"When 'Never Gonna Give You Up' 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. At 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. At 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 new-found 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."--Amazon.