another reason for working with him.
“When the opportunity came along, I thought it was a brilliant idea,” he said on the website.
The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $45-$79. For tickets, visit aectix.com.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the managing editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
