Rick Astley Quotes

I must admit, the constant invasion of privacy was becoming a real concern. I’ve been asked for autographs while I’ve been doing laps in the pool and even in the toilet!

There’s some songs you can cover, and I’ve covered and butchered a few, but you can’t do them all.

I’ve been to Sardinia about 10 times because my wife, my daughter and I used to go every year with another family. We rented the same house each time in Villasimius in the southern part of the island, and always went to the same two beaches and same three restaurants.

I come away from a gig thinking, ‘Yeah, I’m worth something.’ I can still do it and entertain people, and that’s worth it.

When I was still at school, I’d help Dad at the concrete yard he had prior to the garden centre. I was doing things there, like driving the tractors and forklifts, that most kids my age couldn’t.

I think Phil Collins is one of the most underrated musicians, singers, performers – he is absolutely amazing, I think, and I think he’s probably got a bit of a rough ride occasionally because he became so mainstream and so popular.

Doing things in my day was simple: you either signed to a big label or you signed to a very small label, and you worked with that one, and then they eventually signed you on to a big one.

I’ve done drives through Budapest and Oslo and used to drive to Sardinia, too, which is quite a journey. Drives are an adventure because I don’t plan them too carefully. I take detours depending on how I feel and usually stop and stay at places I like the look of.

When I was a tiny tot, we only had one record player in the house, so there was either Genesis on it or the Jungle Book or The Beatles as well, and various other things.

I don’t get recognised until I’m on stage, and then I can walk off and forget about it. It’s great.

Working as a teaboy may have helped my confidence, but not everyone else was so pleased. I could never remember who had milk or how many sugars, and I had an unusual talent for spilling tea on the recording console.

I like everything in this iPhone, iPod world where you can do everything all the time. Back in my time, you bought a vinyl record when you were a kid and took it home, and it took a bit of effort to actually get it out of the thing and not scratch it.

My dad loved Scotland, so we would pile into his caravan and head for the Highlands, to Fort William and Loch Ness. It was such an adventure – my siblings and I were allowed to roam and explore the local beaches. We loved the freedom of those trips.

I don’t like flying. I’m a bit scared of it and don’t enjoy the whole experience.

I am honoured that my fans worked so hard to help me win Best Act Ever at the 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards.

Because the pop industry is cruel, if you don’t do everything the label wants you to do, it has an army of other people waiting to do it.

‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ in 1987 was a huge international hit followed by several more, and while I appreciated how lucky I was, it catapulted me into a completely new world and simply took over my life.

I’m a person who tries not to have regrets.

You can’t explain the feeling of singing hit songs to an audience – it’s like being a genuine sports star at the peak of their powers.

It’s really weird seeing someone impersonating you. But at the same time, Vic Reeves’ impersonation of me is one of the highlights of my life.

Don’t expect fame to come overnight. That filtered through to me in my own career. Look at Madonna: she’s not the best singer in the world, but she’s got where she has through hard work.

I started out as a drummer, and now play with a back-to-basics rock band called the ‘Luddites.’ I’m happiest when I’m behind the kit.