Rick Astley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rick Astley
|
|
|---|---|
_(53009108914)_(cropped).jpg)
Astley at Glastonbury Festival 2023
|
|
| Born |
Richard Paul Astley
6 February 1966 Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire, England
|
| Occupation |
|
| Years active |
|
| Spouse(s) |
Lene Bausager
(m. 2003) |
| Children | 1 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments |
|
| Labels | |
| Signature | |
 |
|
Richard Paul Astley (born 6 February 1966) is an English singer, songwriter, and radio DJ. He became famous in the 1980s with the help of a production team called Stock Aitken Waterman. His 1987 album, Whenever You Need Somebody, sold millions of copies around the world.
His first song, "Never Gonna Give You Up", was a huge hit. It reached No. 1 in over 25 countries. The song also won an award for Best British Single in 1988. It stayed at the top of the UK music charts for five weeks in 1987. Another hit, "Together Forever", also topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In 1988, Astley released his second album, Hold Me in Your Arms. This album also sold very well internationally. The main song from it, "She Wants to Dance with Me", became a Top 10 hit worldwide. In 1991, he changed his music style to focus more on soul music. He took a break from music in 1993 to spend time with his family.
Rick Astley returned to music in 2000. In 2016, he released the album 50 to celebrate his 50th birthday. This album went straight to No. 1 in the UK. His most recent album, Are We There Yet?, was released in 2023.
Astley has sold millions of records worldwide. He became very popular online in 2007 because of the Rickrolling meme. This meme uses the music video for "Never Gonna Give You Up". This internet fame helped his music career become popular again. In 2008, he was voted "Best Act Ever" at the MTV Europe Music Awards. In 2021, "Never Gonna Give You Up" reached one billion views on YouTube.
Contents
Early Life and Music Start
Richard Paul Astley was born on 6 February 1966 in Newton-le-Willows, England. He was the fourth child in his family. His parents divorced when he was five years old. Rick was raised by his father but stayed close with his mother.
When he was 10, Rick started singing in a local church choir. This is where his love for music began. During his school years, Astley played the drums in several local bands. After leaving school at 16, he worked during the day. At night, he played drums in bands like Give Way and FBI. These bands played songs by groups like The Beatles.
Music Career Highlights
Starting with Stock Aitken Waterman
In 1985, Rick Astley was the drummer for a soul band called FBI. They played in pubs and clubs. A record producer named Pete Waterman saw him perform. Waterman offered Rick a chance to work in London at his recording studio, PWL. Rick accepted and moved to London.
Under the guidance of the production team Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW), Rick learned about making music. He started as a "tea boy" in the studio. This helped him get used to the music business and overcome his shyness.
First Big Hits
In March 1987, Rick Astley sang on the charity song "Let It Be" with the group Ferry Aid. This song became No. 1 in the UK. Rick's first solo song was "Never Gonna Give You Up", released in July 1987.
The producers wrote "Never Gonna Give You Up" especially for Rick. His unique deep voice and the dance-pop style made the song an instant success. It was No. 1 in the UK for five weeks and was the best-selling song of that year. It also reached No. 1 in 24 other countries, including the United States and Australia. "Never Gonna Give You Up" won Best British Single at the 1988 BRIT Awards. Rick performed it for a huge audience around the world.
Rick's next song was "Whenever You Need Somebody" in October 1987. This song was also a big hit, reaching the Top 5 in many countries. In November 1987, his album Whenever You Need Somebody reached No. 1 in the UK and Australia. It sold millions of copies worldwide.
In December 1987, Rick released a cover of "When I Fall in Love". His song "My Arms Keep Missing You" was also popular in Germany. Rick's fourth single, "Together Forever", came out in January 1988. It was very successful in America, reaching No. 1 there.
More Albums and a Break
Rick's second album, Hold Me in Your Arms, was released in January 1989. It included songs like "She Wants to Dance with Me" and "Take Me to Your Heart". These songs were popular around the world.
