Rick Astley chats TRNSMT as he opens up about his first solo show in Scotland

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

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

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

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

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

He laughed: “I’m fine with that. It opened some doors.”

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

On previous visits to Glasgow he has been to Taylor Ferguson Hair Salon for a haircut.

Meanwhile, elsewhere at the megafestival, Scottish singer Ili said it felt like a reunion of sorts when she met up with Dylan John Thomas backstage.

Ili, whose real name is Emily Middlemas, recalled the days when she was starting out in music, when former street artist Dylan John Thomas was also starting out as a musician.

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

“It’s like a big networking event. You meet people from all over. Glasgow is so cool and it’s small, but we all support each other in the music scene.”

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

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