Eighties’ pop idol Rick Astley on success second time around
With a new album just released and a UK tour starting this autumn, pop star Rick Astley (52) talks fame, growing up and success second time around
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Times have changed for the better
I think people who are older today are accepted more than when I was first successful in my early 20s. Thirty years ago, when I was 22, if you were 52, you were done. But quite a few of the movers and shakers today – everyone from David Attenborough to Richard Branson – are still achieving well into their later years.
■ My dad taught me the value of money
By the age of 22, I was a millionaire. I had a huge amount of money and fame and that’s not very good for someone of that age, that instant jump from not being known to becoming world famous. It both distorts everyone’s view of you and clouds your own judgement. But I managed to hang on to my money, having picked up a lot of tips working in my dad’s market garden business. For every pound I earned when I made it big, I put 50p into a separate account. And I invested in property, too.
■ Marriage is the best
I met my Danish wife, Lene, in 1988 in Denmark. We’ve got one daughter, Emilie, 26, currently studying at art college in Copenhagen. Lene and I finally married in 2013.
My mindset had been that, if you get married, you can get divorced. But if you’re together unmarried, you’re more likely to stay together. That’s nonsense, of course, but it obviously harked back to my parents who divorced when I was four. I’ve never once regretted my decision. I’m just as much in love today as I was when we first met. I’m really glad we decided to marry. It’s not just a piece of paper; it means something. It was a nice feeling.
■ Home is so important
I was 27 when it occurred to me that I’d never really grown up. I hadn’t done the things normal people did, such as taken the bins out. I’d gone from being a lad to being a chart-topping global star.
And I wanted to be able to take Emilie to the playground without having to wear a funny hat and avoid meeting people’s eyes. So I had ten years of not doing very much other than enjoying home life. I wasn’t going to let something as frivolous as pop music sour the relationships that were important to me.
■ I’ve been so lucky
In 2016 I released a new album, 50, which amazed everyone – me included – by selling almost 400,000 copies in the UK alone. Success second time round has been a pleasure. I can walk the streets and might get recognised but I’m left alone. I’ve grown up and so has my audience. What’s happened to me happens to hardly anyone; I never stop appreciating how lucky I am.
■ Rick’s new album, Beautiful Life, is out now. He will be touring this autumn. For details visit www.rickastley.co.uk
■ He was talking to Richard Barber