I have recently finished reading the book,
and am currently listening to the audio version
of it, just to hear the expressions behind the
words. I know bits and pieces about the life of
Rick Springfield through articles, interviews,
videos etc, but I really wanted to get the whole
picture...and this book sums it up. It kept my
attention, and for me that's a big plus, because
I am not an avid reader! I found it honest,
heartfelt, and compelling to say the least. In
my opinion, this memoir is conveying the need we
all have for some sort of spiritual guidance to
lead us on the right path...no matter what
denomination or faith you are. It also proves
that with a strong connection to family and
friends, anything is possible. I can't wait for the
next installment! - Lisa
I just had to buy this book after seeing Rick
giving a couple of interviews about it as I have
been a fan since the early 80’s (my first
concert was a Rick Springfield concert in 1984).
Anyway, I bought the book on a Sunday afternoon
and between work, kids, homework, etc. I
finished it Tuesday evening. I didn’t want to
put it down! I grabbed it and read it every
chance I could. The writing and storytelling was
very engaging and it was just a fantastic read!
I highly recommend the book, not only for fans,
but for anyone who has had bouts of depression,
it’s a great book and really ends with a message
of hope! - Koleta
I just finished the book and absolutely loved
it!!!!! I thought Rick was very open about his
life and struggles. I have been a fan of Rick’s
since I was 14, (I am 43 now), so I couldn’t
wait to read about his life, and I must say he
was very honest and real and I couldn’t put it
down. I am sure it was very hard reliving a lot
of the things that happened throughout his life.
I myself have struggled with depression,
although not to the extent Rick did, but can so
understand the “Darkness”. I can only imagine
how difficult it was, and still is, in a world
where you are not sure who you can really trust
and who is truly out for your best interests.
Thanks for writing this book, Rick! Keep
Rocking! - Jacki
I found the book interesting not just because
of the plethora of experiences Rick has had in
both his personal and professional life, but
also because of his willingness to write in such
an honest and straightforward way. It’s
entertaining, yet also philosophical at the same
time. The book is a story
rags-to-riches-to-rags-to enrichment! Proof that
no matter what situations life finds one in,
there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
- Sabrina
Really great book! I finished it in
two days and had a hard time putting it
down. Loved the candidness and
especially the human/animal connections
to the story. Those of us who love dogs
understand! Very personal aspects to the
book which made you feel like you knew
exactly what Rick was living. Thanks so
much for writing such a great book! -
Liz
I just finished the book last night!
I absolutely could not put it down. I
would look forward to getting home from
work to read more!! I laughed, I cried
and I felt a heavy heart as I read
through it. I’m in complete awe of the
details that Rick shares with us in this
book and it has given me a new picture
of who he truly is and the struggles
that he’s faced when we, his fans, have
seen him in a completely different light
all these years. It’s heartwarmingly
funny and it truly gives you a snapshot
of Rick’s personality and wit. Rick is
completely candid in this book and at
times I felt complete sadness for what
he had to go through. I hope that by
writing this it also gives him some of
the healing that he’s been searching for
all these years! Thanks to Rick for
sharing his life with all of us! I loved
it and look forward to more in the
future! - Shari
I have been a fan for many, many
years, so I was very anxious to start
reading Late, Late at Night. I
downloaded it the day it came out and
read it every chance I had. I can’t
remember the last time I was so
motivated to finish a book. It is an
honest and at times surprising look into
Rick’s life. I can relate to many of his
experiences and was brought to tears
more than once, which I did not expect.
I highly recommend this book. - Terry
In "Late, Late At Night" Rick
Springfield transports you on a tour of
his life. His wit, humbleness and sense
of humor make this enlightening journey
all the more enjoyable. He confronts the
triumphs and tragedies of his life head
on and puts his ego aside to provide a
thorough picture of himself both as an
artist and as a human being. As a long
time fan, I find his candor refreshing
and the insight into the songs he has
written extraordinary. Read this book.
