Rick Astley TRNSMT chat as he opens up on first solo gig in Scotland

Rick Astley has revealed that Scotland was the first place he did a proper gig as a solo artist – before taking to the stage 36-years later at TRNSMT festival in Glasgow Green.

The 80s pop icon has told how first solo-show took place at the Edinburgh Playhouse in 1988.

Speaking to the Record ahead of his Saturday evening TRNSMT slot. The Never Gonna Give You Up hitmaker explained: “The first time I did a gig properly in Scotland was in the Edinburgh Playhouse in November or December 1988 and it was the first time I did a proper gig as me because obviously I’d been in bands but I’d never been out and done the proper gig.

“I don’t know why they chose Edinburgh as the first one but they did. We were full on. I’d had half a dozen hits by then. It was nice. I’ve got very fond memories.”

The star who has become a viral sensation in more recent years with Rickrolling – when you troll someone on the internet by linking to the music video for his 1987 hit song “Never Gonna Give You Up,” said he doesn’t mind when people try to do it to him.

He laughed: “I’m alright with it. It’s opened a few doors.”

The singer, whose original red hair is now black also said: “I’ve got something Celtic going on with my reddish hair.”

In previous visits to Glasgow he’s popped into Taylor Ferguson Hair Salon to get his hair done.

Meanwhile elsewhere at the mega-festival, Scots singer Ili said she felt it was like a bit of a reunion as she caught up with Dylan John Thomas backstage.

Ili whose real name is Emily Middlemas, reminisced about the days she started out in music when former busker Dylan John Thomas was also beginning as a musician.

She explained: “Dylan John Thomas is unbelievable. I’ve known him since I was a wee girl, since we were both younger, so it’s really nice to see him up on the main stage.

“It’s like one big massive networking event. You bump into people left right and centre. Glasgow is so nice and it’s small but we all support one another in the music scene.”

The Tongue Tied and It’s Giving singer says she also hopes to be able to play the main stage next year.

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