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March 10, 2011

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Last fall, Rick Springfield’s fans learned something. Their hero was fallible.

Those who faithfully followed him for 30 years knew that he often suffered from depression, but not to such a crippling extent that it rendered him emotionally paralyzed and even suicidal.

His primarily female flock also knew of the hints and allegations of infidelity to his wife of 26 years, Barbara. But even they might have been shocked at the level of Springfield’s self-proclaimed sex addiction.

Yep, the “Jessie’s Girl” guy battled some deep issues.

But his honesty was rewarded on the talk show circuit, where everyone from the ladies on “The View” to William Shatner poked and prodded for explanations about his past behavior, but did so with an undercurrent of empathy.

“It was kinda scary,” Springfield said of diving into the media blitz. “Most of the interviews were with women and I didn’t know what their reaction would be or if they would understand. But overall, it was great to talk about something different than the same stuff I’ve talked about for 25 years.”

An incredibly youthful-looking 61, Springfield is still a rock star, despite the left shoulder surgery that sidelined him last month and has him feeling “the most constant pain I’ve ever had.”

The repair stemmed from a 1998 motorcycle accident that required the insertion of a metal piece to support his collar bone.

“Over the years, from being active, I eventually had to do something,” Springfield said earlier this week.

Though he canceled some concerts when the combination of pain and trying to perform in a sling proved insurmountable, Springfield is primed for his Saturday show at Wild Bill’s in Duluth, even though there might be slightly less of one of his favorite concert moves – crowd surfing.

But there will be, as always, plenty of familiar songs.

While Springfield is destined to trot out “Jessie’s Girl” any time he breathes near a stage, he does have 15 other Top 40 hits (“Human Touch,” “Love Somebody,” “Celebrate Youth”) and a catalog of 14 studio albums, including 2008’s melodious Venus in Overdrive, to draw from.

He’s also known for his fiercely loyal fans and said their reactions to his literary confessions, a New York Times bestseller, have been overwhelmingly supportive.

“It would have blown their minds when they were 14 or 15, but now that they’ve all had relationships themselves, they understand that it’s not always happily ever after,” he said. “Everybody came away with the fact that Barbara is the most amazing woman in the world and we decided to stay together because we’re better together than we are apart. I didn’t paint a pretty picture and I am very, very sorry for the pain I’ve cause people.”

As a thank-you to fans, Springfield will release a documentary later this year called “Affair of the Heart” that focuses on his connection to them.

He’s also prepping for the fourth annual Rick Springfield and Friends Cruise, which will head to Jamaica Nov. 5-10.

“It’s a one-of-a-kind thing,” Springfield said of the cruise. “We have a concert on the beach, cocktail parties. I might stumble into the piano bar at 3 in the morning.”

But first, there is some schedule negotiating to determine whether an offered part on Hawaii Five-O is feasible and, on a most personal note, the possibility of getting a new dog.

Springfield’s beloved Gomer, his best friend and constant presence in photos, died in January 2010, but the singer still isn’t quite ready for a replacement.

“I was just looking at photos of dogs online at the local shelter. I’ve got some friends who, when their dog died, they went out and got another. I haven’t had the guts to do it yet,” he said, his voice cracking. “I feel Gomer’s spirit and it will take off when I get a new dog and he knows I’m happy. It’s just really hard.”