Never by Rick Astley

Never is the autobiography of Rick Astley, a man from Lancashire who made a lot of promises to a lot of people. He was never going to give you up or let you down. He won't run around and hurt you, make you cry, say goodbye, or desert you. Here is his own story about overnight international fame, walking away from it, and returning as big as before.

His parents divorced early, his childhood sounding chaotic - with a mother who didn't want to be bothered with children; living with a combustive father in a Portakabin on their family garden centre plot. Leaving school early without a single qualification, he played pubs as a drummer in the band FBI before becoming lead singer, leaning into the sound of Northern Soul. Producer Pete Waterman heard that voice and offered Rick a contract to his London studio, SAW, where he learned songwriting and served tea to other singers and acts.

Music producers Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) were about to unleash a tsunami of total pop hits on the world from acts like Bananarama, Dead or Alive, and Kylie. Astley describes well the 'Hit Factory', a treat for SAW fans to hear how Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, Phil Curnow and Phil Harding meticulously crafted mass-produced pop aimed directly at the charts. Not the kind of music Rick wanted to make, but in 1987 at the age of 22, his first single Never Gonna Give You Up exploded. A new single by a new artist staying at number one for five weeks was unheard of, playing continuously on radio, soon to go number one across Europe, and then, America.

He was now in the room with his musical heroes Queen, Genesis, Clapton, The Smiths, doing benefits and playing Radio City Music Hall. He tired of being a hired singer in the manufactured pop machine and wanted to write his own music that wasn't so twee. He released four more albums without SAW and played small clubs and retro shows, until a concert of songs by The Smiths attracted attention - then the unlikely Internet phenomenon of Rickrolling brought him back to the public eye in 2007. Even Rick himself has been Rickrolled (for more information click here).

Now, he makes music and tours for the love of it; his albums 50, Beautiful Life, and Are We There Yet? yielding hits. For fan of Astley and SAW productions, much of this story has been heard over the years, but this is an engaging read anyone interested in 80s music will want to read. The voice you loved is still as strong, with the added joy knowing he is now creating for the love of it.

(Fans of SAW will want to listen to the excellent podcast Chart Beats - A Journey Through SAW, where they document every single produced and speak with the original artists).

My other reviews for singers:

Karma by Boy George

Wham! George Michael and Me by Andrew Ridgeley

Cyndi Lauper A Memoir by Cyndi Lauper

Me by Ricky Martin

Funny Peculiar by Will Young

Just Getting Started by Tony Bennett

The Woman I Was Born To Be by Susan Boyle

2024/ Hardcover / 292 pages