Rating: 4 Out Of 5 Stars
Let me start out by saying I was in elementary school (4th grade to be exact) at the height of the General Hospital frenzy and Working Class Dog album. I was not watching the soap, but some older neighbor girls were. And of course the music was all over the radio. The movie, Hard To Hold was released in theaters in 1984 and I'm pretty sure I saw that a year or so after its release. Throughout the 80's Rick Springfield had many other hits that if I heard them now I would recognize many of the songs. This was pretty much the extent of my knowledge about Rick Springfield.
The very first thing that shocked (and I mean SHOCKED) me is that Mr. Springfield is only two years younger than my mother!!! As I write this my my Mom is 75, Spring field 73!!!!
This factoid totally threw me for a loop! I was very interested in his writings about his early years in Australia, his relationship with his parents, love of writing music, guitars and dogs. The parts I could've done without were all the intimate partners he had throughout his life. ( Don't get me wrong, I'm not naive about the rock star lifestyle, but I think Rick's 'adventures' were much more than the norm.) He's described it as a 'habit' rather than sex addiction.
I was unaware that he had some popularity in the early 70's in the United States and how editor-in-chief of 16 magazine, Gloria Stavers, was set on making Rick a teen idol just like David Cassidy. I also had no idea he dated Linda Blair from the movie Exorcist fame when she was only 15 years old!!
(Springfield was 25.)
Rick will be married to his wife Barbara Porter, for 39 years on October 27, 2023. This woman is a saint in my eyes. She endured Rick's infidelity for many, many, many years and it is beyond a miracle that the two of them are still together.
Happy for them that they are, but a lot of turmoil in this marriage to say the least. And he wrote the song "Don't Talk To Strangers" while he and Barbara were dating because HE was worried SHE was going to get involved with other people while they were apart! He has said, "Back then, I was scared that she was f**king around because I was doing the same thing." HA!!
The last thing I will leave you with in this book review is that Rick tried to commit suicide when he was 17 years old and has struggled with depression since puberty. He references his depression as "Mr. D" throughout the book; I never in a million years would've thought that he struggled with depression.
The insight to all he has dealt with throughout his life with depression is very sad, but extremely real.
I commend Rick Springfield for laying out the nooks and crannies of his life in this book. Although the writing style at the beginning of the book was a little choppy, he finds his voice throughout the book (with some flash forwards & flashbacks at spots) and he truly is an excellent writer. Don't underestimate this guy, he is talented and I believe he has a great heart.
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