Rick Astley: Ely final tour date to launch poignant memoir ‘Never’

Ely Cathedral was packed for the final stop-off for pop star Rick Astley to promote his poignant memoir ‘Never’. Ely was the culmination of a whistle stop tour that included Manchester, London, Dublin, Oxford, Cheltenham, and Glasgow.

The Lancashire born singer swept to stardom with his hit ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ which remained on top of the British charts for five weeks and was 1987’s highest selling single.

His autobiography touches on many issues including the fame success brought him.

“Fame didn’t actually make me happy,” he says. “I was an insecure twenty-year-old and being famous made things worse back then. It was an era all about the way you looked, and I still don’t know how I squeezed through.

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“I did enjoy myself for a lot of it, but, at some point, you’re looking in the mirror and going: ‘Is this it, then?’ Clichéd as this sounds, success is never going to mend something that is broken.

“You just have to work that out for yourself. And something was a bit broken in me – it is with almost everybody who gets on the stage.’

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But, after only six years in the business, having sold millions of records globally, Rick made a major life decision to retire, choosing family over fame.

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Time out of the industry offered him room for much-needed reflection and therapy – and unknowingly helped to set the stage for his triumphant return to music.

In his powerful memoir, Rick delves into this journey. He recounts his formative years and unconventional upbringing, retraces his decision to leave the spotlight and provides intimate insights into family life and the challenges and rewards of new beginnings.

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His book signing in Ely was organised with Topping and Co. Copies can be obtained locally through the book store or via Rick’s website: https://rickastley.tmstor.es/product/128948