Midway through my interview with Rick Springfield, I asked the ‘80s icon an unusually pointed question for what is ultimately a puff piece promoting his ongoing tour.
“What would you say to critics that call you a one-hit wonder?” I inquired, biting my lip.
It’s not exactly a fair question — he’s had five songs hit the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart over the course of his 50+ year career — but rather than write me off as a two-bit journalist not worth their salt like lesser rock stars might, the singer/actor/author/soon-to-be grandfather thoughtfully answered.
“I’d say you obviously weren’t listening in the eighties,” Springfield coolly replied. “[You know] there was a point where Elton John and I were tied for the most top 20 songs of the eighties…which is a funny thing to say. Elton has been following me all my career.”
The rocker, always quick with a a quip, isn’t off-base here. While primarily known for the mega-smash, ubiquitous-to-this-day “Jessie’s Girl,” he not only ruled the airwaves in the early ’80s but also starred in “General Hospital” (which Brian Wilson, Elizabeth Taylor and Sammy Davis Jr. all let him know they religiously watched while he was on), appeared alongside Meryl Streep in Jonathan Demme’s 2015 film “Ricki and the Flash,” penned a pair of funny, thoughtful novels and delivered a new album as recently as 2023.
Yet, above all, he’s a requisite showman who has been touring tirelessly since his ’80s heyday.
These days, Springfield is midway through his ‘I Want My ’80s Tour’ with special guest hitmakers John Waite (“Missing You”), Wang Chung (“Dance Hall Days”), Paul Young (“Every Time You Go Away”) and John Cafferty (“Sleep Walk”).
This week, the quartet of MTV era vets are scheduled to stop into Atlantic City’s Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on Friday, July 11 and Newark’s New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Saturday, July 12.
Ahead of the shows, The Post asked Springfield all about the tour, back catalog and, yes, “Jessie’s Girl.”
Below, you’ll find the multi-hit wonder’s tour schedule, an in-depth interview, factoids about his tour-mates, a recent set list of his and more.
Rick Springfield tour schedule 2025
A complete calendar including all tour dates, venues and links to buy tickets can be found below.
Rick Springfield Q&A
What does a Rick Springfield show look like in 2025?
Very high energy. We play all the hits plus some deep cuts and keep it interesting enough for us as well. I have an amazing band and we all get along, which translates on stage. You can always tell if there’s some animosity going on in the band.
Plus we have a new ten-minute medley now where I throw in different songs so we’re not doing the same thing all the time and keeps me on my toes. We get to fit more songs in and play 25 songs instead of 18.
I never thought of a medley as the Tiktok-ification of a concert, but that’s 100% accurate.
Absolutely.
What is your favorite track to perform right now?
It’s usually the newest song because you haven’t played it 30,000 times yet.
We’re playing a song called “I’ll Make You Happy, which is on my “Shock/Denial/Anger/Acceptance” album that we haven’t played much live. It’s a good heavy starter. There’s a lot of heavier stuff in my live show, which surprises people because they think of me as pure pop.
A lot of people think I walk on a soap opera and said, ‘hey, I can sing.’ They don’t know my musical background. I’ve been through the clubs and played music since I was 13.
What keeps you coming back to the road?
Going onstage is my Prozac and all my worries don’t come onstage with me.
It’s a high you can’t get any other way unless you do acid or drink heavily and that has a real downside. I love playing live. I always say I get paid to travel. I play for free.
Tell me about John Waite.
I’ve been friends with John for quite a while, actually. We used to rub shoulders at Sound City when he was with The Babys. He’s just got one of my favorite voices. When we first started this tour he had a bit of a cold and still sang like a bastard.
Wang Chung.
I was a huge fan of their first album back when they were “Huang Chung.” I was listening to it when we started touring. They still sound great and have some great songs.
Paul Young.
The quintessential English gentleman. I was a fan of his first record, too.
John Cafferty.
I hate to sound like this but one of the sweetest human beings I’ve ever met. You just want to hug him like a teddy bear. He’s so awesome.
