Lead man back in the Here and Now

by CAROLINE KAY

IT'S hard to believe it's been more than 20 years since the soulful and powerful voice of a 21-year-old Rick Astley topped the charts with Never Gonna Give You Up.

The 80s heart-throb is now 42, married to film producer Lene Bausager and has a 16-year-old daughter.

In May, for the second year running, Astley will front the Here and Now tour, joining a host of artists who also hit it big in the 80s including Kim Wilde, Howard Jones, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Altered Images, Brother Beyond and Hazel O'Connor.

Astley was asked to join the tour again after the original frontman, Boy George, was jailed for 15 months after an indiscretion that hit the headlines full on.

"The acts for the Hear and Now tour are changed each year so I didn't think anything of it when I wasn't ask to take part again," said Astley. [continue]