It's back in the spotlight yet again for eighties icon Rick Astley who - ahead of taking to the stage at Glastonbury at the weekend - announced a new album and a new tour which will bring him to Newcastle.
The Never Gonna Give You Up star, who opened Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage on Saturday, is to play the Utilita Arena in the city next February, with tickets now on general sale. And, in a further treat for his local fans, Astley will be joined in Newcastle by fellow eighties favourite Belinda Carlisle as his special guest.
Astley, now 57, continues to amass a huge following, having first hit the big time 36 years ago; going on to perform over the years with new big names from Foo Fighters to Take That and becoming something of a social media sensation. In 2016 the singer was back at number one in the charts with '50' and has since enjoyed the strongest run of album chart positions of his whole career.
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His upcoming new studio album - Are We There Yet? - is his ninth. It's due out on October 6 and he said of its title: "Now, that phrase has multiple meanings. Are we there yet in my musical ambitions? Am I done with my career? Have we arrived? Or are we still travelling?”
The album, which he wrote, recorded and produced in his home studio, is another step in what continues to prove an extraordinary journey for the singer and it sees him reflect upon his experiences since the release in 2018 of Beautiful Life. It includes songs, such as Blue Sky, that he started during 2020's lockdown while others were the result of feeling invigorated when celebrating the music of The Smiths during shows with pop band Blossoms.
And then there are more inspired by his North America arena tour with New Kids On The Block, Salt ‘N’ Pepa and En Vogue when he recalls that while on the roads stretching between tour locations he'd be thinking 'are we there yet?'
Time spent in America's heartland left its effect and in the album Astley puts his feelgood spin on the Memphis soul tradition as well as old school R&B. He added: “It’s not Americana but the tag-line at the start of the chorus is ‘dipping my feet in the Mississippi River'. It’s definitely not country but I’ve never twanged a guitar as much as I have in the past couple of months.
"And there’s a bit more emotion with those guitar parts. I just think spending five months in America has re-tuned my ear a little bit.” Astley's new headline tour will get under way in November with two dates at London’s Royal Albert Hall, when his special guest will be The Feeling, then the big arena dates - with Belinda Carlisle, solo star and as well as lead singer with rock band The Go-Go's - will follow in 2024. Here's the full list of dates.
Rick Astley tour dates
2023
November 1 and 2 - London Royal Albert Hall
2024
February 22 - Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena
February 23 - Newcastle, Utilita Arena
February 24 - Leeds, First Direct Arena
February 26 - Cardiff, International Arena
February 27 - Glasgow, OVO Hydro
February 29 - Bournemouth International Centre
March 1 - Birmingham, Resorts World Arena
March 2 - Manchester, AO Arena
Are We There Yet will have a digital release and will be available as a CD, including with a signed postcard option. Anyone who has pre-ordered the album will have access to pre-sale for tour tickets from 9.30am on June 21. Tickets go on general sale from 9.30am on Friday, June 23. Keep an eye out at www.gigsandtours.com and www.ticketmaster.co.uk.
