Features
Rick Springfield + Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo
Springfield goes way back with Giraldo. The guitarist/producer is featured on Springfield’s 1981 hit “Jessie’s Girl.”
“Actually, I did all the guitars on ‘Jessie’s Girl’” and the bass, too,” Girlado told Guitar World in an interview last year. “[Producer] Keith Olsen was working with Rick at the time and he wanted me to co-produce and arrange the record with him. Rick had a demo for ‘Jessie’s Girl,’ and it was a very good demo, but he had some strange kind of instrumental bridge that was awkward to the song.
“So I said, ‘When we get to that section, why don’t we just give it 16 measures and I’ll put a solo in?’ We actually cut the drums and rhythm guitars first, and then I put on the bass and the lead guitar. Then Rick sang it, and that was it. And it’s the only Number One record I’ve ever had!”
Before the co-bill tour begins Benatar and Giraldo join Cher on the road for a string of dates in the U.S. and Canada March 22-April 12.
Springfield is staying busy this spring with his “Stripped Down” solo shows featuring storytelling, a Q&A, and of course, some tunes too. He’s also doing book signings in May for his new novel “Magnificent Vibration,” due out May 6.
Springfield’s agency, United Talent Agency, confirmed the following co-headline dates with Pollstar:
June 29 – Raleigh, N.C., Red Hat Amphitheatre
July 5 – Atlantic City, N.J., Ovation Hall
July 6 – Canandaigua, N.Y., Constellation Brands – Marvin Sands PAC (CMAC)
July 8 – Cincinnati, Ohio, PNC Pavilion At Riverbend
July 16 – Kansas City, Mo., Starlight Theatre
July 17 – Mulvane, Kan., Kansas Star Arena
July 25 – Saratoga, Calif., The Mountain Winery
More dates are yet to be announced.
For more information visit RickSpringfield.com and BenatarGiraldo.com.