Rick Springfield recently uncovered a shocking truth about his health—one he never saw coming. The "Jessie’s Girl" singer, who turns 76 this year, revealed that a routine full-body MRI scan exposed lingering brain damage from a fall he suffered back in 2000.
“I fell 25 feet, hit my head, then wood came down and hit my head again, and then my head hit the stage,” Springfield told PEOPLE. “I thought I had just broken my wrist, but the scan showed I actually have some brain damage from the fall. So now, I’m working on trying to repair that.”
While some might shy away from bad news, Springfield prefers knowing the full picture when it comes to his health—a mindset shaped by a personal tragedy. He recalled how his father avoided seeking medical attention, assuming he had stomach cancer for years. When his father finally collapsed, doctors discovered it was actually a burst ulcer, a treatable condition that tragically cost him his life.
“That was a giant message to me,” Springfield shared. “If you want to live long, you have to be prepared for some bad news now and then.”
Despite the recent discovery, Springfield maintains a youthful mindset. “I feel like I’m still in my 20s,” he joked. “But then I see people my age passing away from old age and disease, and I go, ‘Wow, I’m the same age as them.’”
The rock star has taken a proactive approach to aging, incorporating daily exercise and cutting back on alcohol. “I was drinking quite a bit, and as you get older, it’s kind of natural to drop all that,” he explained. Though he doesn’t follow Alcoholics Anonymous, he now limits himself to an occasional sip of vodka while on stage.
His reduced alcohol intake has also had a positive impact on his mental health. Having battled depression since childhood, Springfield has explored various treatments, including ketamine and LSD therapy. “I did acid, and that was actually a little better,” he admitted. “I hadn’t done that since I was in my 20s, but it was a great high. I don’t mean to push drugs on anyone, but I’m open to anything that helps me be happier and a better person.”
Even after decades in the industry, Springfield continues to challenge conventional wisdom about aging. “That saying about ‘wisdom comes with age’—that’s bulls---,” he stated. “Wisdom comes from digging deep and looking at yourself. It doesn’t just come automatically.”
The ‘80s icon remains active in the music scene. In December, he released Big Hits: Rick Springfield’s Greatest Hits, Volume 2, featuring tracks like “I’ll Make You Happy,” “What’s Victoria’s Secret?” and “The Man That Never Was.”
Despite his latest health revelation, Springfield is as determined as ever to keep pushing forward, proving that age—and even a decades-old injury—won’t slow him down.
Source: Entertainment Weekly