Rick - Why Is He Ashamed?
He's Beautiful, Talented, Super-Successful And Free - So What's He Got To Be Ashamed About?

Probably, your image of Rick Springfield is one of a tall, dark, sexy 'n' self-confident winner - very good-looking, sparkly, talented and definitely not shy when it comes to the opposite sex! He's carefree, fun-loving, his eyes twinkle mischievously, his smile hints of tease - and yet, there's something else, too, that's maybe not as apparent! It's a dark, deep and lonely something inside of him and it can't be denied! It's a sadness, a sense of gloom that surfaces every once in a while when his mind begins to wander back to his childhood - his growing up years - and he feels so ashamed!

You Sit With The Girls!
Rick remembers back to his third grade classroom - how everyone, including his teacher, used to ridicule him for having long eyelashes! "You look just like a girl," the teacher would hiss, "so from now on, you're to sit with the girls - on their side of the room!" He ran home from school crying that day - and begged his mother to cut his lashes. She refused - and from that day on, Rick was ashamed of his looks!

Skinny Freckleface!
It didn't help, either, that he was thin - what's thought of as "lean and sexy" nowadays, was just plain "skinny and ugly" in those days! "Skinny melink", "skank," and "stringbean" were some of the names cruelly tossed at him - and try as he would, Rick would just not gain weight! He'd eat everything he could lay his hands on and tried not to exercise at all - which wasn't easy for a normally active kid - but all to no avail. Rick ended up hating his body and idolizing fat people!

His freckles - which have since faded - were also a source of terrible shame for him. He even bough freckle cream - but instead of covering up his freckles, he ended up with a severe case of acne!

Teenage Traumas
In spite of his shameful feelings about himself, Rick's interest in girls began to develop when he was a teenager and - like most guys his age - he'd try to get dates! This period of his life is one that Rick now looks back on as bittersweet - sure, there were some good times, but there were many more lonely, "guilty" and shameful times!

Kids at school would try to embarrass him every time he talked to a girl - his parents, too, seemed to be conspiring against him! They made him feel ashamed of his natural desires - the first time he took a girl to the park to make-out he felt sure that his parents knew about it! Of course, they really didn't, but Rick still felt so ashamed knowing they'd disapprove if they did know! (His feelings about this were revealed in a song he wrote many years later, Bad Boy.)

The Bare-Back Picture
As Rick got older, many of his fears and embarrassments of his teen years seemed to disappear - his eyelashes were no longer considered "feminine," his lankiness became sexy and his freckles up 'n faded away! But somehow, someway, there always seemed to be new reasons for shame to replace the old ones!

When Rick got into music, he became much happier - more free-wheeling and sometimes, downright cocky! The time he and his group (Zoot) posed nude - from the back view only! - for a national Australian newspaper is one example! When they did it, it seemed daring and fun - afterwards, all Rick felt about that now-infamous photo was shame.

The first time he was ever in a recording studio - proof that his music was being taken seriously! - was supposed to be an exciting day for him. He felt in fine form - he was very young and very happy! All the musicians, technicians, sound men and producers were there - all eyes and ears were on him and Rick wanted for all the world to be good.

The day ended in trauma - Rick's voice kept cracking all through the session until finally, mercifully, the producer called the whole thing off and Rick went home with his head hung low. The first time he ever performed in public the very same thing happened - plus, he couldn't even stay on key! 'Course Rick's gained a lot of experience since those days - but still, even today, just before he goes out on stage to perform, he trembles a little inside.

Fainting Spells
Rick's really grown and changed a lot since the days of his childhood traumas and - mostly - he only feels hurt and ashamed when those memories coming flooding back to him. But now, even in his prime, this sexy 'n sophisticated superstar still feels the pangs of shame about a few things. For one, he's fainting-prone! He's fainted in the doctor's office, in church - he even fainted backstage once! And you'd better believe him when he tells you how it embarrasses him!

Another thing he feels ashamed about is the fact that he's one of those people who just can't grow a mustache! It may seem like a little thing, but Rick, who's an incredibly sensitive person, feels un-masculine and inadequate.

What About You?
Have you ever felt ashamed? If you have, why don't you share your feelings with Rick? Surely, he'd be understanding! - and you might feel a little better telling someone about it! Rick's address is Box 2000, Beverly Hills, California, 90213.