You will not be disappointed. -
Catharine
This memoir is an interesting read
that, not surprisingly, coincides
with the themes and stories found in Mr.
Springfield's musical writing. The
prose flows so well that, at times, it
is difficult to put the book down. I
find it easy to connect with the
author, though his life experiences have
certainly been intensified by his
occupation and fame. The
balance Springfield achieves in
portraying the dark choices he has made
along the way with the forgiveness
and love of his family is impressive.
This book also sheds some light
on my own desire to continue being a fan
of Rick Springfield, having experienced
in my own life a few of the same issues
he discusses. - Alyssa
I just finished reading the book and
I must say that it was quite
fascinating. Rick's writing style was so
conversational that I felt as though we
were face-to-face. I applaud his
frankness and his phraseology was often
very humorous. To expose himself and his
family for all to see is risky at best,
but he pulled it off admirably. As a
mental health therapist, I have a lot of
questions that I would love to ask Rick
about his depression and self-image (or
lack of); however, I guess I have to be
satisfied with the information in the
book and look forward to subsequent
volumes. I've highly recommended this
book to my colleagues and friends.
Thanks to Rick for sharing his
interesting, yet painful, life with us.
- CarolAnne
It's rare for any celebrity to peel
away the shimmery veneer and reveal the
blemishes--and demons--that lie beneath.
In penning his autobiography, Rick
Springfield spared none of the
details--even those that might have
marred his previously squeaky clean
reputation. What results is a book that
is by turns laugh-out-loud funny,
heartbreakingly sad, and overwhelmingly
honest. Having been a fan since just
before puberty (suffice it to say that a
few decades have passed since then), I
thought I knew exactly what to expect
from this memoir. I didn't. I had no
idea of the depth of Rick's
experiences--from dodging bullets in
Vietnam, to dodging equally destructive
managers and record companies in the
L.A. music industry. In Late, Late at
Night, Rick also reveals his
considerable talent as a writer. Anyone
who reads this autobiography--fan or
not--will have a hard time putting it
down. In the end, they'll discover a
complex portrait of a man who is witty,
talented, vulnerable, and so much more
than "Jessie's Girl." - Stephanie
When the time comes, Rick’s wife
Barbara is going to receive an express
pass upon entering heaven! I feel as a
fan that I’ve come full circle in
understanding the life of a rock star
that I once looked upon as an
untouchable hero. When looking in on the
life of rock star that you idolize, you
only hear the music and see the fame and
glamour. You don’t see that person as
having issues that could be similar to
yours (okay, fairly similar except for
the extreme amount of sex). I don’t
think Rick Springfield understands how
many lives he actually touched with his
music and persona. We absorbed the
music, loved the actor, and person that
we were allowed to see. I believe I’m
becoming a Rick Springfield fan after a
25-year hiatus. I’m looking forward to
catching up on music that was released
while I was away and looking forward to
future releases. The book was truly and
inspirational eye opener! - Lori
The book was great for a super fan
like me who thought I knew
everything there was to know about
Rick, (I didn't) and it was great
for the non fan as well. Reading how
Rick has battled depression makes
you realize that under all the fame
and money, he is still a human just
like you and me. I love how he
praises his beautiful wife for being
his rock and takes full
responsibility for all of his
mistakes. That is rare for a Rock
Star!
