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The history of the Rick Roll is built on surprises—and knowing we drove you here by rickrolling you? That’s just staying true to the legacy. But don’t click away just yet—we’ve put together a full breakdown of how a 1987 pop hit became the internet’s most iconic bait-and-switch.
It’s strange, hilarious, and kind of brilliant.
So if you want the full story on Never Gonna Give You Up, how Rick Astley became a meme legend, and why this joke still works after all these years—scroll down and read the real story behind the Rick Roll.
No more tricks. Just great storytelling.
Read the Full History of the Rick Roll ↓
It starts with a synth beat, a tan trench coat, and a promise: Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down…
What follows is one of the internet’s most iconic and enduring memes. The history of the Rick Roll is part pop culture, part prank, and part proof that a great idea—no matter how absurd—can take on a life of its own.
Let’s break down where it started, how it evolved, and why it’s still alive and well decades later.
Before it was a meme, it was a #1 song.
In 1987, British singer Rick Astley released Never Gonna Give You Up as his debut single. Written and produced by hitmakers Stock Aitken Waterman, the song topped charts in 25 countries and earned platinum status in the U.S. and UK.
The video? Classic ’80s pop: Astley’s deep baritone, awkward dance moves, pastel lighting, and an endlessly catchy hook.
What no one could have predicted: This video would become an internet weapon of mass distraction nearly 20 years later.
The roots of the Rick Roll trace back to 4chan, the anonymous imageboard where the concept of “link baiting” was already common.
The original bait-and-switch joke was called the Duck Roll—users would click on a hyped-up link, only to find a photoshopped image of a duck with wheels.
In 2007, someone replaced that duck with something even more absurd: Rick Astley dancing in a trench coat.
The first major Rick Roll used a fake link to a trailer for Grand Theft Auto IV that redirected to the music video. The prank caught on instantly. It was unexpected. Harmless. And somehow… delightful.
A Rick Roll is an internet prank where a hyperlink claims to lead to something relevant, important, or trending—but instead redirects the viewer to the Never Gonna Give You Up video.
It works because:
The setup is believable
The payoff is completely unrelated
The song is weirdly catchy
And you never really see it coming
It’s a pure bait-and-switch—wrapped in a smooth ’80s pop beat.
The history of the Rick Roll is really a story of perfect timing. Here’s why it stuck:
Nostalgia: The video tapped into retro kitsch that millennials and Gen Xers found hilarious.
Catchiness: The song is undeniably listenable, even if you don’t want it to be.
Wholesome trolling: It was a prank that didn’t hurt anyone—a rare thing online.
Viral infrastructure: YouTube and social media were just taking off, giving it endless distribution.
By April 1, 2008, YouTube had fully embraced the trend, redirecting every featured video on its homepage to Never Gonna Give You Up. It was the first time a meme had been institutionalized by a tech platform.
To his credit, Rick Astley handled the meme with humor and grace. He didn’t sue. He didn’t shut it down. He leaned into it.
Milestones:
2008: Rick Astley Rickrolled the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade live
2015: He Rickrolled Reddit with an acoustic version
2020: He recreated the music video from home for charity during COVID
Today: The original video has over 1.4 billion views on YouTube
Astley once said: “It’s a bit weird being part of something so global—but I’m not gonna complain.”
As the meme matured, it evolved beyond trolling. The Rick Roll became:
A punchline in shows like The Simpsons and Ted Lasso
A PR stunt for brands like Amazon, Google, Samsung, and the NBA
A running gag in Twitch streams, Zoom meetings, Discord channels, and TikTok
A form of nostalgic internet theater that still works in 2024
It became the gold standard of internet mischief.
History of the Rick Roll – Scene From the Music Video for Rick Astley – “Never Gonna Give You Up”
The history of the Rick Roll isn’t just about a song. It’s about what happens when creativity, technology, and a bit of chaos collide.
It’s a meme that:
Had staying power
Crossed generations
Transcended platforms
And still makes people smile
Most memes burn out. The Rick Roll? It just keeps rolling.
At ECG Productions, we help brands tell stories that stick—from viral hits to brand films with long-term value. If you want your next video to have the kind of recall that lasts decades, we’d love to help.
Contact us today and let’s make something that lives on—online and in people’s heads.
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1-855 787-4487
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info@ecgprod.com
CONTACT US
LET'S GET IN TOUCH
1-855 787-4487
Mon – Fri 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM EST
120 Interstate N Pkwy E SE #226
Atlanta, GA 30339
info@ecgprod.com
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