Rick Springfield Talks About Battle With Depression

UPDATED: 10/21/10 11:44 a.m.

CHICAGO (WBBM) - The song "Jessie's Girl" made him a household name. His role as Doctor Noah Drake on General Hospital made him more than just a pop star, but rocker Rick Springfield says behind the success was a life long battle with depression.

"The book opens with me trying to off myself."

In his new book "Late, Late At Night", Springfield talks about his suicide attempt at the age of 17.

LISTEN: Rick Springfield's Entire Interview With Newsradio 780

"I hung myself in my parent's garden shed and the rope came undone, not sure how that happened but I'm glad it did. I was bleak and in so much pain and I just wanted the pain to end. I couldn't see beyond that day. I went out there to actually do it. It wasn't an attempt."

Springfield says that day changed his life.

In light of a rash of teen suicides, Springfield urges kids who are going through dark times to stick it out.

"I really would love to say to the kids on the edge, I know what it's like. You want the pain to stop. Give yourself a year," he said, "Your life will change. Nothing remains the same. I would have missed out on a lot of amazing stuff in my life."

Springfield also talks about the shattering death of his father early in his career.

"I know he'd be proud of me and would probably be coming with me on this book tour."

As for his signature song "Jessie's Girl", he says he never tires of singing it for his fans.

"I wrote that song. I'm proud of that song and I'm glad it's latest so long. It's kinda taken on a life of its own"

Who is Jessie's Girl? "She was a girlfriend of a friend in a class I took years ago. I was hot for her and she wasn't giving me the time of day. Sexual angst writes great songs a lot of the time," said Springfield.

He still tours 100 venues a year. "We still get bras, and things and underwear but there are no training bras so that's good news. Perhaps a sign of his fans aging along with him.

At the Border's on State Street, his loyal fans line up, some for hours to get a glimpse, an autograph and a picture.

"I can die right now. He looks hot!" said fan Jennifer Heiman.

" Back in 1982, I missed front row of one of his shows because I went into labor." said Anita Sanfillippo. She and her sister came all the way from Milwaukee to see the singer. "I tell my daughter that Rick Springfield is her father. He has just great and meaningful lyrics that touch the heart. The book was a bit surprising but a lot of it comes through in his music."

Springfield's also producing a documentary called "Affair of the Heart" about his fans, and about what's becoming a bit of a cult following.

"They've been following us around for a year. They've been in Japan and in Europe. They are talking to the fans, it's about the stories, how we go back, the fans and me," He's a musician, an actor and now an author. His greatest success? "Being a good dad, really, truthfully. That's what I've been consistently the best at being. I've messed that up at times too."

What's next for Rick Springfield?

"I'm getting ready to write and record a new record. I'm excited to be writing new music again. My publisher's want me to write a novel next."

Springfield says he still battles with what he calls "The Darkness".

"In the book, I affectionately call him 'Mr. D' and he's always there and I gotta watch him. He'll make me do stupid things sometimes or pull me down and I meditate, I have a lot of gratitude for what I have, my life and career and every once in awhile I take vitamin P, Prozac when it gets to much."

And at 61 years old, he's not slowing down anytime soon.

"I still love what I do. I'm still hungry." What would his epitaph read? "I can't believe he lived for 500 years."

Springfield's 17 top 40 hits, including the mega-hit "Jessie's Girl" and more than 20 million albums sold made him an icon of popular music of a generation.

In:
• Lisa Fielding