Rick Springfield and Richard Marx muse on hit songs, martinis, their meet-cute and psychedelics

As a fellow artist and someone who has walked a similar path, I find myself deeply moved by the resilience and courage of Rick Springfield and Richard Marx. Their stories of struggle with depression and their willingness to share those experiences are truly inspiring. It takes a great deal of strength to open up about such personal battles, especially in an industry where image is often more important than truth.

You may not be able to judge a man by his album cover(s), but you can deduce much by his choice in vehicles. Richard Marx and Rick Springfield are living proof. In the driveway of a lushly landscaped home just off the Malibu coast sits a luxury British automobile, rounded, elegant; a smooth-sailing land yacht. Next to it, a sporty, sleek, slightly dangerous 1963 Corvette Sting Ray, and parked on the street, a ‘55 Holden Ute.

Marx is akin to the sophisticated Bentley driver, Springfield to the sporty Chevrolet ‘Vette, and the utilitarian Australian truck represents themselves. Having been friends since the late ’80s, they refer to each other as Dickie (Springfield) and Richie (Marx). They might just be the most attractive vaudeville duo in history, with their humor as captivating as their meticulously composed songs, and a charm that flows effortlessly.

In 2009, they made their first joint appearance on a music-themed cruise. When Springfield asked Marx to join him, Marx initially declined with a blunt “no.” However, he eventually accepted the invitation. Despite Marx calling the ship a “floating petri dish,” the duo had a fantastic time together.

The positive energy persisted – the adored duo known for their chart-topping hits and heart-melting melodies maintaining a lighthearted approach even with their impressive songwriting talents and credentials – as they delivered captivating solo acoustic co-headlining shows. In terms of tangible milestones, both artists boast more than 5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, remarkable figures that reflect their diverse careers spanning Broadway, films, television (Springfield), and for Marx, an impressive 14 No.1 singles as a performer, songwriter, and producer.

On a gloomy Thursday in early October, Springfield’s house is shrouded in fog due to a marine layer, yet in his backyard gazebo, a comforting fireplace is burning brightly. Springfield sets up incense as friends engage in easy-going conversation. Marx just celebrated his 61st birthday, while Rick seems remarkably youthful at 75. In Malibu, it would be challenging to find a more fit and talented duo.

The dish is called Springfield Noodles, and it’s played on a compact, travel-friendly guitar. Excess details have been omitted, making it simply a travel guitar. A kind supporter gifted it to me many years ago, and I’ve composed numerous songs using it. It’s always by my side during my travels.

Let’s begin at the beginning. When was the first time you two met?

As a die-hard movie enthusiast, I’d say: Last night at the Greek Theatre, I found myself immersed in an origin story that resonated deeply with me. It’s one of many instances in my life where I’ve seen the power of manifestation unfold. Time and again, individuals have crossed my path who left a lasting impression on me.

Rick Springfield: No, I couldn’t take me seriously either.

At one point, I was in Tower Records and purchased “Living in Oz”. Upon taking it home and listening, it didn’t just alter my perspective on him but made me an avid admirer of his songwriting. This happened prior to any record deals or similar engagements. I remember thinking, “I had this man misjudged so severely. He’s a powerhouse.” I became a devoted fan. Fast forward five years, I was performing at the Greek Theatre, and I will never forget when my tour manager returned after the show and informed me, “Rick Springfield and his wife are here, they’d like to greet you briefly.” I was astounded, as we have photos of that moment.

Barbara Porter and Rick made their way backstage for a chat lasting approximately 15-20 minutes. They swapped contact information during our conversation. A few days later, I reached out to him, and we’ve been spending time together ever since. We attempted writing, culminating in the creation of a song that still brings us laughter today.

Am I going to hear that song?

Marx: It’s not great.

Springfield strummed his guitar in wonder, expressing their shared amazement: “It’s unbelievable! As skilled pop songwriters as we are, we can’t seem to pen a single tune together.

Marx: And we’ve been afraid to try ever since.

Rick, I read that in your native Australia you saw the Beatles. How did that impact you?

In those days, Australia seemed to be a bit lagging compared to other places. So, when The Beatles appeared on stage at the concert, it felt like they were extraterrestrial visitors from Mars. Their hair, suits, unusual boots, and strange guitars were unlike anything we’d ever seen before. When they began to sing, I remember my mouth gapping open, and I started shouting uncontrollably, not stopping until the end of the show. It was completely unexpected, a sudden burst of emotion. I was screaming alongside all the other girls and boys. It was an overwhelming experience. The concert they recorded was the one I attended. I’ve been searching for myself in the audience footage ever since, but I can never find me. My mother dropped us off, my older brother came with me.