Rick has lived an interesting life and many
lessons can be learned from Late Late At
Night, Perseverance, Drive, Determination
and just plain hard work to name a few. I
for one am thrilled that Rick finally
decided to share his inner most thoughts and
feelings with the rest of us. Late Late At
Night is an awesome book that I would highly
recommend. - Colleen
Other than meeting Rick at a concert in
August of 2004, reading Late, Late at Night was
my second best Rick experience of a lifetime. I
am struck by many things that he writes but the
aspect of the book that resonates most is his
description about being a fan. He writes, “It
puts life in perspective and there is always
more to aspire to when you’re looking up. And
everyone is a fan of someone. Paul (McCartney)
is a fan of someone, I am a fan of Paul’s, and
someone is a fan of mine.” A little life lesson
in that “looking up” statement. I’ve always
enjoyed moments where I get of glimpse of who I
want to be in the future or better yet, what I
don’t want to be. Overall Rick’s journey has had
its share of pain. It is a bit more dramatic
than my everyday trials at the office but the
human spirit, the wish to succeed, the dream of
the good life are really all the same in each of
us. Finding peace and a little joy in that
journey is the real trick. Rick seems to have
found serenity after a lifetime of struggle. -
Andrea
As I went deeper and deeper into the
pages of this book, I found myself
nodding and saying, “Yes, that’s how I
feel.” more than once. The authenticity
of Rick’s writing struck a chord that
kept me riveted-I read the book straight
through from evening to early the next
morning, and I have to say that sharing
some of the darker moments on his
journey with Rick ‘late, late at night’
made those particular chapters even more
intense.
Although there are very dark stories
included here, there is a feeling of
hope and reinvention that permeates the
pages wishfully which gives it a feeling
of traveling from the darkness into the
light. Reading his story written by his
own hand shows Rick Springfield’s
strength and character in a way his
music can’t. - Kate
I just finished the book, and I want
to read it again... it was that good!
Rick is an entertaining writer who took
me through a full range of emotions from
love to anger to tears, and back again.
Through this book, I gained a much
deeper understanding of what has driven
Rick Springfield to continue to pursue
his dreams, write incredibly moving
music and to find the ultimate success
which only comes from inside one’s self.
I give so much credit to Barbara for
seeing the inner goodness in Rick and
for sticking with him through it all.
This is a great read about “life” not
just about Rick Springfield. Love it,
love it, love it! - Ann Marie
Late, Late at Night brings you into
the living room of Rick Springfield,
sits you down with a cup of tea, and
looks you square in the eyes, and bares
all! It is a thrilling ride from
beginning to end, never slowing down,
never running out of fuel! Rick
Springfield doesn't leave out a thing
about how he grew up, grew dark, fell in
love with music, and how music, people,
dogs, and the love of his wife, family,
and friends ultimately save his soul.
For a fan who truly, unconditionally,
loves this man and his music: This is
your read! Rick pours out his essence in
his autobiography. His humor, sadness,
fears, hopes and dreams all come alive
in his writing. The audio CDs are like
spending quality time with Rick, so
personal, dynamic in voice, and aching
with sincerity. As you are listening, it
is as though Rick is there in person
telling the story straight to you. You
will feel his presence! I highly
recommend this book to devoted fans who
want to understand Rick's song lyrics
more clearly, and to those who wish to
get a better perspective on Rick
Springfield the human being! - Ginger
Read the book first over a couple of
days. Later listened to the entire audio
book one lazy Sunday at home while I
lounged on the couch with my tea and
also did some housework. Wow what an
emotional day!! I laughed and cried as
Rick shared the ups and downs of his
very interesting life. You could really
*feel* his pain as he described certain
events . At certain points I felt shock
and denial. I have been a fan of
his since I was a teenager, and now I
feel like I understand him a little
better. It was a brutally honest read
and even more of a human listen. He is
not perfect, but he takes ownership for
his betrayals which I really respect.
His incredible drive and ability to
overcome hardship is truly inspiring! I
was very surprised to find that his
life story, really made me reassess my
own personal biases and beliefs. I
salute his wife Barbara for her
unconditional love and support for him.
