In brief
Robbie Williams, back on the road after three decades in entertainment, released his new album 'Britpop' which has achieved his 16th number one and broken records previously held by The Beatles. In an interview, he expresses a desire to fully embrace his success rather than undermine it, reflecting on his experiences from the Britpop era, his personal battles with mental health, and his hopes for future projects, including unique hotel venues and educational initiatives.
After more than three decades in entertainment, Robbie Williams is back on the road and ready to celebrate. His new album, 'Britpop,' is his 16th number one, breaking a record previously set by the Beatles. The singer, whose Long 90s tour begins this week, takes a moment to mark this achievement. I think as British people we're very good at piercing the balloon of our own success and undercutting it and devaluing ourselves, he shares with BBC News. However, with this venture, he expresses a desire to let the success sink in and celebrate it. The tour will feature smaller venues reminiscent of his earlier solo career, as he aims to reconnect with his roots. Williams notes that 'Britpop' reflects the album he wanted to create when he first left Take That, featuring collaborations with former bandmate Gary Barlow, Gaz Coombes from Supergrass, and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi. Despite the professional gains during the Britpop era, Williams candidly discusses his battle with depression during that time, stating, I was going through my own mental illness... they can't experience joy and there were lots of incredible things happening and I couldn't experience joy from any of it. Looking back fondly on those years, he reminisces about the impact of the '90s on popular culture, contrasting it with the 'vanilla' nature of more recent years. Williams has opened up about his previous struggles with stage fright, asserting that he found clarity with the arrival of his first child, daughter Theodora, who was born in 2012. He reflects on how embracing responsibility changed his perspective and appreciates his career more deeply now that it involves creating joy for others. With a history marked by conflict with the media, Williams feels a renewed sense of happiness being back in the UK. He appreciates the current peace in his life, noting, I'm left alone just to put my songs out and be married. As he contemplates the future, he expresses ambitious plans, stating, I want to build hotels with my own venues in and then I want to play my own hotels, and considers founding a 'university of entertainment' to revolutionize the educational landscape. The journey continues, with 'Britpop' now available and the Long 90s tour underway.
