For decades, Rick Astley resisted the idea of writing a memoir. But now, at age 58, the iconic singer behind the 1987 hit “Never Gonna Give You Up” is sharing his life story in Never: The Autobiography, released on January 21.
The book dives into Astley’s humble beginnings, meteoric rise to fame, struggles with instant stardom, and his personal journey through love, family, and healing.
Astley first considered a memoir in his 20s and again in the 2000s, when the internet’s “Rickrolling” phenomenon gave his career a second wind. However, he chose to wait until his parents had passed, wanting to write honestly about his childhood without hurting them.
“I wanted to be completely honest about my childhood,” Astley tells PEOPLE. “Whatever I went through with them, I don’t blame them. It was just the way it was.”
In the memoir, Astley describes a difficult upbringing. His parents divorced when he was 4 after he witnessed his father physically attacking his mother. The split left him emotionally disconnected from both parents.
Astley’s memoir traces his path from playing local gigs in his English hometown to becoming an international sensation. Discovered by producer Pete Waterman, Astley released “Never Gonna Give You Up,” which climbed global charts and turned him into a household name almost overnight.
He recalls how music became both a passion and an escape: “It wasn’t just emotional and mental—it was a physical escape. Music gave me the opportunity to set my own boundaries and create a life away from my dad’s roof.”
Ironically, Astley craved stability through fame, despite the chaos often associated with a rock star lifestyle. “I was trying to fill a hole left by my childhood,” he admits.
Astley’s fame brought awards, platinum albums, and a whirlwind career, but it also forced him to grapple with balancing his public and private life. After the birth of his daughter Amelia, now 32, Astley stepped back from music to prioritize parenting.
“How do you be really famous and still be emotionally and physically present as a parent?” he reflects. “Fame demands selfishness and egotism, and it’s hard to switch that off when you’re at home.”
Astley has been open with Amelia about his upbringing and therapy journey, which he began in his 20s to process childhood trauma. But he acknowledges that parts of his memoir—stories he had not yet shared with his daughter—have been difficult for her to digest.
“She’s struggled with some details I hadn’t told her yet,” he admits, explaining that he had been waiting for the right time to have those conversations.
Today, Astley reflects on his life with gratitude and humility, celebrating his nearly 30-year marriage to Lene Bausager and his enduring influence as a musician.
“Parenting is one of the hardest things,” he says. “You just have to do the best you can.”
Astley’s memoir doesn’t shy away from the challenges of fame, family, and self-discovery, offering an honest and heartfelt look at the man behind the music—and the meme.
Source: People Magazine