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American Morning
Interview With David Cassidy
Aired June 13, 2002 - 09:40 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Back in the day, David Cassidy was, arguably, the world's biggest star. His face was on the cover of every teen magazine, his fan club was bigger than Elvis', and now, at the age of 52, the former "titan of teen heartthrobs," has come full- circle. His new record is called "Then and Now," and I talked with David Cassidy about the ups and downs of his 30-year career.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ZAHN: And David Cassidy joins us now. Is it okay to say you haven't changed since the last time I saw you, or is that embarrassing?
DAVID CASSIDY: It's OK for you to say it, but let's be honest with the folks out there. You didn't recognize me at all.
(LAUGHTER)
CASSIDY: Tell the truth.
ZAHN: It is true, because you, in my mind, still have a shag haircut, and that's gone.
CASSIDY: Yes.
When we dated in Chicago back in the '70s, I think you were 12, and I was 22.
ZAHN: He's making this all up, folks.
CASSIDY: Of course.
ZAHN: But I was a fan.
CASSIDY: Oh, thank you.
ZAHN: And I think it's just so interesting when you talk about history of fan clubs that your membership exceeded that of Elvis Presley's and The Beatles. How do you explain that, David?
CASSIDY: Good lucks, talent -- no, no. I think timing has everything to do with it. I think that the television show that I become extremely successful from, the "Partridge Family," was on at a time in America when our consciousness was into freedom, and music and finding self-expression, and I happen to come along in the right vehicle, and I think that helped to elevate me, originally.
ZAHN: I don't think you're giving yourself enough credit for having the talent that would have sustained that. I mean, the fact, if you didn't know how to sing, you wouldn't be here talking today about your 20th release that just gone platinum in the UK.
CASSIDY: Yes.
ZAHN: You're still going strong.
CASSIDY: I think that's the key, that talent -- you have to have a talent to survive. It's one thing if you get into a vehicle or television show that captures -- or a movie that captures the imagination of the world. And in my case, it did happen all over the world. And I toured all over the United States and then all over the globe. And the madness, the teen insanity, it doesn't exist anymore. The audience is so much more sophisticated now. And the -- because of the media, because of cable television, because of VH-1 and MTV and the accessibility -- you have to remember this was prior to videotape. No one had VCRs. The world was such a different place. You had to sit in front of television set every Friday night at 8:30 and watch that show, or else you missed it.
ZAHN: But what's so interesting is the David Cassidy phenomenon grew beyond that of the U.S. boarders. How do you explain this great success you're having in the United Kingdom?
CASSIDY: Well, I released the first CD that I had put out in a number of years, and I did my first tour over there, and in fact, this is now -- I'm in the mist of my very first concert tour here in the U.S. In fact, I'm here in New York because I'm playing the Count Basie Theater on Friday night in Dover Downs in Delaware.
So I'm back in New York, which is my hometown, and of course I had to come back and see you, knowing of course you would ice me, as you did when I walked in.
ZAHN: Did we really used to date?
CASSIDY: No. No.
ZAHN: He made that up.
CASSIDY: I'm not prepared for that kind of insult. Paula, come on.
ZAHN: But you have to understand...
CASSIDY: I know.
ZAHN: ... the picture I have in my head of you -- although your face hasn't changed.
CASSIDY: It's mainly the haircut.
ZAHN: Right, exactly. In closing, there is some serious work you and your wife have been doing with a foundation that's very important to you. Why the emphasis on that, and why do you care so much about it?
CASSIDY: I've been given a fantastic life. I've been blessed. And I reap the rewards of that everyday. People have a relationship with me everywhere I go, and the work that I do, and I've been fortunate enough to go from the theater to writing and producing and doing all of that. And I wanted to be able to give it back.
But it's really my wife's passion. Sue Shiffen (ph) has been developing this site that takes care of -- it's an online site. It's called kids charities.org, and it's an umbrella to many different children's charities, both health, education, and all -- 100 percent of all the online donations go to various children's charities...
ZAHN: That's great.
CASSIDY: ... on this tree, which has branches all over it. And she's done so much work, and I have tried to assist her, and tried to bring as much attention to it as I can. But really in truth, it's her work and her passion, and my love and support for her and all the people that have been so incredibly supportive to me, including you.
(LAUGHTER)
ZAHN: You don't know what we will do to you after you leave. We will see what you look like with my haircut, which why I didn't David when he walked in. You know, my head was the bioterrorism bill when you walked into the studio. You got that right?
CASSIDY: Now I understand. You can make that excuse. But what about your old boyfriends? Do you do that to all of them?
ZAHN: No. I have great respect for them, and you.
Congratulations to you on your great wave of success.
CASSIDY: Thank you very much. And to you. It's great to see you again.
ZAHN: Glad you catch us on the West Coast. This guy gets up earlier and actually watches parts of the show.
CASSIDY: I do.
ZAHN: Thanks for your support.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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