Definitely a must read/listen! - Joanne
I was that teenage girl screaming my
brains out at every show I could. Those
were some of the best times of my
teenage life. My friends and I were
completely into it; the albums, the
videos, the posters, General Hospital,
the whole nine yards. Now that we are
ALL grown up, Late, Late at Night was a
very enlightening read. The book puts a
new perspective on those memories. It
was really interesting to match up what
was going on in Rick’s life with what I
was seeing and thinking at the time. It
changed Rick Springfield from a ROCK
STAR who we all loved into a human being
whom we can all love even more. The book
was a great read and very well done; I
laughed, I cried. It was very
entertaining. It is not just for the
screaming teenage girl fan either, it is
for anyone interested in a great (and
challenging) personal story. Thank you
for opening up and sharing the behind
the scenes with all of us. I also found
out that I’m still the screaming girl
fan. I just saw Rick a few months ago at
The Emerald Queen Casino with the same
friend I went with when I was a
teenager. It brought back a lot of fun
memories for us. - Mary
I had no idea who Rick Springfield
was until I saw him interviewed on Fox
news. I bought his book on Amazon and
couldn't put it down. I was impressed by
how well written it was, although the
language sometimes gave me pause. (I am
an elderly lady. Who do I ask about
phrases I don't understand?) Rick
describes his life as a young boy in
Australia, then England and then back in
Australia, with a heartbreaking passage
about leaving his dog, Elvis. He moved
to the US as a teenager after dropping
out of high school to pursue his
promising music career. His love of
writing music and performing it are the
driving forces in his life.
Rick is an avid reader and his thirst
for knowledge (not just the carnal type)
is a recurring theme in his book. It is
undoubtedly a factor in his success. As
a retired college teacher, I found
myself wishing I could have given this
book to some of my former students whom
I felt should have left college, not
because they weren't smart enough but to
find something they really wanted to
do.- Jane
After reading his book, I would say
we all have common themes in our lives:
those about hope and what we strive to
accomplish, disappointment, mistakes,
joys and triumphs, frustrations, fears.
The difference is he has been in the
limelight for so long and assumptions
were always made as to how he lived...
and judgments were made... all without
really knowing or understanding what was
really happening. Rick had the courage
that most of us lack in that he has
written it all down, made fun of
himself, taken responsibility where need
be, given credit to those that were
there for him, and handled it all with
grace that is so rare in our world
today. I may be biased as I've been a
fan for over 30 years... but I have
friends that are new to Rick in the last
few years that now love him as well. The
example he has set in taking
responsibility for his mistakes, never
giving up, and trying to reach out and
give others hope is exactly what today's
society needs and has been lacking until
now. At the interview and book signing
he said, if he could save just one life
by sharing this, it would be worth it.
Risking judgment from everyone and
exposing oneself to save another is an
action full of love and strength and
grace. I would recommend this book to
everyone... Rick is an amazing person,
an amazing life, an amazing gift. Thank
you for sharing and touching our lives.
- Tracy
As a longtime fan of Rick's music, I was
hesitant to read his autobiography, for
fear he would lose some of his 'shine'.
What I discovered, by contrast, is that
Rick now seems all the more human. What
does shine is his endearing humor, which
makes the difficult times he writes
about a little easier to digest. Rick's
epic tale of self doubt is something to
which most people can relate, and his
triumph over those doubts serves as an
example for humans to aspire. Soldier
on, Rick! - Beth
I have been a fan of Rick's since the
early 80's, and couldn't wait to read
his book. His honesty and bluntness made
me laugh, cry, and really appreciate and
understand all the struggles he has
fought for years with music, depression,
and addictions. He has come a far way
from the boy he was growing up and never
gave up on what he most wanted in his
life. The book is great reading and I
would recommend it to anyone. He is
truly an inspiration to anyone
struggling with depression. My daughter
was recently diagnosed with depression,
though not as severe as Rick's, and the
book helped me understand somewhat what
goes through the mind of someone
struggling with this. - DeAnna
I approached this book as if I was
just going to read someone else’s story,
knowing that it was going to be vastly
different from my own. What surprised me
were the comparisons I could make to my
own life (obviously, minus the Rock God
stuff). His eloquent writing style
invites the reader to participate in the
story. I was truly riveted to the time
of his childhood. I felt his pain from
constantly moving and then having to
leave his beloved dog behind in
Australia, the awe of his first
discoveries while on the steamship, and
the excitement of exploring places like
Pompeii and Egypt. It seems like his
whole life has been about discovery and
the lessons he gains from them. He also
provided fascinating back stories in
regards to music, which even people who
are not fans of his would enjoy.
