Joe Rogan Experience #2550 - Rick Springfield

Early Life and Musical Beginnings [00:00:00]

• Springfield recounts his early life, moving from Australia to England and then back to Australia.
• He discovered girls and guitars in England, influenced by bands like Cliff Richard and the Shadows.
• A period of depression in his youth led him to skip school and focus on playing guitar and reading horror novels.

  "I discovered the guitar and I started staying away from school because I couldn't face going to school."

Vietnam War Experience [00:04:07]

• Springfield describes touring Vietnam in 1968-69 with a band, playing for American GIs.
• The band was based in Saigon and Da Nang, touring up to the DMZ, and experienced direct combat, including mortar attacks and being shot at.
• He recounts harrowing moments, such as being in a radio shack while mortars were being fired and befriending Navy personnel.

  "We were at the DMZ, the Tet, after the Tet where they'd crossed over the vehicle and crossed into the cities and everything and, like, done the big assault, you know, the Tet assault."

The Impact of War [00:15:55]

• Springfield reflects on the constant fear and the psychological toll of being in a war zone.
• He describes the surreal experience of playing music amidst active combat.
• The band members slept in basic "hooches" and experienced intense fear, sometimes aided by smoking marijuana.

  "It was pretty much a fear factor the whole time."

The Aftermath of War and Personal Trauma [00:27:13]

• Springfield discusses the difficulty of decompressing after returning home.
• He shares a particularly haunting memory of throwing a mortar down a tube and later learning it had hit an enemy combatant.
• This event continues to weigh on him, representing a responsibility he struggles to reconcile.

  "That's really kind of the one thing I brought back with me that I couldn't really find a place for that to land."

Musical Career and "Jessie's Girl" [00:36:22]

• Springfield discusses his early career, including his first hit "Speak to the Sky" in Australia.
• He recounts the unexpected success of "Jessie's Girl" in 1981, which was initially pushed by radio DJs.
• The song's popularity was boosted by his role on the soap opera "General Hospital."

  "The record company was not releasing the album I'm going oh god it's gonna happen again you know it's gonna hit 100 in the top 100 and go away."

The Power of Live Performance [00:45:35]

• Springfield emphasizes the unique energy and connection experienced during live concerts.
• He describes concerts as a form of communal experience, offering an escape from daily life for both the audience and the performer.
• The positive energy and shared emotion create a powerful, almost spiritual, atmosphere.

  "Our job is to give the audience 90 minutes, two hours of freedom from the crap that bothers them during the day."

Aging in the Music Industry [00:53:47]

• The conversation touches on the rarity of rock stars maintaining careers into their 70s.
• He notes how artists like Mick Jagger and Keith Richards continue to perform at a high level.
• Springfield contrasts this with the past, when a career in rock was considered a young man's game.

  "When you get to be a certain age, they just stopped playing."

Health and Longevity [01:06:18]

• Springfield shares his dedication to daily workouts and a healthy diet, inspired by his father's early death.
• He discusses preventative health measures like body scans and blood draws.
• He highlights the benefits of saunas and cold plunges for physical and mental well-being.

  "I work out every day, oh, six days a week. I eat well."

The Art of Songwriting and Writing [01:21:30]

• Springfield explains his songwriting process, noting that music comes more instantaneously than lyrics.
• He has written novels, including "Magnificent Vibration" and "World on Fire," which explore themes of plague and dark humor.
• He considers himself a writer first and foremost, having written his autobiography and other books.

  "I consider myself a writer really before anything."

The Beatles and Musical Evolution [01:36:00]

• The discussion delves into the massive cultural shift between 1959 and 1969, from Buddy Holly to Jimi Hendrix.
• The Beatles' rise is examined, including their intensive early performances in Hamburg.
• The impact of their music and songwriting is considered unparalleled.

  "I mean, is there a more radical transformation of rock and roll music than that time?"

Fame and Its Challenges [01:49:00]

• Springfield reflects on the overwhelming nature of extreme fame, citing Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson as examples.
• He discusses the pressure and isolation that come with being a global superstar.
• The fragmentation of the modern music audience is contrasted with the monolithic popularity of past eras.

  "I think that level of fame is almost unsustainable for a human being."

The "General Hospital" Phenomenon [01:59:00]

• Springfield recounts his unexpected role on "General Hospital" and its massive popularity.
• The Luke and Laura storyline captivated the nation, leading to unprecedented viewership for a soap opera.
• He notes the strange anomaly of a daytime soap opera achieving such widespread cultural impact.

  "It was the biggest soap operas ever got and I just happened to be on it that summer."

The Impact of "Jessie's Girl" [02:11:00]

• Springfield describes the slow climb of "Jessie's Girl" to number one and his initial disbelief.
• He credits radio DJs for championing the song when the record company was hesitant.
• The song's success was a long-awaited validation after years of striving.

  "I always expected something I knew something would happen I had faith."

The Girl Behind "Jessie's Girl" [02:24:00]

• Springfield reveals the inspiration for "Jessie's Girl" was a girl he met in a stained glass class.
• He tried to talk to her, but she was with her boyfriend, leading him to write the song.
• He never learned her name and she was unaware the song was about her.

  "I went home and wrote about her and this song his name was Gary but and I tried Gary and didn't sing so I tried Randy and that didn't sing right either so I ended up with Jessie and that seemed to work so."

Legacy and Continued Passion [02:29:00]

• Springfield expresses gratitude for his long and varied career.
• He emphasizes the importance of passion and continuing to engage in activities he loves, such as writing and performing.
• He reflects on the serendipitous events that shaped his life and career.

  "I think everyone's life has that you know you can look back like I look at my marriage."

The Power of Dedication and Craft [02:36:00]

• Springfield discusses the concept of "staying in the game" to be ready for opportunities.
• He highlights the importance of honing one's craft and having self-belief to seize moments of luck.
• He shares his early experience playing with his back to the audience due to shyness.

  "It's certainly not just luck no there's certainly a lot of other elements you gotta be ready."