Rick Astley

Rick Astley, a small town boy from Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire, England, was one of the most successful pop sensations of the '80s. However, as a child, Astley was never musically inclined toward any instrument including his voice. Astley admits that he "was dragged into choir, like anybody else who could half sing, and into school plays," and he struggled for a short period with piano lessons. He did enjoy the drums, and began playing in garage bands when he was 15. His first band was Give Way, but it wasn't until he began drumming for a group called FBI that he went on actual gigs. In a short period of time, he began writing songs for the band, and soon after, his band mates heard him singing. He was quickly replaced on the drum kit, and put behind the mic.

When he was 21, Astley released the debut single "Never Gonna Give You Up," which achieved worldwide success; it ranked at the top of 25 charts all over the world from Belgium to Australia including the US. He was an instant hit because of his "confident romantic baritone" voice, as described in Seventeen magazine. His debut album, Whenever You Need Somebody, debuted at #1 on the UK charts in 1987. He followed it up in a big way: his first eight UK singles were all Top 10 hits.

By the time Astley was 27, he was ready to retire from the music business. The tipping point occurred while on the road after he'd developed a fear of flying, which was compounded by his intense performing schedule. Astley said, "I remember the exact moment when it happened. I was in the car on the way to Heathrow airport due to fly to New York and I said, tearfully, to my manager: 'You have to stop the car. I can't do this anymore. Its killing me.' As a kid all I wanted to do was to be a pop star and I got to the point where I hated it and I almost hated myself and that had to stop." As someone who had spent his entire adult life as a rock star, the sudden change meant he had to learn to take care of himself - he had to grow up overnight.