Never: The Autobiography

Rick Astley's autobiography, Never Gonna Give You Up, is a nuanced memoir that explores his journey from fame to retirement and back again. It offers a candid look at the man behind the hits, balancing nostalgia, fresh perspectives, and introspection with a good dose of northern humour.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 10 October 2024
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

This nuanced memoir is not your standard pop star autobiography. I hadnt been very comfortable with fame, but I didnt 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 Id 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 changed his life forever. Nothing could have prepared the young, unassuming boy from Lancashire for what was in store for him. This is Ricks story in his own words. At just nineteen, Rick agreed to sign with legendary music producer Pete Waterman under the wings of music powerhouse Stock Aitken Waterman. Unpredictable, outlandish adventures followed, giving him 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, the world was at Ricks feet. And then, suddenly, at what seemed like the height of fame, it wasnt. At twenty-seven, 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 offered 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 music.

Weight: 544g
Dimension: 162 x 242 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781035049394