After more than three decades in the entertainment industry, Robbie Williams is back on tour and celebrating the release of his new album, Britpop, which marks his 16th number one, breaking the previous record held by the Beatles. As he prepares for his Long 90s tour, Williams takes a moment to reflect on his career and the cultural attitudes of the British people towards success.
In a conversation with BBC News, he remarked, I think as British people we're very good at piercing the balloon of our own success and undercutting it and devaluing ourselves. It's what we do best. In many ways, it's why we're great. He expressed his desire to fully embrace success this time and not shy away from it, saying, I really want to let it sink in and I really want to stand in the middle of it and go, 'OK, success, do your thing to me.'
The tour will feature smaller venues, reminiscent of his early solo days. Williams shared that Britpop is an album he wished to create after leaving Take That and features collaborations with former bandmate Gary Barlow, Gaz Coombes from Supergrass, and Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi.
Looking back at the Britpop era, Williams recalls experiencing success amid deep personal struggles. I was going through my own mental illness then... I couldn't experience joy from any of it, he reflected. However, he now appreciates that decade for its cultural impact, contrasting it with recent times, which he describes as 'vanilla.'
Williams, who previously battled stage fright, found clarity when his daughter was born in 2012, realizing that his life should revolve around responsibilities rather than fame. Now, he's enjoying a more serene lifestyle back in the UK, free from the intense scrutiny of the media that characterized his earlier career. He mentions, Everybody knows that if you are on the crest of a wave, the media comes to bring you down and malign you at every opportunity they can. But now, I'm in a different place.
While contemplating his future, Robbie aims to build hotels with venues within them and to revolutionize education through a university of entertainment. With excitement about what's to come, he quipped, Sign us up for the university of Robbie Williams. The singer maintains his unwavering passion for music as he embarks on this new chapter, highlighting that his journey continues to evolve with fresh aspirations and grounded reflections.
In a conversation with BBC News, he remarked, I think as British people we're very good at piercing the balloon of our own success and undercutting it and devaluing ourselves. It's what we do best. In many ways, it's why we're great. He expressed his desire to fully embrace success this time and not shy away from it, saying, I really want to let it sink in and I really want to stand in the middle of it and go, 'OK, success, do your thing to me.'
The tour will feature smaller venues, reminiscent of his early solo days. Williams shared that Britpop is an album he wished to create after leaving Take That and features collaborations with former bandmate Gary Barlow, Gaz Coombes from Supergrass, and Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi.
Looking back at the Britpop era, Williams recalls experiencing success amid deep personal struggles. I was going through my own mental illness then... I couldn't experience joy from any of it, he reflected. However, he now appreciates that decade for its cultural impact, contrasting it with recent times, which he describes as 'vanilla.'
Williams, who previously battled stage fright, found clarity when his daughter was born in 2012, realizing that his life should revolve around responsibilities rather than fame. Now, he's enjoying a more serene lifestyle back in the UK, free from the intense scrutiny of the media that characterized his earlier career. He mentions, Everybody knows that if you are on the crest of a wave, the media comes to bring you down and malign you at every opportunity they can. But now, I'm in a different place.
While contemplating his future, Robbie aims to build hotels with venues within them and to revolutionize education through a university of entertainment. With excitement about what's to come, he quipped, Sign us up for the university of Robbie Williams. The singer maintains his unwavering passion for music as he embarks on this new chapter, highlighting that his journey continues to evolve with fresh aspirations and grounded reflections.
