Rick Springfield Pays Tribute to Late Rock Legend: ‘One of the Absolute Top Voices of All Rockdom’

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Rick Springfield Pays Tribute to Late Rock Legend: ‘One of the Absolute Top Voices of All Rockdom’ originally appeared on Parade.

Rick Springfield is primarily known as the pop star behind the 1981 chart-topping single “Jessie’s Girl,” yet he’s a rocker at heart.

The singer-actor upped his rock credibility on Aug. 5, when he posted on Instagram his condolences to Terry Reid, an obscure but beloved British rock singer, who died Monday, Aug. 4, at the age of 75 following health complications related to his treatment for cancer.

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“Just heard Terry Reid died. I was a huge fan. One of the absolute top voices of all rockdom. (Listen to Stay with me baby) Jimmy Page picked him to be the singer in his new band to be called Led Zeppelin but Terry was about to open for the Stones on their American tour so he turned Page down. And the rest as they say…..,” Springfield posted on Aug. 5 along with a vintage photo of Reid playing guitar on stage. “Death sucks. I wish it wasn’t so. God?”

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Springfield’s followers reacted to his tribute with their own messages.

“Wow!! Never heard this. pretty amazing. RIP Terry 🙏🏻,” one wrote.

“He wrote my favorite song covered and rocked by Cheap Trick….Speak Now (Or Forever Hold your Peace). To this day, one of the best songs they do almost 40 years later. Rocks hard and gives me chills,” added another fan.

“🙏👼♥️✨🙏👼♥️✨ Rest in Rock, Terry Reid. 🎸,” another fan added.

“I saw him on that Stones tour. RIP,” wrote another fan.

“Sorry to hear one of your music heroes passed away. His songs are timeless. Rest in Paradise, Superlungs 🎸💔,” posted another fan, referring to Reid’s nickname.

Related: Terry Reid, Legendary Musician Who Turned Down Led Zeppelin, Dies at 75

As Springfield mentioned, Reid was perhaps best known for turning down Page’s invite to front his new band that turned out to be Led Zeppelin. That band’s frontman, Robert Plant, also offered a tribute to Reid.

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The Reid-penned song “Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace,” which a commenter referred to, appeared on Cheap Trick’s 1977 self-titled debut album, released two years before the band experienced mainstream success with their breakout album Cheap Trick at Budokan.

Rick Springfield Pays Tribute to Late Rock Legend: ‘One of the Absolute Top Voices of All Rockdom’ first appeared on Parade on Aug 6, 2025

This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 6, 2025, where it first appeared.