Rick Astley breaks down in tears on stage as he admits 'music saved his life'

The 80s icon, who is currently on a UK tour to promote his autobiography, was visibly emotional

Rick Astley received a warm reception from fans as he opened up about his Merseyside upbringing during an emotional appearance at the Philharmonic Hall. The 58-year-old star, who is currently on a UK tour promoting his autobiography Never, shared candid stories about his unconventional childhood and complicated relationship with his parents.

In a conversation with broadcaster Nihal Arthanayake, Rick revealed that he had obtained permission from his family to share their experiences, saying: "I wouldn't say I've been given a green light, but you know, it's a difficult thing because it's their story as well. But I think, when you see the videos of me when I was 21, sort of shuffling around - the kind of brightness of those videos and those songs, it's kind of hard to believe I was raised the way I was."

He went on to explain that his parents, who had five children, never fully recovered from the loss of their second child to meningitis, leading to their divorce when Rick was just five-years-old. Rick shared: "My dad had some issues with, probably, mental health. I think if he'd been diagnosed today he'd have gone in for treatment, and that wouldn't be an issue today. But going back a generation there was no way he was going to do that."

He described his father's struggle with mood swings, saying one moment he could be "really happy, singing Frank Sinatra and whistling how life was great, and the next he would be unbelievably dark."

His father's actions led to the family home being sold and Rick and his brothers living in a temporary cabin in a field while their dad established a garden centre, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Rick recalled the embarrassment of school peers mocking him, saying: "In the summer holidays it was great, but the minute you had to go back to school, and there's someone shouting from the back of the class 'Miss, Rick Astley lives in a tin hut', it's a bit embarrassing to say the least."

Despite the challenges, Rick spoke candidly about his complex feelings towards his father, acknowledging that despite the unsettling behaviour, his love for his children was evident. He added: "I actually think if he was a pure b****** all the time it would have been easier to deal with, but the fact that he really loved us and showed us that as well was what was really psychologically hard to get your head around."

When he starts to talk about his passion for music and the early success he found in the industry, he becomes visibly moved. He recounts seeking "normality" rather than a life in "live in a tin box in a field" and how he hoped to find stability through music, using the adoration from audiences to compensate for the absence of parental support.

He recalls an incident shortly after his 1987 hit 'Never Gonna Give You Up' was released, when a local bank manager in Warrington invited him to see the contents of his bank account. Overcome with emotion, he remembers being shown an overwhelming amount of money.

"I go upstairs and he says to me, 'do you know what's in your account? ' - and he showed me what was in my account and it was A LOT of money. I was 21 - maybe just turned 22 even - and it was a stupid amount, like winning the lottery."

He reflects on the significance of that moment: "And I thought I'm saved. Music has just saved me. I don't have to go back and live in that way ever again, this is my life now and I can choose what I want. It meant a lot to me, because music had saved my life."

The audience responds with applause and cheers of encouragement as he pauses to take a sip of water and dab at his eyes. This display of vulnerability isn't the last time he'll share such moments with his fans, who cherish him all the more for his openness.

Rick Astley opened up about his first trip to London with Pete Waterman, who was instrumental in catapulting him to fame. He reminisced about his journeys to LA, the surreal experience of being invited for tea by Sir Elton John, and the moment at 27 when he confided in Tony Henderson, his Liverpool-born former manager, that he couldn't handle the pressure of the industry.

Henderson did something remarkable; as Rick becomes emotional, he recalls: "A lot of managers would probably have given me a few drinks, probably put a tablet in one of them and said 'I'll get you to New York however I have to to get you there', but he didn't. He took me home, because he's a good guy."

Despite some difficult times in childhood, it's evident Rick has surrounded himself and his family with tremendous joy and love. In the second segment of his show, where audience members asked questions, he humorously divulged that the key to his excellent hair is rarely washing it and wittily claimed "Nivea for men" as the secret behind his youthful appearance.

The artist expressed his fervent passion for music, noting that not a single day passes without him spending time in the studio. Reflecting on his unforgettable experience at Glastonbury in 2023, he said: "I was on a massive shot of adrenaline that day, and if I had been pulled to one side at the end of that weekend and been told 'that's you done Rick, you have to go away now', I could have signed off on that weekend, said 'thanks very much I'll take that'."

Considering the crowd's euphoric response that night, it appears certain that Rick is here to stay for the long haul.