By the end of 1989, Rick was ready for a change. He wanted to try different music styles. He left Stock Aitken Waterman. In 1991, he released his third album, Free, which had a more soulful sound. The song "Cry for Help" from this album was a Top 10 hit in both the UK and US.
Rick's next album, Body and Soul, came out in 1993. After this, Rick decided to take a break from music. He wanted to focus on his family life. He stayed out of the public eye for many years.
Return to Music and New Success
Rick Astley returned to music in 2000. He released a new album called Keep It Turned On in 2001. His first collection of hits, Greatest Hits, came out in 2002 and was very popular in the UK. In 2004, Rick went on tour for the first time in 14 years.
In 2005, he released Portrait, an album where he sang classic songs. In 2008, another collection of his songs, The Ultimate Collection: Rick Astley, was released.
In September 2008, Rick was nominated for the "Best Act Ever" award at the MTV Europe Music Awards. Fans campaigned online for him to win, and he did! This happened around the same time the "Never Gonna Give You Up" song became a huge internet meme called Rickrolling. This helped Rick's career become popular again. He continued to tour and perform.
In 2010, Rick Astley became a radio DJ for London's Magic FM. He also released a new song called "Lights Out".
In April 2016, Rick released the song "Keep Singing" from his album 50. He said turning 50 inspired him to make new music. The album reached No. 1 in the UK. In 2018, he released another album, Beautiful Life, which reached No. 6 in the UK.
Rick has also performed with famous bands like Foo Fighters and Take That. He sometimes sings "Never Gonna Give You Up" with the Foo Fighters, mixing it with their rock style. In October 2019, he released a greatest hits album called The Best of Me.
Recent Music and Performances
In June 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, Rick Astley released cover versions of popular songs. He also started a TikTok account, where his video of him dancing to "Never Gonna Give You Up" got millions of views. In November 2020, he released a Christmas song called "Love This Christmas".
In September 2021, Rick covered the ABBA song "The Winner Takes It All". That same month, he and the band Blossoms performed two concerts covering songs by the Smiths. They performed together again at the 2023 Glastonbury Festival. Rick also played his own solo set at Glastonbury that year.
In October 2023, Rick Astley released Are We There Yet?, his first album of new music since 2018. It reached No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart. His autobiography, Never: The Autobiography, was released in October 2024. In March 2025, Rick Astley uploaded a cover of Chappell Roan's popular song "Pink Pony Club" to his YouTube channel.
The Rickrolling Meme
In 2007, Rick Astley became famous again because of an internet trend called Rickrolling. This meme is a trick where someone clicks on a link that seems to be about one thing, but it actually leads to the music video for "Never Gonna Give You Up". When this happens, they've been "rickrolled"! The meme also involves using the song's lyrics in unexpected places.
Rickrolling became very popular in 2008. Even YouTube used it for their April Fools' Day event that year. The meme became popular again in the early 2020s, especially during online classes on Zoom.
At first, Rick Astley wasn't sure about using this new fame. But he accepted it when he surprised everyone by performing "Never Gonna Give You Up" at the 2008 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Since then, the meme has helped his music career become active again. Rick has even been rickrolled himself a few times!
Personal Life
Rick Astley is married to film producer Lene Bausager. They met in 1987 and got married in 2003. They have one daughter. Rick and his wife live in the town of Molesey in Surrey, England. He has a home recording studio and collects guitars. In 2017, Rick partnered with a Danish brewery to open pubs in London.
Discography
- Whenever You Need Somebody (1987)
- Hold Me in Your Arms (1988)
- Free (1991)
- Body & Soul (1993)
- Keep It Turned On (2001)
- Portrait (2005)
- 50 (2016)
- Beautiful Life (2018)
- Are We There Yet? (2023)
See also
In Spanish: Rick Astley para niños
- List of awards and nominations received by Rick Astley
- List of artists who reached number one in the United States
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart
- List of Billboard number-one dance club songs
- Lists of UK Albums Chart number ones
- Lists of UK Singles Chart number ones
- List of Billboard number-one singles
