7<\/p>\n Lionel Richie is embarking on his first UK tour in a decadeCredit: Getty 7<\/p>\n Lionel is good friends with King Charles and has invited him to a showCredit: PA 7<\/p>\n Lionel in 1979 performing with The CommodoresCredit: Rex Features<\/p>\n And as Bizarre\u2019s Jack joined him in his dressing room ahead of his first show in Belfast<\/a> on Saturday night, Lionel issued an invitation for his mate King Charles<\/a> to come and sing with him.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cIf The King wants to sing Easy like Sunday Morning with me, that\u2019s fantastic. It would be a hoot.\u201d<\/p>\n But despite his royal connections, Lionel admitted you might still find him in a British boozer.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cI have my pub master Bernie. <\/p>\n “He will take me to the latest and the greatest of the pubs.\u201d<\/p>\n And would he indulge in some of our great British pub snacks<\/a>, like a bag of pork scratchings?<\/p>\n \u201cHave I ever had some weird British food? Yes,\u201d Lionel says with a laugh<\/p>\n \u201cI had black pudding, I did not like it. <\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n \u201cThere will be no black pudding on tour for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles always makes the same joke, says Lionel Ritchie as he opens up about friendship with King<\/p>\n Opening up about going back on the road, Lionel explained: \u201cIt\u2019s called play period.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an excuse to leave the house and act silly all over again, otherwise life becomes boring.<\/p>\n \u201cGoing on tour is the best ever as my fans put on a show better than I can. <\/p>\n “When I look out into the audience, I see all the afro wigs and moustaches\u2009.\u2009.\u2009.\u2009and that is just the girls.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is Lionel<\/a> in the Seventies, Eighties, Nineties and Noughties \u2014 they put me all together in these various outfits. <\/p>\n “It is amazing and fun to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n Now almost six decades into his career, Lionel travels with a small team including a physical therapist. <\/p>\n Lionel said: \u201cYou have to be in shape. <\/p>\n “You might think that it\u2019s easy to walk on that stage but try two hours of that, plus running, plus singing.<\/p>\n “You do that multiple times, well you better be in good condition. It is set up to wipe you out.<\/p>\n ‘PROTECT YOUR VOCALS’<\/p>\n \u201cI have been doing it for so long now, it\u2019s like second nature. But don\u2019t take it for granted.\u201d<\/p>\n Another secret weapon in his touring armour is bringing along his own pillow on tour.<\/p>\n He explained: \u201cI elevate the bed at an angle as that keeps the acid reflux at bay. <\/p>\n “The most important part you are trying to protect is your vocals.<\/p>\n \u201cEating late is also a disaster because trying to sleep and digest food at the same time calls for a rough voice.\u201d<\/p>\n But while he has a team with him at all times, Lionel isn\u2019t dishing out a list of diva demands. <\/p>\n Nor is he sitting in hair and make-up for hours.<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n Lionel Richie at the 7th Annual American Cinema Awards in 1990Credit: Getty 7<\/p>\n Lionel in the 80s when he released single ‘Hello’Credit: Getty<\/p>\n He said: \u201cThe one thing I can\u2019t do is a lot of hair and make- up. I don\u2019t know how people can do it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI sweat a lot and on the first two songs, whatever make-up I had on, or whatever hair style I had, leaves immediately. <\/p>\n “And I don\u2019t really need make-up by that point.<\/p>\n \u201cI am on stage and enjoying it. <\/p>\n “The last thing I would want is my mascara to be running. That is not a good look.\u201d<\/p>\n Even a pre-gig tipple is out of the question.<\/p>\n Lionel laughed: \u201cAlcohol before a show? No, no, we don\u2019t do that.<\/p>\n \u201cBack in The Commodores days you could do anything. You\u2019re bulletproof.<\/p>\n \u201cBut now, alcohol? No. Just get me out on stage with as much water and things to get the electrolytes going and that is it.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t even know how we survived the Seventies and Eighties. It was fun though.\u201d<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n Lionel and The Sun’s Jack HardwickCredit: Supplied<\/p>\n Lionel added: \u201cTen years ago I used to love red wine and I tried to let that be my potion to bring me down. <\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n \u201cI get a great bite to eat, lots of water and just wait for yourself to come down.<\/p>\n \u201cThough I must admit, a good massage is needed. You need to just let your body come down.<\/p>\n \u201cThe worst thing to do is to try and jump into bed and think you are going to go to sleep. <\/p>\n “You twitch for about four hours as your adrenaline is too high.\u201d <\/p>\n As we chatted in his dressing room, the rolling news channel on his TV showed King Charles<\/a>, and conversation turned to His Majesty.<\/p>\n Despite the invitation for a singalong, Lionel admitted: \u201cListen, this guy is so busy.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is probably going to be the first royal to travel as much as you can imagine.<\/p>\n \u201cI can see him moving around quite a bit but is he going to pop into the show and surprise me? You never know.<\/p>\n \u201cNow Camilla, that would be possible. <\/p>\n “She is a hoot in the kindest of respects. She is so funny and she has such a good sense of humour. <\/p>\n “They both do. I love her sense of humour.”<\/p>\n We\u2019d pay seriously good money to see that.<\/p>\n![\"Lionel](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1748939174_237_lionel-richie-performs-stage-opening-999699316_25a98d.jpg\")
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