The Last Word
The legendary singer on fame’s pitfalls and the secret to eternal youth
Who are your heroes?
Nelson Mandela. I knew him at the end of his life when he came out of prison, and I was so taken aback that he embraced love instead of hate. When I first met him, he came to me, and his line was, “Young man, I’d like to thank you for your lyrics [and] your music because it helped me through many years of being in prison.” And I started crying in front of him and could not stop.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
My dad used to always say, “What is the similarity between a hero and a coward? Both were scared to death. It’s just that one stepped forward and one stepped back.” Whenever I’ve been in terror with myself, I just think, “For God’s sake, step forward.”
What do you wish someone would have told you when you were coming up in the music business?
I came in as, “I trust everybody.” And I always use this as a motto: “There’s pimps, hustlers, whores, and thieves. And then there’s a dark side to the business.” Naiveté is great; it gets you in it. And then somewhere along the line, you got to get smart.
What’s the best and worst part about success?
The best part is winning. Everybody wants fame. Everybody wants the money.
The bad news is that money, power, and fame only magnify you; it doesn’t change you. So if you are a little bit of a gangster, you’re gonna be a big gangster. If you are a little bit of an asshole, you’re gonna be a big asshole. If you’re gonna be a nice guy, you’re gonna be a big nice guy. So the worst of it is you will find out who you are. And a lot of people find out who they are and don’t survive themselves.
You went on hiatus in 1987 at the peak of your career to spend time with your ailing father. How difficult of a decision was that?
Not knowing that that break in my career [would happen] probably saved my life. I didn’t plan on stopping [or] slowing down. The rocket was flying at the fastest it could ever frickin’ go in life. I knew that [with] one more album I [wouldn’t] have the time to spend with my dad. [Richie’s dad died in 1990.] So I stopped. Three things happened: I went through my dad’s experience, I went through a divorce, and I went through voice surgery. They always say, “You can’t hit a moving target, but when you stand still, they know exactly where to shoot.” Well, everything hit me at the same time.
Do you think your life would have been in peril if you kept going?
Yes, yes. Remember, fame is odorless and tasteless. You can’t see it. You can’t feel it. One day you realize, “Why is everybody not here with me?” Because you’re going too fast. I missed 20 family reunions. I missed 20 Christmases. I have 20 years of hit records. I missed birthdays. I missed weddings. I missed funerals. I didn’t know that people were dead. But meanwhile, I was flying, man.
What was the most indulgent purchase you’ve ever made in your career?
Probably my first divorce [ laughs]. It was another one of those great life lessons.
You once said you were “addicted to exhaustion.”
What do you do to relax?
I’m a hyper maniac. Years ago, I told a dear friend, “I’m gonna start acting more serious and calm down,” and he said, “Lionel, if you don’t act hyper, people will think something’s wrong with you.” [ Laughs]
You turned 70 last year. What’s the key to staying young as you age?
You have to wake up every morning and have a passion for something. You gotta have something that makes you go, “Oh, man, I can’t wait.”
Do you ever see a time when you would retire for good?
They’re gonna have to carry me out, babe. Someone asked me years ago, “When do you plan on retiring?” And I said, “From what?” I’ve never had a job. People who work want to retire. The travel has gotten a lot better, but the fun and the adventure is still the same. The whole thing is a giant play period.
JASON NEWMAN
Richie has launched his own fragrance collection, Hello by Lionel Richie.