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Rick Astley Is Never Gonna Give Up Touring
Rick Astley is playing headline shows in the U.S. and Canada, which will coincide with the physical release of his new album, his first in over a decade.
The U.S. gigs are set to take place at the
Astley already played LA and NYC last month, his first U.S. performances in over 25 years, since 1989 to be precise. His first retirement from music was so that he could focus on family, although he also said he was frustrated the business element of the industry.
“People like Pete Waterman gave me such an amazing start,” he said in an interview. “But the music industry is a business and sometimes it felt like I could have been selling beans. I felt so far removed from the music.”
His recent U.S. performances were described as “triumphant” by Rolling Stone and “charming” by Newsday. Astley is showcasing tunes from his album, 50, which dropped in Europe earlier in the year and is set for physical release in the U.S. Oct. 6.
The singer is also famous due to the practice of “rickrolling,” or unexpectedly substituting the video for his single “Never Gonna Give You Up” for other content.
Astley’s new tunes take on a decidedly modern sound, using production techniques common among electro-pop artists which highlight his mature and well-trained voice. Check out the music video for his new single, “Dance.”
A presale for the New York show is on now, and one for the Toronto show opens tomorrow at 10 a.m. local time. General onsales open Sept. 16. Rick Astley’s official website is RickAstley.co.uk.