Rick Astley breaks down in tears on stage as he talks about his 'unconventional' childhood | Mirror Online - Mirror Online

Singer Rick Astley was left in tears in front of a live audience as he revealed his 'unconventional' childhood.

The pop icon is on a brief tour around the UK to promote his new tell-all book, Never, which includes personal anecdotes from his formative years in Newton-le-Willows that ultimately led to his breakthrough success in the 1980s. During an emotional evening at Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool he spoke frankly about his 'unconventional' childhood and turbulent relationship with his parents.

In conversation with Nihal Arthanayake, the 58 year old singer shared that after his parents' passing, he sought the blessing of his family and siblings to discuss their joint history in his memoir. Rick revealed: "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 delved into his family history, recounting how his parents had five children and lost the second child to meningitis - a tragedy he feels they never truly got over, leading to their divorce when he was only five. From there, he and his siblings were brought up by their father.

Rick candidly 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.", reports the Liverpool Echo.

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He also detailed the erratic behaviour of his father, including temper struggles and mood swings where "one minute he would be really happy, singing Frank Sinatra and whistling how life was great, and the next he would be unbelievably dark." Meanwhile, the family home was swapped for a rudimentary cabin amidst a field during a venture in setting up a garden centre.

In terms of school life, Rick didn't hold back: "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 turbulence, Rick spoke about his intricate feelings towards his father; amid the chaos, their father's love was unmistakable.

In Rick's words: "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." As he speaks about his passion for music and the upward trajectory of his career, emotions run high. He recounts seeking "normality" during a time when he did not want to "live in a tin box in a field".

Soon after his 1987 hit "Never Gonna Give You Up" took off a local bank manager in Warrington had him over to enlighten him about the substantial sum accumulating in his account. During this recollection, he visibly struggles with emotion. He confides: "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."

Continuing with a surge of emotion, he expresses a profound realisation: "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 crowd reacts with heartfelt applause, offering cheers in a show of solidarity as he momentarily breaks to sip some water and dab at his tears.

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