Motown music influences British singer Rick Astley

By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
September 12, 1989

British singer Rick Astley says he has no illusions about being a musician or a pop star.

“I count myself as a singer,” said Astley, 23. “I can get by on the guitar and keyboards to write my songs, and I’m a good drummer, but I’m not good enough to refer to myself as a totally well-rounded musician. Becoming a musician is something I’d like to become. It’s one of my long-term goals. But I’m still quite young and have time to grow into it.”

Astley will perform songs from his latest album, “Hold Me in Your Arms,” at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Poplar Creek Music Theater in Hoffman Estates (559-1212).

During a recent interview in a Chicago hotel, Astley looked younger than 23. Casually dressed in blue jeans, a denim shirt and well-worn, black cowboy boots, and with his short, red hair brushed back in a mild pompadour, Astley sipped on a cup of tea.

After the interview, he would change into tennis whites to play a few sets with his friend and personal assistant, Tops Henderson.

Astley made it big two years ago with his debut album, “Whenever You Need Somebody,” which spawned the hit singles “Together Forever” and “Never Gonna Give You Up.” Since then, he said, he has had a difficult time being taken seriously by music critics.

Part of the problem was that his debut record was produced by the team of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. Those three also produced Bananarama and Samantha Fox, who often are regarded as manufactured pop stars with little musical talent. Astley, who writes many of his songs, was dismissed by some critics as the production team’s male version of Fox.

“Do I regret having done the record with Mike, Matt and Pete?” Astley asked. “No, I try not to dwell on things from the past. At the time I made the record, I wasn’t even 21. And frankly, the opportunity to record doesn’t come along that often for unknowns. So I didn’t think, `Well, perhaps I should wait for a more suitable offer.’ I wanted to record, and I stand by that album. I think it was a good first effort.

“If it hadn’t done well commercially, no one would have made a fuss about the fact that I had worked with people who made it big for Bananarama. But because radio played my songs a lot and my videos got on MTV, the whole thing was something for the press to write about. It gave them an angle.”

Another angle that most critics and fans can’t overlook is that the frail-looking Astley has a huge, booming voice. At his best, he sounds like the younger brother of any number of Motown artists. That is natural, Astley said, because many of the records he listened to as a child were made by black American vocalists.

“I have two older brothers and one older sister, so I ended up listening to a lot of their records,” he said. “I like a lot of Motown music, and a lot of black music is played in the clubs in London. That influence definitely rubbed off on me.” Astley’s latest single, “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg,” was a hit for the Temptations in 1966.

“In the beginning of my career, when people just heard my music, a lot of them assumed I was black,” he said. “I took it as a compliment when they thought my voice didn’t quite match my face. I guess I’ve always had a fairly deep voice. Ever since I can remember, I’ve had this big voice. And I loved making it sing. It was like a challenge to make it sound a certain way.”

Astley’s love for music didn’t include the stint he served in a church choir at age 10. He lasted about a month before begging out. Similarly, his piano lessons lasted only a short time before he found he enjoyed music more when he taught himself.

“I think some kids are suited for lessons, but I wasn’t one of them,” Astley said. “I have a relatively short attention span, and I don’t like being told what to do. I suppose that’s why I hated school so much, too.”

At 15, Astley tried to make his school life more bearable by forming his own rock ‘n’ roll band. Although he is known today for his romantic songs and clean-cut look, Astley looked like a bit of a hellion back then. He would dress in a leather biker’s jacket, wear his hair down to his shoulders and listen to very loud heavy-metal music by AC/DC, he said.

“What can I say?” Astley said, laughing. “People change! When you’re young and a kid, you think you can take on the world and all that sort of thing. And part of that whole attitude is reflected in how you dress and wear your hair. I was never serious about getting into a metal band or anything, but the metal attitude suited me at the time.”

Astley, who grew up just outside of Manchester, England, said his older brothers were a major influence. His parents divorced when he was 4, and the children lived with their father.

After spending the last two years living in London, Astley is looking for a home in the countryside. He likes to spend his free time with his Danish girlfriend, driving around in his BMW.

Astley says he has enough money to purchase more worldly goods, but he’s not about to go on wild spending sprees.

“I know it sounds corny, but the music is the most important part for me, not the fringe benefits,” he said. “It’s great that I can stay in nice hotels, and I appreciate it because I know that most people my age can’t afford to do that. But as long as I can have a nice bath at the end of the day and a bed to sleep in, I really don’t care where I’m at.”