For bands just starting out, having roots in the traditional music industry with labels, demo presentations, large upfront payments, and no online presence as we know it today, what words of wisdom would you share from your experience?

Marx: Here’s something positive: nowadays, you can do without a record label. However, it’s amusing – I should mention this – David Coverdale frequently sends me humorous texts; we’ve been friends for quite some time. This morning, he sent me an image of jeans. He wrote, “Did you know that many people are unaware of the purpose of the small pocket within the pocket? That’s where Spotify earnings are kept.

I’ve got three sons who are pursuing a path in music, each experiencing modest levels of achievement. My middle son, though, has made more headway thanks to getting a haircut similar to Katy Perry’s and being featured on popular tracks. Yet, they can’t earn a substantial living from it, as few musicians can. Rick and I are among the rare artists in our generation who persistently create and record new music because it’s our passion. However, we understand that the world isn’t actively seeking a fresh album from us; instead, they prefer to hear our hit songs. Fortunately for us, we both have an archive of hits, or else we’d be in a difficult position.

Richard, your song “Don’t Mean Nothing” seems to be a critique of the music industry. Is there anyone in particular to whom you are dedicating this piece?

Springfield: That song’s lyrics are quite revealing. As an actor, I particularly appreciate the line about, “Loving your job, but you’re simply not fitting the role,” sort of sentiment.

As a devoted fan, I’d say: “I adore your creations, darling! Back when I was just 22, I penned those lyrics, and it’s astounding to think how cynical I was at such a young age. By then, I had already encountered a few empty pledges and the nonsense that often comes with this industry. My discontent was already brewing, and expressing it through my work felt liberating. Amazingly, after nearly 40 years, the situation remains largely unchanged.

I’ve taken a peek at some of your old performance set lists, which feature Richard’s popular songs like “Right Here Waiting,” “Endless Summer Nights,” and “Satisfied.” For Rick, there’s “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” “Affair of the Heart,” and “Love Somebody.” What criteria do you use when selecting songs for your performances?

Springfield: In this program, it’s not appropriate to suddenly play your latest single. We engage in plenty of discussions and banter, and the dialogue might even be equal to the music. The show tends to run quite long, sometimes stretching beyond the two-hour mark.

What are your favorite songs of each other’s?

Springfield: “Right Here Waiting” is one of those songs that’s just spot-on, a truly magnificent ballad. However, I also appreciate “Hazard.

Marx shares that among his favorite songs, a few of which are penned by Rick, stands out. One noteworthy song is “Alyson” from the album “Living in Oz.” This track holds a special place for him, and he admires many others written by Rick that he deeply respects. However, when it comes to popular tunes and songs they often perform together, he can’t decide between the classic hit “Jessie’s Girl.” Despite their long-standing friendship, Marx still gets excited singing it with Rick Springfield, feeling like he’s really performing “Jessie’s Girl” alongside him.

In Springfield’s words: …We both sense that the tune seems to have a mind of its own. It’s as if I’m just along for the ride. Sometimes I play it and think, “Wow, this is incredible! People are responding so positively.

Marx: … And “Affair of the Heart,” I love that.

How do you discover new music?

In Springfield’s own words: I often listen to albums. I find them online for download. It’s quite lucky, actually, how you come across new music. I once read an article where a reviewer was discussing “Bang Bang” by Ariana Grande and Jessie J. I’m fond of that song, but the reviewer didn’t like it. He recommended checking out “Bang Bang Bang” by The Virginmarys instead. I went online, and that album turned out to be truly remarkable.

Marx: I’ve discovered a lot more music using Shazam. One of my favorite global acts right now is an electronic duo known as Bob Moses. Interestingly enough, neither member shares the names Bob or Moses, but one of them is the son of Jim Vallance, who collaborated on all of Bryan Adams’ hits.

Springfield: I’ve written a bunch of songs with Jim; he co-wrote a song called “Kristina” with me…

Marx: Around five or six years ago, I found myself in a restaurant in Aspen. A song played, and it reminded me of something I’d heard before. So I used Shazam to identify the tune. I wondered, “Who is Bob Moses?” After listening to the entire album, I recognized it as Jimmy Vallance’s work. Since then, I’ve downloaded every piece they’ve released.

Hey Rick, it came as a surprise to me that “I’ve Done Everything for You,” which is one of your favorites, was penned by Sammy Hagar. Now, I find it interesting that you’re both involved in the alcohol industry together.

