Robbie Williams: If Social Media Had Existed in the '90s, It Would Have Been My Downfall
Robbie Williams expresses a candid view about British self-deprecation and its impact on success. In a recent conversation, he shared that after an impressive thirty-plus years in the entertainment industry, he is gearing up for his Long 90s tour, which kicks off this week. This tour isn't just a musical journey; it's a moment for him to reflect on and celebrate his accomplishments.
He remarked to BBC News, "As British individuals, we excel at deflating our own achievements and making ourselves feel less worthy. It's almost like a national pastime, and while it has its merits, it can also hold us back. However, with this tour, I genuinely want to embrace my success and say, 'Alright, let’s see what success brings me.'"
This upcoming tour will focus on smaller venues reminiscent of his early days as a solo artist, capturing the essence of where his career began. At the age of 51, Williams reflects fondly on his aspirations during his departure from Take That, particularly wanting to create an album that resonated with the Britpop movement.
In this album, he collaborates with several notable figures, including his former bandmate Gary Barlow, Gaz Coombes from Supergrass, and legendary Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi. Yet, despite achieving remarkable success during the Britpop era, he admits to grappling with significant personal challenges, particularly mental health struggles that cast a shadow over his accomplishments.
He explained, "During that time, I was battling my own mental illness, and when you're engulfed in depression, you find it nearly impossible to appreciate the good things happening around you. Despite enjoying incredible milestones, I couldn’t relish any of it. But reflecting on those years now, I realize that it was a remarkable decade. The '90s were truly the last vibrant decade in popular culture—everything after feels quite bland. We vividly recall the defining moments of the '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, and of course, the '90s, making it a unique era, even if it was difficult personally."
Williams has been open about experiencing stage fright throughout his career, often feeling paralyzed with fear before performing. The birth of his first child, daughter Theodora (affectionately called Teddy) in 2012, marked a turning point for him. He noted, "Everything started to align when she came into my life. I realized I had been avoiding responsibility instead of embracing it. When my focus shifted from myself to caring for her, I recognized how fortunate I am to have my job."
Having weathered tumultuous interactions with the British media in his early solo career, he now feels a renewed sense of happiness being back in the UK. "It’s common knowledge that when you're riding high, the media is quick to tear you down and scrutinize your every move. That pressure was immense and came with its own set of difficulties. However, that chapter is behind me. I’m in a much more peaceful place now—free to share my music and enjoy my marriage. There are no paparazzi hounding me day in and day out, which is what I envisioned when I started my career at sixteen. Now, I'm truly having a wonderful time."
Interestingly, he reflects on the fact that social media wasn’t a factor during his rise to fame, and he believes it would have posed significant challenges for him. "I tend to get overly focused on the negative aspects—it's a common trait we all have. I sometimes wonder if there's something in our wiring that prompts us to seek out problems or threats to mitigate them."
As for the perennial question of whether he might rejoin Take That, the group that launched his career, he shares his fondness for the band. He mentioned having an "overwhelming feeling of love for the boys" after watching their recent documentary and hinted at the possibility of them "riding again" together.
Marking February 13, which coincides with both Robbie's birthday and the 30th anniversary of Take That’s split (the first time), he humorously recalls, "On that day in 1996, I was busy buying a Scalextric from Harrods. Not exactly the rock star lifestyle people might expect!"
After setting records previously held by The Beatles and winning more Brit Awards than any other artist, I asked him what his future ambitions entail. He responded enthusiastically, "I aim to build hotels that feature my own venues. I want to perform at my own hotels! Additionally, I dream of establishing a university dedicated to entertainment, with a curriculum I’ve already designed. It would be my way of turning the tables on education since I didn’t exactly excel academically when I left school with just a D grade."
If there’s ever an opportunity to enroll in Robbie Williams’ university, count us in!