What is the craziest thing to have happened at a live show of yours?
Having (famed male ballet dancer) Rudolf Nuryev watch from the side of the stage was pretty out there. I played half a show with my fly open — I thought everyone was looking at my my mighty man bulge and going — but my fly was open. That was humiliating.
I used to have people come up on stage. When I started out, I’d bring one woman up and she’d get under the guitar and I’d do the song “I Get Excited.” Once I got more popular, the hardcore fans who followed us would jump onstage and try to get under the guitar. At some point there were like 30 women onstage and it collapsed.
Do you remember the moment “Jessie’s Girl” came to you?
I had the music first and I had the words to the B-verse “she’s watching with those eyes.”
I still have the lyric sheet that I wrote out as I was writing the song and “Randy’s Girl” was the original title, which thankfully didn’t make it.
What was the moment that you knew “Jessie’s Girl” was a hit?
I was at Sound City in the rehearsal room getting ready for my first tour, and my manager, Joe Godfrey, came in with a cheap bottle of champagne — which was very Joe, God bless him — and said, We just hit number one.
What’s the craziest place you’ve heard “Jessie’s Girl”?
Walking past a bar as a bar band was playing it. That was fun. People will always send me video if they’re in a store or something and they hear it. One friend heard it in a little shop in the North of England. That was so bizarre.
Were there any other songs of yours that you thought would have really blown up?
“Carry Me Away” was a good song. “Everybody’s Girl.” I thought “Light of Love” was a strong song. Really all my songs that were three minutes long, with a big heart and about sex. That’s what you think of when you’re that age.
“Love Somebody” was a really unique song and I remember reviews saying, “this is a game changer.”
My ’60s band Zoot covered The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby,” which was a hit in Australia but I heard somewhere — although I have no proof — that someone heard John Lennon say ‘I like that version better than The Beatles.’ I have no proof and no reason for anyone to ever say that to me either.
Favorite “General Hospital” behind-the-scenes story?
I can’t tell you that one.
Do you have anything new in the works?
I’m writing a new album now. I have my guitar, keyboard and little recorder out here. I put headphones so my wife doesn’t have to listen to the same musical phrase over and over. It’s my therapy and hobby.
The new album will be a little heavier. More adventurous. I want to write a bunch of meaningful songs to me with big hooks and some flavor of what’s going on.
What do you want to say to people on the fence about coming to see you live?
It’ll put a big dent in your a– and probably give you hemorrhoids. No, come down and see the show itself. You won’t be sorry. It’s wall to wall hits and a real package show with five acts. Everyone’s at the top of their game and, and there’s no wasted moments.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Rick Springfield set list
Although Springfield has a deep catalog, he sidesteps the spotlight at his live shows to make sure everyone gets a moment in the sun.
Should you see him in concert this year, here’s what he’s been playing at ‘I Want My 80s Tour’ gigs, courtesy of Set List FM.
01.) “I’ll Make You Happy”
02.) “Affair of the Heart”
03.) “I’ve Done Everything for You” (Sammy Hagar cover)
04.) “Living in Oz / Bop ‘Til You Drop / Souls / Two Tickets to Paradise / Jessie’s Girl / What’s Victoria’s Secret? / What Kind of Fool Am I / Rock of Life”
05.) “Love Is Alright Tonite”
06.) “World Start Turning”
07.) “State of the Heart” (Mondo Rock cover)
08.) “Don’t Talk to Strangers”
09.) “Love Somebody”
10.) “Human Touch”
Encore
11.) “Jessie’s Girl”
’80s stars on tour in 2025
If you were worried that Springfield was the only ’80s icon on the road this year, we’re here to ease your fears.
Many of the biggest names from the shoulder pad decade are touring these next few months.
As evidence, here are just five of our favorite ’80s stars on tour you won’t want to miss in the near future.
• Styx
Want to go further back? Check out our list of all the biggest classic rockers on tour in 2025 to find the show for you.
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change
