Rick Astley has admitted that he should 'hang' for what he’s about to do on the stage at Glastonbury this evening.
And no, he’s not about to perform a set and not play either ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ or ‘Together Forever’, so don’t worry about that.
In fact, he already did those two classics on the Pyramid Stage today in the earlier 12:00pm slot.
Not content with just the one set, however, Rick is going to be back this evening, playing in a recently announced secret slot with some unlikely companions.
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He’ll be playing with Stockport indie sensations Blossoms.
But wait, there’s another twist still.
They’re going to be playing a set that will be entirely covers of The Smiths.
That’s got to be worth a watch, hasn’t it?
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Even just out of sheer morbid curiosity, you have to admit you’re intrigued, right?
If you’re at Glastonbury – honestly get off your phone if you are – then head on over to the Woodsies Stage at around 6:00pm tonight if you want to catch Rick and Blossoms doing their unusual thing.
Otherwise, the task is a lot easier.
Just fire up the BBC coverage – it’ll be on the iPlayer for sure – and get stuck in.
Now, Rick knows that not everyone is going to get on board with this, but in an interview with NME, he admitted that he also doesn’t care.
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It’s a different situation for Blossoms, who are younger and in the prime of their careers, but they don’t seem to mind either, to be quite honest.
Speaking about the covers set, Astley said: “I can’t tell you how much I love doing this,
“I know it’s sacrilege and they should hang the lot of us on the line for doing it, but I also just don’t care.
“I’m 57. I’ve talked it over with the guys from Blossoms many times and said, ‘If at any moment any of you decide that you don’t want to do this, just holler’.
“They’re in the middle of their career, four albums in. I’ve got nothing to lose. You can hang me, you can do whatever you want. It doesn’t matter.”
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Astley then added: “I’ve had an unbelievable time in music and I’m ever so grateful for it.
“I’m aware of how fickle it is, how you can be totally out in the desert and no one will pick up the phone or let you in the building.
“It’s a delicate thing playing those songs because they mean so much to people. They mean so much to me and the guys too.
“We bonded over that fact.”
This isn’t the first time they’ve done this, and Johnny Marr and Morrissey have even had a say.
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Morrissey wrote: “Anything that generates interest in that tired old Smiths warhorse is testimony to the wallop it packed”.
Yep, that’s Moz.
After Marr admitted that he wasn’t best pleased not to be told about it, describing it as ‘funny and horrible at the same time’, he’s since softened and said he now ‘[has] no problem’ with it.
Astley continued: “I’ve never met Johnny Marr and I daresay our paths may never cross, but I get it.
“I don’t know how I’d feel about it if I was Johnny Marr.
“What can you say? It’s his work and his life, but it doesn’t seem like they’re ever getting back together – so there are either bands who go out there and do it, or… It’s a difficult one, but I did it from a place of absolute joy and love for those songs.
“If we burn in hell for doing it, then we’ll have to live with that.
“The audiences that we’ve done it for in the past have always got it, got involved and loved it.
“You’re either a Smiths fan or you’re not, and if you are then it’s very hallowed ground.
“Learning the songs reaffirms how great but individual they were as a band.
“Yes, it was a Marmite situation. I’ve got loads of friends who do not understand it, but they’re in a poorer world because of it.
“We just have to do it with love and hope people get that.”
Between 6:00pm and 7:00pm on the Woodsies stage today, we’ll find out how they get on.
Topics: Celebrity, Music, UK News, Weird, Glastonbury
Tom Wood