Weekend: 10 Pressing Questions: Little Richard speaks his mind

10 Pressing Questions: Little Richard speaks his mind

He thinks his cheekbones are his best feature. He thinks a lot of rock nowadays is "filth.'' And even though he's almost 69, he's still amazed every time he sits down to play the piano.

By GINA VIVINETTO

He thinks his cheekbones are his best feature. He thinks a lot of rock nowadays is "filth." And even though he's almost 69, he's still amazed every time he sits down to play the piano.

Folks call Little Richard the "architect of rock 'n' roll" and, although he turns 69 in December, he still loves playing the stuff. His pal, Chuck Berry, turned 75 this month. The two perform tonight at Ruth Eckerd Hall for a birthday bonanza. But first: From a tour stop in St. Louis, Little Richard tackles 10 Pressing Questions about Pat Boone, Jimi Hendrix, flying saucers and makeup tips.

(1) You were one of the first men in rock 'n' roll to play around with androgyny. Then, everyone from the 1970s British stars to Prince jumped in. Do you take credit?

I know I was one of the first. Another guy, Billy Wright, did it before me. A lot of entertainers before me did it, but I was the one who brought it out to the forefront.

Makeup tips?

If you have nice skin, it's nice to wear, but if your skin is not nice, it don't help. If a lady or anyone puts on makeup -- well, makeup brings out what you have under there. If you've got some horrible stuff under there, it's going to bring it out. See? It really makes you look worse. The first time I put on makeup, I was 17 or 18, working on a little show in Atlanta, Ga.

Do women like men who wear makeup? What's been your experience?

I think women like the compassionate part of me. They like that you have feelings, that you're not so cold that you don't have no feelings for nobody. A lot of men have it that way. I think that's wrong. Men should be compassionate.

(2) What's the best feature on your face?

My cheekbones are very high. My features are more Indian. I think I look like an Indian.

(3) Who's the prettiest person ever in rock 'n' roll?

Male or female?

Give me one of each.

Oh my God . . . I think Tina Turner is a very beautiful woman. She's the same birth sign I am. She's a Sagittarian and I am, too. I think Tina is a very nice looking woman (pause).

You want to pick yourself for the guy? Go ahead.

(Laughs) I think I'm a handsome guy. I wouldn't say I'm a "pretty, pretty" guy. I don't say that. I think a lot of men like my looks and wish they looked something like that.

My mother was Indian and I have the cheekbones, which I'm kind of glad of. When you have high cheekbones, your face don't fall in as fast. Without cheekbones, your face ages faster. Your face falls in. With cheekbones, that bone holds up your face.

(4) The "architect of rock 'n' roll": Ever feel like the music is your baby?

Yes, I do. When I first came into it, it was rhythm and blues. Rock and roll is really rhythm and blues. That tempo? That's really what it is.

Nowadays, a lot of groups sing rock 'n' roll, they act like you got to get high, you got to do this and that and regurgitate on people -- that's not rock 'n' roll, that's filth!

We ain't never did that, understand me? To me, that's a bunch of filth. That's a person with no talent, and he's trying to make up for it with this here. He's trying to make people rage over it and he's throwing snakes in the audience -- that's not rock 'n' roll. People give you a standing ovation because they're running from the snakes! (Laughs.)

(5) You've hung out with some of the craziest people in rock. Jimi Hendrix.

Jimi Hendrix was my guitarist. He was crazy over women.

I've read about you walking in on Buddy Holly with women backstage. Both of them was crazy over women, but Jimi was more than Buddy was. I was out with Buddy a lot, and we were with girls together way back in the past. Buddy was a good guy.

(6) Do you believe in flying saucers?

No, I don't.

(7) Do you eat breakfast?

I'm vegetarian. I have been for about 40 years.

Sometimes. I'll have a bowl of raisin bran. Sometimes I like oatmeal, but I don't like cream in my oatmeal. I like oatmeal with butter. And with wheat toast. I sometimes eat a vegetarian meat called Wham. Sometimes I'll have the vegetarian breakfast sausage links. Sometimes I eat a vegetarian food called Tuno. With the Tuno, I make salmon croquettes. When you fry it, it tastes just like salmon. I have grits with that sometimes.

(8) Tell the truth, when you heard Pat Boone's version of Tutti Frutti, what did you think?

I thought he was trying to destroy me. He was a white boy out of Tennessee that can be anything he wants to be, he can go any way he wants to go and do anything he wants to do. And I'm a little black guy out of Macon, Ga. This is my first chance to get my people out of poverty. I just thought he was trying to stop my success. But we're good friends now.

(9) I know you have a special relationship with God. What does God think of Little Richard?

I believe that God loves me. I'm the apple of his eye.

How does Little Richard feel about God?

I think that he is the one and only one. I believe that I am directed and protected by him. He's been a blessin' and a lesson in my life.

(10) Can you explain what "Awop-bop-aloo-mop-alop-bam-boom!" means:

(Laughs) It means just what it says: Awop-bop-aloo-mop-alop-bam-boom! I don't know how I got that, but it came from somewhere (laughs).

How many times have you shouted that phrase in your lifetime?

Oh my God. You can call me me Little Awop-bop-aloo-mop-alop-bam-boom instead of Little Richard.

Does it still feel good?

Yes, it does. I'm almost 70 years old, and every time I walk to the piano and my hand goes down to the keyboard, it's amazing to me to hear me play it. To myself. I'm amazed. Sometimes when I play it, I want to cry, "Boy, listen to that!"