{"title":"Rick Astley","description":"\u003cp\u003eRick Astley's works invite readers into a candid exploration of life behind the spotlight. His writing offers an intimate glimpse into the experiences and reflections that have shaped his journey, told with honesty and warmth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIdeal for fans of \u003cem\u003eBiography \u0026amp; Memoir\u003c\/em\u003e, these books blend personal storytelling with broader themes of resilience and self-discovery, making for compelling and heartfelt reading.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"never-by-rick-astley-9781035049394","title":"Never","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'I hadn't been very comfortable with fame, but I didn't know what to do with myself after I was famous. On the surface, I was just hugely relieved to be shot of the whole thing. I felt like I'd been let off the hook... But underneath that, I was pretty miserable.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhen \u003cem\u003eNever Gonna Give You Up\u003c\/em\u003e propelled Rick Astley into the pop stratosphere, it changed his life forever. Nothing could have prepared the young, unassuming lad from Lancashire for what was in store for him. This is Rick's story - in his own words.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt just nineteen, Rick agreed to sign with legendary music producer Pete Waterman, under the wings of music powerhouse Stock Aitken Waterman. Unpredictable, outlandish adventures followed, giving him a peek into the mechanics of the music industry, all of which would eventually take Rick from the shadows of local bands to international stardom. From platinum-selling albums to worldwide tours, the world was at Rick's feet. And then, suddenly, at what seemed like the height of fame, it wasn't.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt twenty-seven, Rick retired himself from the industry that had brought him much success and financial stability. Behind the hits and the glitz and glamour was a young man coming to terms with his newfound fame, the realities of life in the pop-music machine, and the pressures of life on the road, not to mention reconciling with his childhood spent between his divorced parents in a volatile family dynamic. Time out of the industry offered Rick room for much-needed reflection and therapy, and unknowingly helped to set the stage for his triumphant return to music.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBalancing nostalgia, fresh perspectives and introspection, with a good dose of northern humour, \u003cem\u003eNever\u003c\/em\u003e is an intimate look at the man behind the hits, and is a portrait of truth, artistic evolution, and the astounding power of contentment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Macmillan Publishers New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46413339984108,"sku":"9781035049394","price":50.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781035049394.jpg?v=1746328892"},{"product_id":"never-by-rick-astley-9781035049417","title":"Never","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe instant Sunday Times bestseller\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'A straight-talking yet frequently astonishing memoir' - The Times\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'A book as idiosyncratic as it is nostalgic' - The Observer\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhen \u003cem\u003eNever Gonna Give You Up\u003c\/em\u003e propelled Rick Astley into the pop stratosphere, it irrevocably changed his life. Nothing could have prepared the boy from Lancashire for what was in store for him.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt just nineteen years old, Rick agreed to sign with legendary production team Stock Aitken Waterman, giving him a peek into the mechanics of the music industry and eventually leading him to platinum-selling albums and global tours. To outsiders, it would appear that the world was at Rick's feet. Then, suddenly, at the height of his fame, it wasn't.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBehind the hits and the glitz and glamour was a young man coming to terms with his newfound fame, the realities of a career in the pop-music machine and the pressures of life on the road, not to mention the fallout from a childhood spent torn between divorced parents in a volatile family dynamic. Time away from the industry offered Rick room for much-needed reflection - and, unknowingly, helped set the stage for his triumphant return to music.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is Rick's story, in his own words.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Macmillan Publishers New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46761002139884,"sku":"9781035049417","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/14014933482556.jpg?v=1756184869"},{"product_id":"never-by-rick-astley-9781035049400","title":"Never","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFame didn't actually make me happy. I was an insecure twenty-year-old and being famous made things worse back then. It was an era all about the way you looked, and I still don't know how I squeezed through. I did enjoy myself for a lot of it, but at some point, you're looking in the mirror and going: 'Is this it, then?' Clichéd as this sounds, success is never going to mend something that is broken. You just have to work that out for yourself. And something was a bit broken in me - I think it is with almost everybody who gets on the stage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhen \u003cem\u003eNever Gonna Give You Up\u003c\/em\u003e propelled Rick Astley into the pop stratosphere, it irrevocably altered his life's trajectory. Nothing could have prepared the young, unassuming Lancashire lad for what was in store for him. What followed was a whirlwind of TV appearances, fame, worldwide tours, bestselling albums, and media scrutiny. But, after only six years in the business, having sold millions of records globally, Rick made a major life decision to retire, choosing family over fame. Time out of the industry offered him room for much-needed reflection and therapy – and unknowingly helped to set the stage for his triumphant return to music.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Macmillan Publishers New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48243348013292,"sku":"9781035049400","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781035049400-never-1.jpg?v=1787983863"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/rick-astley.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}