Never – The autobiography by Rick Astley

 

Published by Macmilan on January, 21, 2025

301 pages

I read the paperback version

Back Cover

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.

My review

I can’t remember exactly when I heard his music for the first time, but after I saw a family video where I was dancing alone at 4 years old on Never Give You Up, his music is probably part of my life since forever. I started to listen to his music again at 18 when I saw that video and realized that I really liked Don’t Say Goodbye that I keep listening on repeat today.

When I saw that he published an autobiography, I preorder it and I have to wait 5 months to get it since the dates weren’t the same in Europe and Canada. Did I learned something out of ordinary by reading it? Not exactly, but I was surprised a few times since I didn’t follow his career from the beginning,

I recommend it, if you like his music or just music in general because he talks a little bit about the industry and I find it interesting even though I am not a huge music fan like I was before. His story is touching. I can see he was writing it from the heart and we learn more about his family and what really happens behind the scene.

Excerpts

After the divorce, she did all the things a mum was supposed to do- we went to stay with her for the weekend and she took us to the shops, pool or wherever. But there was something missing, some sort of emotional connection. It’s hard to explain exactly what is was, but you knew it wasn’t there. (p.6)

It was music that transported you somewhere else, like science fiction or historical fantasy novels do, which was a useful thing, given the strange situation at home. There was something about that music that I wholeheartedly wanted to jump into and absorb myself in. (p.22)

I was more interested in feeling secure and safe than I was in being famous, or anything that comes with it. And there are times when I’ve thought that I would happily trade everything I’ve done in music, the money I made, the lot, to have grown up the way my friends did, in a normal house on an estate, with a mum and dad who loved them, or at least expressed their love in a normal way. (p.35)

You’d mention some artist who was absolutely huge in Britain, and find out that no one in the US had a clue who they were: " Things from Britain don’t always work over here. " (p.142)

I think everyone who ever gets up on stage does it because there’s something within them that’s a bit broken or missing; they want an audience to make them feel better, to love them, and that was definitely true of me. But sooner or later, you realize that ain’t going to do it; you need something or someone else. And if you haven’t got that, that realization can literally kill you. (p.180)

That underlying sadness sort of seeped into me: for someone who’s been incredibly lucky in their life, I’m a terrible pessimist about things. I have a tendency to always look on the dark side of life, and, as much as I was glad to be out of it, the way my career had ended had really knocked my self-belief. (p.213)