Rick Astley is releasing a limited edition 7” single of his classic hit Never Gonna Give You Up in celebration of the track hitting one billion views on YouTube. 

The music video for the star’s breakout hit passed the milestone on July 29, with Rick unveiling the signed blue vinyl edition. 

It’s one of a handful of videos from the pre-YouTube era that have reached a billion views: A-Ha’s Take On Me and Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody are among the popular clips. 

Reflecting on the achievement, Rick says: “I am kind of a big deal.”

Recorded when he was just 21, the track – written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman – was a UK and US No. 1 hit and the best-selling British single of 1987. 

Alongside the single, which is backed with the ‘Pianoforte’ version of the song, as originally featured on his 2019 compilation ‘The Best of Me’, Rick will soon also release a new mini documentary about the video. 

It features new interviews with Rick, Pete Waterman and Mike Stock, video producer Andy Picheta, and director Simon West.

‘Never Gonna Give You Up’, limited to 2,500 copies, is out August 14 and available to pre-order now.