Lionel Richie opens up about gruelling life on the road as he kicks off his first UK tour in a decade

HE is one of the most enduring names in music and, at 75, is still gaining new fans.

As he kicked off his first UK tour in a decade, it is clear things are different for Lionel Richie these days, with his beloved red wine switched for electrolyte-filled water to keep him on top form on the road.

GettyLionel Richie is embarking on his first UK tour in a decade[/caption] PALionel is good friends with King Charles and has invited him to a show[/caption] Lionel in 1979 performing with The CommodoresRex Features

And as Bizarre’s Jack joined him in his dressing room ahead of his first show in Belfast on Saturday night, Lionel issued an invitation for his mate King Charles to come and sing with him.

He said: “If The King wants to sing Easy like Sunday Morning with me, that’s fantastic. It would be a hoot.”

But despite his royal connections, Lionel admitted you might still find him in a British boozer.

He said: “I have my pub master Bernie.

“He will take me to the latest and the greatest of the pubs.”

And would he indulge in some of our great British pub snacks, like a bag of pork scratchings?

“Have I ever had some weird British food? Yes,” Lionel says with a laugh

“I had black pudding, I did not like it.

“I was warming up on it for a moment and then they told me what it was and, psychologically, I just went off the rails.

“There will be no black pudding on tour for sure.”

Opening up about going back on the road, Lionel explained: “It’s called play period.

“It’s an excuse to leave the house and act silly all over again, otherwise life becomes boring.

“Going on tour is the best ever as my fans put on a show better than I can.

“When I look out into the audience, I see all the afro wigs and moustaches . . . and that is just the girls.

“It is Lionel in the Seventies, Eighties, Nineties and Noughties — they put me all together in these various outfits.

“It is amazing and fun to watch.”

Now almost six decades into his career, Lionel travels with a small team including a physical therapist.

Lionel said: “You have to be in shape.

“You might think that it’s easy to walk on that stage but try two hours of that, plus running, plus singing.

“You do that multiple times, well you better be in good condition. It is set up to wipe you out.

‘PROTECT YOUR VOCALS’

“I have been doing it for so long now, it’s like second nature. But don’t take it for granted.”

Another secret weapon in his touring armour is bringing along his own pillow on tour.

He explained: “I elevate the bed at an angle as that keeps the acid reflux at bay.

“The most important part you are trying to protect is your vocals.

“Eating late is also a disaster because trying to sleep and digest food at the same time calls for a rough voice.”

But while he has a team with him at all times, Lionel isn’t dishing out a list of diva demands.

Nor is he sitting in hair and make-up for hours.

Lionel Richie at the 7th Annual American Cinema Awards in 1990Getty GettyLionel in the 80s when he released single ‘Hello’[/caption]

He said: “The one thing I can’t do is a lot of hair and make- up. I don’t know how people can do it.”

“I sweat a lot and on the first two songs, whatever make-up I had on, or whatever hair style I had, leaves immediately.

“And I don’t really need make-up by that point.

“I am on stage and enjoying it.

“The last thing I would want is my mascara to be running. That is not a good look.”

Even a pre-gig tipple is out of the question.

Lionel laughed: “Alcohol before a show? No, no, we don’t do that.

“Back in The Commodores days you could do anything. You’re bulletproof.

“But now, alcohol? No. Just get me out on stage with as much water and things to get the electrolytes going and that is it.

“I don’t even know how we survived the Seventies and Eighties. It was fun though.”

SuppliedLionel and The Sun’s Jack Hardwick[/caption]

Lionel added: “Ten years ago I used to love red wine and I tried to let that be my potion to bring me down.

“That phased out of my whole existence as purple teeth by the end of the tour was not going to be the way I wanted to go.

“I get a great bite to eat, lots of water and just wait for yourself to come down.

“Though I must admit, a good massage is needed. You need to just let your body come down.

“The worst thing to do is to try and jump into bed and think you are going to go to sleep.

“You twitch for about four hours as your adrenaline is too high.”

As we chatted in his dressing room, the rolling news channel on his TV showed King Charles, and conversation turned to His Majesty.

Despite the invitation for a singalong, Lionel admitted: “Listen, this guy is so busy.

“He is probably going to be the first royal to travel as much as you can imagine.

“I can see him moving around quite a bit but is he going to pop into the show and surprise me? You never know.

“Now Camilla, that would be possible.

“She is a hoot in the kindest of respects. She is so funny and she has such a good sense of humour.

“They both do. I love her sense of humour.”

We’d pay seriously good money to see that.

GettyLionel Richie performing at the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle[/caption]

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