Lionel Richie is making a grand return. The timeless music icon, boasting a career spanning five decades and 100 million record sales, is set to captivate audiences once more at Glastonbury this summer. In a candid discussion featured in the latest edition of GQ, Richie opens up about the peaks and valleys of his life, along with his romantic adventures, of which there have been quite a few.
This glimpse into the July 2015 issue of British GQ offers insights into Richie’s life and career. The full interview will be available in print and digital formats on Thursday, 4 June.
Discussing his early days on tour with the Commodores, Richie reminisces about their youthful ambitions: “Our goal was to romance every girl in the world. That was our mission statement.”
When asked about keeping track of his romantic encounters, Richie admits, “We were college guys who liked stats. Initially, it’s non-stop excitement – morning, afternoon, and night. But soon, it gets overwhelming. The relentless schedule made drugs appealing as they offered stamina. But that’s a dangerous path, leading to rehab or worse.”
Richie doesn’t claim a saintly lifestyle now, saying, “I’m in the love seduction business.” He reflects on the turning point of this wild period, highlighting a sobering reality check. “It was the moment of realizing the consequences – getting calls about unexpected fatherhood. That was a wake-up call. Thankfully, The Commodores were always a bit more grounded compared to others. We were more Ivy League funksters, less hardcore.”
Richie also shares the amusing, yet touching, feedback he gets from male fans. “Men often thank me. They’ll say, ‘Lionel, you’ve been part of the best moments of my life,’ or ‘I’ve made love many times to your music.’ It’s all about the simplicity and universality of my songs. I remember someone jokingly saying, ‘You wrote ‘We Are The World’? More like, you populated the world!’”