An Affair of the Heart

Rick Springfield was a big star in the 1980s, when he had 17 Top 40 hits, sold 19 million records, and had a role in the TV soap General Hospital. Then, in 1990, he completely withdrew from music for an entire decade, and many saw him as nothing more than a footnote in pop history. But as this story of unabated fandom shows, this isn't exactly the case. Millions of loyal fans still follow Springfield's every move. Now in his sixties, Rick still plays around 80 concerts year. And he causes many a heart (mostly women's, but also some men's) to flutter, with his bare chest, his hit classic "Jessie's Girl," and his signature move of smashing a bunch of roses against the strings of his guitar. For his hardcore fans, loving Springfield is an all-consuming, even religious experience. In Rick, they find their soulmate, an escape from their humdrum lives or the strength to get over a trauma. And that love is mutual, because Springfield makes short surprise visits to his most loyal fans, goes bowling with them or invites onstage. "It's all about connection," concludes Springfield, visibly delighting in their unconditional devotion.