Springfield Rocks On!

It turns out that the Mayans weren’t alone in prepping for our last days to hit in 2012. In his Tuesday, October 9, release, Songs For the End Of The World, GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Rick Springfield (ex-Noah) shares his sardonic view of life and also offers hope. While there are plenty of the sing-along songs that fans expect, listeners might be surprised to hear heavier rock anthems like “I Hate Myself” and “Love Screws Me Up.” “I’m not the shiny, happy guy people think I am from my role in GENERAL HOSPITAL,” Springfield confesses. “I tend to put that angst into my music.” But which of the catchier tunes could be a hit by the ominous month of December? “That’s a very good question. I’m never a good judge of [that],” he laughs. “I never thought ‘Jesse’s Girl’ would be a single, let alone a hit, so what do I know?” However, with four album covers to choose from (each CD containing unique bonus material), there’s sure to be something for everyone.

Keep ‘Em Laughing Although he remains grateful to GH for helping to catapult his career back in the 80s (“I’ll always go back if it makes sense for the story,” he maintains), Springfield’s most recent return (to comfort a grieving Patrick) had to be brief. The busy guy’s been on a nationwide tour with a film crew in tow! Releasing on Wednesday, October 10, is the result: the entertaining documentary, _ An Affair Of The Heart_. “We just had an industry screening, and then it’s going to film festivals,” he reveals. Viewers will no-doubt see that it’s while he’s on stage that the legend’s sense of humor is revealed. “I think it comes across when I perform,” he grins. “I tell stories and it’s fun, and then I rock out!”

It was a smart writer who showcased Springfield’s quirky side with a guest role on TV Land’s HOT IN CLEVELAND last season (“They reached out to me recently to check my availability to return,” he confides). When he’s not working on also producing his own comedy show (“I can’t talk about it yet,” he teases), Springfield is touting what promises to be the event of the fall: Sun Dazed & Star-Filled Nights: Rick Springfield & Friends, Destination: Cancun. “We’re inviting everyone to join us at Club Med from November 8 to 12. It should be a good party!” he relates. Joining the Mexican fiesta will be the performer’s pals: Doug Davidson (Paul, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS), TV and radio host Mark Goodman, and two of GH’s other singing sensations, Brandon Barash (Johnny) and *Bradford Anderson *(Spinelli). Yep, with all he’s got going on, it looks like it’ll be a while before the senior Dr. Drake is paged back to Port Charles.