Rick Astley - Never

A reflective, frank and beautiful memoir by the much-loved musician Rick Astley.

 “I hadn’t been very comfortable with fame, but I didn’t know what to do with
 myself after I was famous. On the surface, I was just hugely relieved to be shot
 of the whole thing. I felt like I’d been let off the hook… But underneath that, I
 was pretty miserable.”

 When 'Never Gonna Give You Up’ propelled Rick Astley into the pop stratosphere, it
 irrevocably altered his life's trajectory. Nothing could have prepared the young,
 unassuming lad from Lancashire for what was in store for him. After agreeing to sign
 with legendary music producer Pete Waterman – under the wings of music
 powerhouse Stock Aitken Waterman – what followed was unpredictable and
 outlandish adventures and a peek into the mechanics of the music industry, all of
 which would eventually take Rick from the shadows of local bands to international
 stardom. From platinum-selling albums to worldwide tours, doors had been blown
 open and the world was at Rick’s feet. And then, suddenly, at what seemed like the
 height of fame, it wasn’t.

 At 27 years old, Rick retired himself from the industry that had brought him much
 success and financial stability. Behind the hits and the glitz and glamour was a young
 man coming to terms with his new-found fame, the realities of life in the pop-music
 machine and the pressures of life on the road, not to mention reconciling with his
 childhood spent between his divorced parents in a volatile family dynamic. Time out of
 the industry was to offer Rick room for much-needed reflection and therapy – and
 unknowingly helped to set the stage for his triumphant return to music.
 Balancing nostalgia, fresh perspectives and introspection, with a good dose of
 northern humour, Never is an intimate look at the man behind the hits – and is a
 portrait of truth, artistic evolution and the astounding power of contentment.

Pre order for 10th October 2024 | LIMITED STOCK