“Jessie’s Girl” made Rick Springfield famous, and at age 31, the rocker was at the top of his game — both in music and on TV — landing him the role of soap stud Dr. Noah Drake on “General Hospital.”
To the outside world, it seemed like Springfield was leading the dream Hollywood life. But in reality, Springfield was battling depression and had a problem with his sexual appetite — a problem that almost ruined his life.
“I had a huge house, money, a beautiful wife, kids, touring the world — and realizing that that wasn’t doing it,” Springfield told Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush in a new candid interview. “And I realized it hadn’t fixed me.”
Springfield said depression hit him at an early age — puberty, in fact. And it followed him into his skyrocketing career. In his new memoir, “Late, Late At Night,” he even gives his depression a name: Mr. D.
“Is it an over-exaggeration to say that you had an issue with sex addiction?” Bush asked the singer.
“I wouldn’t say that’s an over-exaggeration. I’d say it’s a part of my life and sex addiction is ... I don’t use that word in the book because it’s not to me, it’s just my sexual issue,” Springfield explained. “I wasn’t addicted to sex ... it was a habit that I fell into as a young musician. It didn’t become an issue until I finally found somebody that I didn’t want to lose because of it.”
That somebody Springfield referred to is his wife of over 25 years, Barbara.
“How close did you get to losing her?” Bush asked.
“Very close. I’ve come very close to losing her a couple times and the truth is, we both know that we’re better together than we are apart. So, we have fought the times that I have fallen off the wagon — nuked the wagon,” Rick said.
Springfield said his most recent “nuke the wagon” episode was in 2002 while he was working in Las Vegas — but what does his wife think about him baring his soul to the public in his new book?
“How does she feel about what you’re sharing?” Bush asked.
“Really uncomfortable,” Springfield replied, adding that while she may not approve, she understands it’s who he is.
“I’m a writer and she married a guy who writes about his life,” he continued. “All my songs are about most of my hits are about her. Honestly. Starting with ‘Don’t Talk to Strangers.’ A lot of my best songs have come from the dark side of me.”
After two-and-a-half decades together, is Springfield now comfortable in his loyalty to his wife?
“Will you stray again do you think?” Bush asked.
“God, I hope not. I hope not,” Springfield said. “But you know, it’s like anything — it’s not a given.”