Overall, there is a definite message of
hope. That today is worth hanging around
for, if nothing else, than to see all
the triumphs of tomorrow. - Patti
I always felt Rick Springfield was
"the real deal" - a real rocker, a real
poet, not just a wannabe coasting on his
good looks. And now I'm pleased to see
that he can express himself just as well
in prose as he can in music. Unlike so
many so-called "autobiographies" of
celebrities that are really written by
someone else and don't do much but reel
off accomplishment after accomplishment,
presenting the subject in the most
flattering light possible, this book was
written by the man himself and his voice
comes through loud and clear.
Refreshingly that voice is not
self-serving, but SELF-AWARE. He's not
perfect, his life has had its downs as
well as its ups, he doesn't have
everything completely figured out, but
he has learned from all of it. Reading
this book feels like having a
conversation with a friend - a very hip,
very intelligent, very honest friend.
The deeper I got into it, the more I
wished there were more pages left, so I
was relieved to read near the end that
"Late, Late At Night" is not the last
we'll be hearing from Rick Springfield,
auteur. He's got more living to do and
he promises to share his experiences and
insights in a volume II, volume III,
etc. I'm looking forward to it. -
Marilyn
I just finished Rick's book and some
parts amazed me, some saddened me and
much enlightened me. I have been a fan
since a young teen girl with his posters
all over my walls and went on his cruise
last year to Cozumel as well. During the
cruise I walked away realizing how much
more there really was to him than the
public projection but this book made all
else pale in comparison. I have to give
Rick huge huge kudos for the honesty as
some of that could not be easy. Barbara
is my new hero after reading this, she
deserves so much happiness in life!
Thank you for writing with such
transparency and allowing us into your
world even more, Rick. Above all else,
thank you for giving us this gift of
knowing you further even from a
distance, it makes being a lifetime fan
of yours all the more real! - Kat
Late, Late At Night is a gripping,
haunting, no-holds-barred tome that is
at turns poignant and laugh-out-loud
hilarious. Ultimately, however, it’s
essentially a story of undying and
resilient love. I respect (Rick's wife)
Barbara immensely, identifying with her
on certain points, based upon my
history. It takes an exceptional woman
to stand by her man as he struggles with
his painful and injurious demons. That
is anything but masochism on the woman’s
part. It’s strength to the twentieth
power! Likewise, it takes an
extraordinary man to confront his
transgressions head-on, and admit full
responsibility for them. - Carla
I have been a Rick Springfield fan
for nearly 30 years. It's as if his
music has always been playing in the
background of my life. The anticipation
of reading this book was just as
exciting as actually reading it. I read
the book in less than 2 days. I also
listened to the audio version twice.
Rick has always had an ability to draw
me in with his music, now I am drawn in
by his writing. The book is incredibly
well written and Rick is a great story
teller. I am nothing but impressed by
how candid he is as well as his
attention to detail. His stories are
engaging and only makes me what to read
more. What I am most satisfied with is
that I now have a better understanding
of how Rick has become the talented and
giving performer that he is. - Kim
As an avid reader, I have read a lot
of books ... some very good, some pretty
darned awful, and many, many in between.
"Late Late at Night" is Excellent; in
fact, if there were a superlative for
that term, I would surely use it. I’m
embarrassed to confess I was not
expecting such a page-turner. Rick’s
book combines superior writing and
storytelling with self-deprecating humor
and gut-wrenching honesty. I’ve been a
fan of Rick’s for many years, so it was
nice to know the real story of his
career and personal life. Rick comes
across as if he’s talking with you, not
only about the good stuff but also about
the all-too-human struggles he’s
encountered – and overcome. And, as
someone who has arm-wrestled with Mr. D
myself (how does that guy get around so
much??), I could most definitely relate
to that particular challenge. I could
not put the book down and ended up
devouring it in a couple of days. This
book is definitely a Must Read. – Gena
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