Dr Oz: Rick Springfield’s Secret Health Battle
Rick Springfield’s shot to superstardom made him an icon of the 1980s, but like many stars, he battled private struggles while basking in the limelight of fame. Born in Australia, he found fame with his good looks and guitar work, notching him Grammy wins and 17 top 40 hits. Rick Springfield (also called “Yellow Rick” according to one lady’s sign in the audience!) talked with Dr Oz about depression and his suicide attempt.
His second act was in front of the cameras again, as General Hospital’s Dr Noah Drake. But behind the scenes, his personal life wasn’t so rosy. He struggled with depression, leading to suicide, as described in his memoir, Late, Late At Night.
Dr Oz: Rick Springfield Fans
Dr Oz talked with rock star Rick Springfield about his rocky personal life, depression, suicide attempt and his professional success. (s_bukley / Shutterstock.com)
Rick even retreated from the spotlight to try to get control of his depression struggles and put his family back together. Now, he’s sitting with Dr Oz to open up about his past. The audience was full of some huge fans who were still screaming his name.
“I’m still amazed that there’s still energy from fans, and it’s very humbling,” he said. Looking back on his life so far, the depression is what strikes a chord in him the most. The ups and downs of life were amplified, he said. Because of his success, the lows seemed lower.
Rick Springfield Depression on Dr Oz
When he was depressed, he had trouble finding joy in any part of his life. Rick’s memoir details a time when he had achieved everything he ever wanted, but he still didn’t feel satisfied and healed. That realization led him to take a break from showbiz and focus on healing from the inside out.
“There’s no outside source that can heal that kind of depression,” Rick said.
Rick Springfield Suicide Attempt & “I Hate Myself”
Rick Springfield looked back on another time in his life. At age 17, he was flunking out of school and felt unattractive to girls. He would skip class to avoid his issues, which eventually led to problems at home. After a fight with his mother, he made a noose in the family shed and attempted to hang himself.
Right as he began to lose consciousness, the rope gave way. He woke up on the floor, still alone with his demons. One of his new songs, “I Hate Myself,” comes from the darkness and dissatisfaction that have haunted him throughout his life.
Dr Oz shared a couple lines from the song “I Hate Myself”:
“I hate myself / I’m the one man wrecking crew
You’re so bad to me / I’m like a dead man walking”
As a young guy growing up around older rock band members, he was initiated into a culture of one-night stands with fans. He now reflects on the Buddhist saying, “Have no greed for followers,” and he has worked on his compulsion to take advantage of groupies.
Dr Oz: Rick Springfield DUI & Alcoholic Battle
He also admits that he has battled with alcohol, but he is now sober. He thinks his DUI was a message to remind him to stay on the right track.
Dr Oz wondered what triggers Rick’s depression. He said that his creative pursuits mean there is always work to do; he is easily overwhelmed, he said.
Rick gets depressed when he writes, and when he doesn’t write. He called music healing, and used the example of the song he wrote when his father passed away. Rick had a cathartic moment at the piano while writing the song, and felt healed when he was finished.
Leave a Reply