‘For 15 years I only sang my hits at karaoke & weddings’
EIGHTIES pop star Rick Astley spent 15 years singing his biggest hit in karaoke bars after walking away from stardom.
But he reckons quitting his career early meant he avoided getting hooked on drink and drugs like so many other stars.
Rick, 50, became an overnight sensation in 1987 with his tune Never Gonna Give You Up.
The Stock Aitken Watermanproduced hit reached No.1 in 25 countries, including the UK and US.
He went on to sell more than 40million records, won a BRIT Award and was nominated for a Grammy before turning his back on fame in 1993.
After that he only performed his biggest hit in bars and at friends’ weddings. But he has no regrets.
In fact, Rick, who had years of therapy, reckons he could have followed tragic Amy Winehouse’s path if he hadn’t quit pop for a quiet family life. Rick, originally from Newton-leWillows, Lancs, told the Daily Star Sunday: “I love performing Never Gonna Give You Up on stage now but I didn’t sing it at all for 15 years. “I only ever sang it at friends’ weddings
or at karaoke. JAMES INGHAM Friends used to make me get up and sing it. You can only say ‘no’ so many times before giving in – especially after a few drinks.”
Rick’s new album 50 was released on Friday and he’s already on course to beat Sir Paul McCartney and Tom Odell to the No.1 spot.
He said putting his career on hold aged 27 was the best decision he’s ever made.
Rick added: “I had years of backto-back promotion and travelling but never got to sing live or perform because people only wanted me to mime.
“I hated it in the end. I felt like a travelling salesman. I had a daughter by then and I just thought there was more to life than that.
“It got to the point when I realised having thousands of people at one of my concerts wasn’t going to make me happy. My wife and daughter were the ones who made me complete, not being a pop star.”
Talking about the dark side of fame, he said: “I can understand why pop stars fall into drink and drugs. It is easy for people to mask their issues with a career.”
Rick said he felt lucky to have escaped the industry unharmed – unlike Amy Winehouse, who died aged 27 after a long battle with drink and drugs.
The Magic FM radio host added: “I’m glad I got out when I did for my own health. It was obviously nowhere near Amy, which was just tragic.
“I was very lucky though. So many people come out of the industry with drink or drug problems, broke, bitter, big fall outs with close friends or families. I avoided all those.
“I made enough money I could walk away. I would hate to be gigging now because I had to and not because I love it.”