Springfield: It’s an angry song…

Marx: I’m very jealous that he has an alcohol company. I’m envious, but I want it to do well.

Springfield: How about we have a couple of Double Vodkas together? I guess it might narrow down our crowd, as I don’t envision many people casually ordering two drinks by saying, “Could you make that Two Blank?

Marx: [Laughs] It could just be D2 or D2D…

Gin or vodka?

Marx: Vodka, for me, Belvedere.

Springfield: These days, it’s vodka for me. I hardly ever drink during weekdays, but I’ve scaled back a lot compared to before. Back then, I used to drink almost all the time. However, these days, at home, I abstain from alcohol entirely. I started drinking quite young and frequently, but I enjoyed it. Regrettably, I made some poor choices under the influence, which was one of the reasons for me to cut back. To be honest, I used to drink excessively, even having four glasses of wine before going on stage.

Marx: I only started drinking at 50, so…

Springfield: He’s got some time to go.

Dirty martinis; yes or no?

Springfield: No, I don’t like it dirty…

In simpler terms, Marx enjoys olives, while I prefer something different – a twist, usually with lemon. The other day, didn’t I mention this to Rick? Oh boy, he’s quite the rule-breaker! I once suggested adding orange to my martini and his response was like, “Wow!!”.

Springfield: Really?

Marx: Instead of choosing just one, I combined a slice of lemon and a slice of orange. When I offered it to Daisy Fuentes, she expressed even deeper affection, saying I’d elevated something wonderful to an extraordinary level.

Both of them have authored memoirs – Rick’s “Late, Late at Night” published in 2010, and Richard’s “Stories to Tell: A Memoir,” from 2021. In these writings, they’ve shared some raw and honest realities. Specifically, Rick has opened up about his struggles with suicide attempts and depression.

Springfield explained that he included the incident in his book because it was a significant part of his personal experiences and omitting it might raise questions. He wrote it in third person to detach himself from the emotion-laden narrative, focusing instead on how the depression affected him as a person, describing himself as someone who felt unloved. Surprisingly, people focused more on the depression portrayed in the book rather than the sexual content, perhaps because he was one of the first to openly discuss depression. The book begins with his attempted suicide at 16, an event that his mother initially denied, but he insisted it was true. He continued to struggle with depression throughout his life.

It’s an ongoing struggle.

In Springfield’s own words:

It’s more of an “opening” rather than a changing or masking.

Springfield: Exactly. [Excuses himself to take a phone call]

Marx: I strongly suggest giving it a try. It was truly life-changing for me, and I’ve had a similar experience in 2020. Rick and I have both gone through periods of depression. I found myself curious about what the experience with psilocybin might be like. I’ve only tried it once, but I’d love to do it again. In a challenging time, especially during COVID-19, I discovered an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. This is why I recommend it to everyone – it’s a profound sense of grace that stays with me and I can still draw on it.

Recently, I came across your name through Twitter, a few years back… One journalist admired your use of profanity, in a complimentary manner. However, it seems you no longer participate actively in discussions.

Marx: I’ve been avoiding it since Elon Musk took control. It’s not something I want to be part of anymore. Every now and then someone shares a post like a concert announcement, but as far as engaging or tweeting personally, that hasn’t happened since he took over. That week, I thought, “I’m done with it.

Social media can be somewhat of an addiction; was it easy for you to quit?

Marx shared that he had a gut feeling that something was about to occur on the platform, which led him to leave it. He’s not fond of Elon Musk at all, finding him distasteful, and he strongly believes that Musk will eventually face prison time. Interestingly, shortly after deciding to disassociate from the platform due to its ownership, Marx noticed a subtle improvement in his mood and sense of tranquility within a week or two.

Despite Daisy’s playful comments about it, Richard was known for expressing himself boldly on Twitter, finding various humorous ways to tell someone to take a hike. Yet, I didn’t let it consume me excessively. I attempted to counter with wit and sarcasm, but I never initiated conflicts. I merely responded. Admittedly, I developed an addiction to the accolades. I craved the attention, reveling in fans who admired my sharp comebacks. There was a strange sense of satisfaction in it. However, since leaving that platform, life feels much more tranquil.

On November 13, both Springfield and Marx perform at Thousand Oaks. The following day, they take the stage in Temecula on November 14. Their next stop is Cerritos on November 15, before wrapping up their tour in Palm Desert on November 16. For tickets, visit

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2024-11-12 14:37