Imagine being at the peak of your career, yet feeling utterly empty inside. This is the paradox Robbie Williams experienced during the 90s, a decade he now reflects on with a mix of pride and pain. As he embarks on his Long 90s Tour and celebrates his 16th number-one album, Britpop, Williams opens up about the highs and lows of his journey, the impact of fatherhood, and why he believes social media would have been his downfall. But here's where it gets controversial: could the very self-deprecating nature of British culture, which Williams embodies, be both a blessing and a curse? And this is the part most people miss: how the era that gave us unforgettable cultural moments might also have been the backdrop for some of his darkest struggles.
After over three decades in the spotlight, Robbie Williams is not just reflecting—he’s redefining success. His latest album, Britpop, has shattered records, surpassing even The Beatles’ achievements. Yet, for Williams, this milestone is about more than numbers. “As British people, we’re experts at downplaying our own triumphs,” he tells BBC News with a wry smile. “It’s almost like we’re hardwired to pop the balloon of our success. But this time, I want to stand in the middle of it and let it wash over me.”
The Long 90s Tour marks a return to his roots, with Williams performing in smaller, intimate venues reminiscent of his early solo days. At 51, he reveals that Britpop is the album he’d always envisioned creating when he first parted ways with Take That. Collaborating with legends like Gary Barlow, Gaz Coombes, and Tony Iommi, the album is a love letter to an era that shaped him—both for better and worse.
Looking back at the 90s, Williams’ feelings are bittersweet. While he achieved monumental professional success, he was also battling severe depression. “When you’re in the grip of mental illness, even the greatest achievements feel hollow,” he recalls. “I was surrounded by incredible moments, but I couldn’t feel joy. Now, I look back and think, what a decade. It was the last truly distinctive era in pop culture. You can’t tell 2007 from 2023, but you’ll always know the 90s. It was an amazing time to have a bad time.”
Williams has been candid about his struggles with stage fright, describing the terror he felt before stepping on stage. But everything changed with the birth of his daughter, Theodora (Teddy), in 2012. “Fatherhood gave me purpose,” he explains. “I’d been running from responsibility my whole life, but when I finally embraced it, the world started to make sense. Realizing I have the best job in the world was a game-changer.”
Returning to the UK after years of turmoil with the British press, Williams feels a newfound sense of peace. “When you’re at the top, the media will do everything to tear you down,” he reflects. “But now, I’m in a different place. I’m left alone to create music, be a husband, and live my life without constant intrusion. It’s what I always dreamed of when I started this journey at 16.”
One modern challenge Williams is grateful to have avoided? Social media. “It would have seen me off,” he admits. “We’re all guilty of fixating on the negative, searching for problems to solve. I wonder if it’s human nature to seek out threats, even when they don’t exist.”
Of course, no conversation with Robbie Williams is complete without the question: will he ever rejoin Take That? With the band’s 30th anniversary approaching—and coincidentally, Williams’ birthday—the topic is more relevant than ever. “I absolutely loved the Netflix documentary about the band,” he shares. “It reminded me how much I love those boys. Who knows what the future holds?”
On February 13, 1996, the day Take That first split, Williams was buying a Scalextric set from Harrods—a far cry from the rockstar cliché. Today, with more Brit Awards than anyone else and a record-breaking album, what’s next for Robbie Williams? “I want to build hotels with my own venues inside and perform in them,” he reveals. “And I’ve got this idea for a university of entertainment—a syllabus that revolutionizes how we teach creativity. It’s my way of giving back and proving that you don’t need straight A’s to change the world.”
But here’s the real question: In an age of instant gratification and social media scrutiny, would a talent like Robbie Williams have survived—or thrived? Let’s discuss in the comments. And while you’re at it, go stream Britpop and relive the Long 90s Tour—because sometimes, the best way to understand the past is to celebrate it.
