Singer Rick Astley choked back tears in front of a live audience as he opened up about his tumultuous childhood. The pop star is currently on a UK tour to promote his new autobiography, Never, which delves into his personal struggles growing up in Newton-le-Willows.
During an emotional evening at Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall, Astley spoke candidly about his unconventional upbringing and strained relationship with his parents. In conversation with Nihal Arthanayake, the 58-year-old singer revealed that after his parents' passing, he sought his family's blessing to share their story in his memoir.
Astley shared: "I wouldn't say I've been given a green light, but you know, it's a difficult thing because it's their story as well. But I think, when you see the videos of me when I was 21, sort of shuffling around - the kind of brightness of those videos and those songs, it's kind of hard to believe I was raised the way I was."
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He recounted his family's history, including the devastating loss of his second sibling to meningitis, which he believes his parents never fully recovered from, leading to their divorce when he was just five years old. Astley and his siblings were subsequently raised by their father.
Rick Astley spoke candidly about his father's struggles with mental health, saying: "My dad had some issues with, probably, mental health. I think if he'd been diagnosed today he'd have gone in for treatment, and that wouldn't be an issue today. But going back a generation there was no way he was going to do that," reports the Mirror.
He also shared stories of his father's erratic behaviour, including temper struggles and mood swings, where "one minute he would be really happy, singing Frank Sinatra and whistling how life was great, and the next he would be unbelievably dark." The family's living situation was also unconventional, with their home being replaced by a basic cabin in a field during a failed venture to start a garden centre. Rick recalled the embarrassment he felt at school, saying: "In the summer holidays it was great, but the minute you had to go back to school, and there's someone shouting from the back of the class 'Miss, Rick Astley lives in a tin hut', it's a bit embarrassing to say the least." Despite the challenges, Rick acknowledged that his father's love was always evident, even amidst the chaos.
The pop icon shared his emotional journey in his own words: "I actually think if he was a pure b****** all the time it would have been easier to deal with, but the fact that he really loved us and showed us that as well was what was really psychologically hard to get your head around."
As he delved into his passion for music and the rise of his career, emotions were palpable. He spoke about seeking "normality" during a period when he didn't want to "live in a tin box in a field".
After his 1987 hit Never Gonna Give You Up became a sensation, a local bank manager in Warrington invited him over to discuss the substantial sum accumulating in his account. During this recollection, he visibly grappled with emotion. He revealed: "I go upstairs and he says to me, 'do you know what's in your account? ' - and he showed me what was in my account and it was A LOT of money. I was 21 - maybe just turned 22 even - and it was a stupid amount, like winning the lottery."
Overwhelmed with emotion, he expressed a profound realisation: "And I thought I'm saved. Music has just saved me. I don't have to go back and live in that way ever again, this is my life now and I can choose what I want. It meant a lot to me, because music had saved my life." The crowd responded with heartfelt applause and cheers, showing their support as he took a moment to sip some water and wipe away his tears. For the latest TV & Showbiz news, sign up to our newsletter.
