Robbie Williams has candidly described himself as the "smuggest person that ever lived" during his peak fame days with the iconic boyband Take That. The Rock DJ hitmaker made this striking confession while performing on stage at the O2 Academy Brixton on Sunday night, as part of his limited series of gigs for the Long 90s Tour.
Concert Confessions and Reflections
The 51-year-old music legend belted out tunes from his debut solo album Life Thru A Lens and his latest record Britpop during the intimate performance. Kicking off the show with Lazy Days, he followed up with a string of classic hits including Let Me Entertain You, Angels, All My Life and Morrissey, captivating the audience with his signature showmanship.
Documentary Revelations and Apologies
Before launching into Ego a Go Go, which he revealed is about his former Take That bandmate Gary Barlow, Williams reflected on the recently aired Netflix documentary about the boyband. He confessed openly to the crowd: "What an a**hole I am in episode two. The smuggest person that has ever lived in the world. Gary Barlow was supposed to be mean but I am f****** mean. A horrible d***head I was."
Williams shared that he has since apologised to Barlow "a million times," demonstrating his commitment to honesty and personal growth. He added with characteristic candour: "It's not nice now but it was f****** fun at the time," acknowledging the complex emotions surrounding his past behaviour.
Fan Appreciation and Career Reflections
Following a rousing rendition of Angels, Williams took a heartfelt moment to express profound gratitude to his fans for their unwavering support throughout his career. He likened their loyalty to that of dedicated football supporters, musing: "What I managed to do is stretch, with my career, an elastic band from Stoke-on-Trent to the moon."
The singer continued with philosophical reflection: "It feels like the simulation theory might be real. It feels like The Matrix may exist, because I'm not supposed to be here with 16 number one albums. At some point in these 36 years, you guys decided that I am your football team. And I f****** love being your football team. Thank you f****** much."
Intimate Tour Settings and Chart Success
Despite his proven ability to pack out massive arenas worldwide, Williams deliberately chose smaller, more intimate venues for this particular tour. The series began last week at Glasgow's Barrowland Ballroom, followed by a Liverpool performance on Friday evening. Following his London show, Williams will conclude the brief concert series with a final performance at Wolverhampton's Civic Hall on Monday evening.
Williams released his 13th studio album Britpop in January, arriving three weeks ahead of its original schedule. The album shot straight to the top of the charts, marking his remarkable 16th solo number one achievement. This accomplishment established a new record for the most UK number one albums, including compilations and soundtracks, surpassing his previous tie with The Beatles.
Collaborations and Career Highlights
The latest album features impressive collaborations with musical heavyweights including Coldplay's Chris Martin, Supergrass's Gaz Coombes, Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi and Williams' former Take That bandmate Gary Barlow. Prior to his massively successful solo career, Williams first rose to fame as part of the phenomenally popular boyband Take That, who delivered numerous hit tracks including Pray, Everything Changes and Sure.
Documentary Exploration and Biopic Release
In 2023, Williams' extraordinary life story was explored in depth through a self-titled Netflix documentary series that examined his well-documented battles with addiction and mental health challenges. Last year also saw the release of the innovative biopic Better Man, where Williams is portrayed by a CGI chimpanzee, reflecting his own view of himself as a "performing monkey."
Other albums that have topped the charts throughout his illustrious career include I've Been Expecting You (1998), Sing When You're Winning (2000), Escapology (2002), Intensive Care (2005) and Rudebox (2006), cementing his status as one of Britain's most successful and enduring musical artists.
