Rick Astley: podcast appearances and interviews

Richard Paul Astley, born on 6 February 1966, is an English singer, songwriter, radio DJ, and podcaster. He first gained prominence through his association with the production trio Stock Aitken Waterman, releasing the 1987 album Whenever You Need Somebody. The album sold approximately 15 million copies worldwide and received platinum certifications from both the British Phonographic Industry and the Recording Industry Association of America. His debut single, Never Gonna Give You Up, achieved international success, reaching number one in more than 25 countries and earning the 1988 Brit Award for Best British Single. The song remained at the top of the UK chart for five weeks and was the best-selling single of 1987. His follow-up single, Together Forever, also topped the US Billboard Hot 100, and he had eight songs that reached the top 10 on the UK Singles Chart. After releasing the albums Hold Me in Your Arms in 1988 and exploring a shift towards soul music in 1991, Astley retired from music in 1993 to focus on family life. He made a return to the industry in 2000 and released the album 50 in 2016, which debuted at number one in the UK. His most recent studio album, Are We There Yet?, was released in 2023. Throughout his career, Astley has sold around 40 million records worldwide and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1989. He unexpectedly became an internet phenomenon in 2007 through the Rickrolling meme, which featured his hit song, leading to a career resurgence. In 2021, Never Gonna Give You Up surpassed one billion views on YouTube.