News Articles - David's Australian Tour 2002
David Cassidy - Beat Magazine
BEAT Magazine
6th November 2002
In the space of a few short years he went from being the awkward myopic class nerd to one of the world's biggest teen heart-throbs, TV star and million-selling recording artist. At the height of his fame in the 1970s, David Cassidy had to be so cocooned from an audience who would rip him apart, that on tour he would spend almost all the time he wasn't on stage (when he could escape the horny hotel employees) "wrapped up in a blanket up in my room". But "life is so different now". His is a long shadow that shows no sign of completely abating, even though more years have passed since those times than he spent getting to that point.
He has a new album, Then and Now, bringing into sharper focus the comparisons, and perhaps an attempt at personally coming to terms with the inescapable past, after a few decades in the netherworld between outrageous fame and becoming comfortable with your life and your lot ("I played a lot of casinos").
Now, as then, he could do anything, really. He's handsome. He's a good actor, a professional performer ("I've done over 3,000 live shows") with a strong, warm voice, and has proven his talents in other creative areas, such as playwright, director and stage actor. "I twisted my brother (Shaun Cassidy)'s arm to do Blood Brothers on Broadway. It was a chance to explore with my brother the emotional journey we had to take - we'd never worked together before ... and never again!" he jokes. He made a film, Spirit of '76, with the pop genius McDonald brothers, Steve and Jeff, from Redd Kross. But he must daily face the question : 'What was it like?' ... He'll always be 'Keith Partridge'. But he broaches it - and it's inevitable like - with good spirit and humour, any weariness well hidden (he IS an actor, remember). In a press-conference situation - one he must have faced a million times - he's well prepared. He makes jokes. He flatters his host country. "We envy your love and celebration of life, your warmth, friendship and openness." He has anecdotes, such as the time a blue stage outfit was stolen in Melbourne. It was eventually sold to a fan who approached him with it after a show in London a few months ago "to see if it is really his". It had cost her £80 - "it's worth a little more than that to me. And I still got into it! Though it was a big tight ... here. Remember I was a skinny young guy."
He's surprising. "I was born in New York; I'd hitched to Haight-Ashbury. I saw Hendrix five times, Clapton, Cream. My good friend Alice Cooper, we used to hang together, I was much wilder than him, but our image were so different. I was 24 (years old) playing 17. Now I'm a wild rockin' 50-ish guy. I've gotta have fun in my life - that's the way to live it - to get people ... happy. It's a great compliment to think that I could inspire people, even better musicians than me, with my music."
He's serious and compassionate in the light of recent tragedies, which have obviously had a profound effect on him. "We are now more than ever brothers and sisters in the world."
And he's gracious with the inevitable Partridge Family questions. 'The Osbornes - without the language - are as sweet and lovable as the Partridge Family. Really, a lot of the shows I never saw. I was working, and there was no video then. The times are different. You can't compare decades. The reason I left it at the top was because I wanted people to know me, rather than that guy on TV. Around '74 - 75 John Lennon was a great positive influence on my life. He'd understand my experience; he'd taken the steps of demystification. George wrote Here Come The Sun symbolising his entry back into the world again, be a real person rather than just a .... thing. I knew that ultimately I'd find my way."
He finds having the chance to tour again "liberating. I'd been there, but hadn't seen anything. I'm looking forward to the experience, to come back and to spend some time and see the country". Like a proud dad, he's enthusiastic about the show he'll be presenting on this tour, 'it's extremely high energy, a love-fest, a celebration. Come out and heal with me, celebrate the fact that we have this life and this freedom. It's a great thing."
David Cassidy plays Vodafone Arena on Monday November 11 (2002).
