How I got to meet one of the greatest pop stars of the 80's by Scott Curnow

Scott & Rick Astley

Here's my story of how I got to meet one of the greatest pop stars of the 80's!

I've always been a big fan of 80's music, mostly the music of song writing trio Stock/Aitken/Waterman. But it was singer Rick Astley that really took my interest.

Since starting at the age of around 3 listening to Rick Astley singles at home with mum and playing drums on the kitchen stools, trying to sing My Arms Keep Missing You, my interest has only grown. I've spent many weekends at record fairs, music shops and online tracking down Rick records and cds and anything else i could find.

I've researched the rise of his career in books such as 'The Hit Factory' by Mike Stock, and Phil Harding's book 'PWL From The Factory Floor' each detail his success in the 80s and departure from PWL.

I never thought Rick would ever come to Australia, I'd heard in several interviews about his fear of flying and it seemed that Australia would be to far to travel. My surprise when I heard that he would be touring along the east coast of Australia got me so excited, I immediately set to book tickets at one of his shows and got second row centre tickets at his Penrith concert!

My next big step was to try and find where Rick might be whilst in Sydney to try and say hello and meet the great man himself. This was not easy, after sending several emails I wasn't having much luck, but a friend informed me that Rick was appearing at ABC radio one morning at 7:30. So i went to the ABC building with records and pen in hand standing at the front door awaiting Rick. He didn't show, and had come in the back entrance, but the next thing I knew someone from the radio had heard I was outside and was taking me up to meet him. They then told me that they wanted me to join him on radio as one of his fans, WOW!!

I was taken into the studio and there I was standing next to Rick Astley! I was asked about how I got into Rick Astley and showed some of my records and he seemed pretty impressed. Once done we went out to have some photos taken and I asked if Rick would sign some records for me, he was more than happy to.

What a great guy, so kind and polite, not what you would expect a pop star to be like, he had time to talk to his fans and was a pleasure to talk with. The old saying that one should never meet there idols, as you may face disappointment was not happening here.

I attended his show at Penrith with some friends, and what an awesome night it really was. I sang along to every Rick Astley song, trying to do my best Rick dance moves.

I was very lucky to of gotten the chance to meet him and this will be one of my best memories for a long time :)

Here's the link to some of the interview with Rick on ABC 702

By Scott Curnow

Interview Link: First Impressions: Rick Astley

Great interview with Rick Astley from http://www.lady.co.uk

Review from the Music & Me. Blog: Rick Astley Live @ The Enmore Theatre

Check out this fantastic review & video on Rick's Sydney show @ the Enmore Theatre, 25th November from the Music & Me. blog by Matthew Hocter.

There are some awesome reviews of other live shows & albums as well!

Video: Rick Astley Hits Medley

Check out this Rick Astley Medley vidow, found by Mavi & posted on YouTube by Sexfactor17

 

Review: Fans melt once more for king of '80s cheese

A not very flattering review by a journo who attended Rick's Enmore Theatre, Sydney concert.

RICK ASTLEY
Enmore Theatre, November 25

Date published: Tuesday 27th November, 2012
From: The Sydney Morning Herald
Reviewed by George Palathingal

IF YOU'VE been wondering what '80s sensation Rick Astley has been doing for much of the past 25 years - and a packed Enmore Theatre on this night remarkably suggests many have - the answer became clear very quickly: he's been doing this.

Photo: Getty Images

Not just playing the hits (or, arguably, hit, in Never Gonna Give You Up) that made him enormous for what seemed like about 10 minutes in 1987 and throwing in occasionally familiar later material and covers to fill out the set. He has been playing them to crowds present to hear that song and maybe a couple of others (Together Forever, Cry for Help) and developing an engaging stage persona to deal with them.

Looking as though he hadn't aged a day in a quarter of a century, the 46-year-old Astley fired off one-liners and self-deprecating put downs before anyone else got the chance.


''Ladies, if you've got a handbag, put it on the bloody floor,'' he demanded, knowing certain songs belong on trashy nightclub dance floors in '80s Britain.

When a fan in the front row held up an old album sleeve to sign, he acknowledged its old picture, mid-song, with ''I've still got the wig''.

He even told us when it was a good time to go to the bar or toilet before playing a new or more obscure tune.

It was RSL-type entertainment, basically - as memorable for the amusing (and notably profane) banter between songs as the hits - performed by a man who, having spent the previous night in more familiar surrounds in Rooty Hill, acknowledged his gratitude at getting to do his thing in a proper gig venue.

Of course, the majority of the music pretty much defined ''disposable pop'', all faux-funk guitars, cheesy synths and Astley's foghorn croon, although there was a surprise when he took to the drum kit to proficiently play and sing AC/DC's Highway to Hell.

Then again, the evening was never about high-quality songwriting or spectacular musicianship - it was about taking you back in time and putting a smile on your face. And in that regard, Astley was never gonna let you down.

Review: Yvette's Rick Astley Canberra Concert Review

Check out this awesome review of Rick's Canberra  performance by Yvette from the Look What I Made blog!

Photos: RICK ASTLEY, Evan Theatre - Penrith Panthers 23 November 2012

Check out Rockchique Photography's photos from Rick's Even Theatre show @ the Penrith Panthers!


Photos: RICK ASTLEY, Evan Theatre - Penrith Panthers 23 November 2012 -
http://rockclub40.ning.com/profiles/blogs/photos-rick-astley-evan-theatre-penrith-panthers-23-november-2012