Dramatic entertainment from the world’s greatest showman. “Forget what you know about Robbie Williams” begins Today Radio’s Stephen “Steps” Lowe at the beginning of this exclusive interview with the British pop superstar, because whatever bombast, tabloid scandals and bust-ups with other artists are in Williams’ past, Steps finds the Angels singer in a much more settled and happy place now.
Today Radio do a lot of interviews with bands and artists that are coming to Luxembourg but Stephen Lowe's chat with Robbie Williams is our biggest yet.
Set to play two enormous shows at LuxExpo on July 10th and 11th, the former Take That member makes a number of references, throughout the interview, to his ”Imperial Phase”, a phrase coined by the Pet Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant which refers to the period in which a musical artist is regarded to be at their commercial and creative peak simultaneously.
It suggests that Williams has been doing some reflecting on his career but also that he’s perhaps on the other side of that early success. 30,000 Luxembourg fans might disagree but Robbie’s happy with where he is and how he works. “Have you changed your approach to songwriting as your career has developed?” asks Steps, “No!” Robbie replies, “I just get older and hopefully I get better. I believe that I’m getting better at song writing. I believe that I’m getting better at lyrics.”
“I’ve done it the wrong way round” he explains, “when I was in my “imperial” phase they (the songs), weren’t bad but I believe now that I’m a much better singer, songwriter and entertainer so I’m just ready for a second wind now so that everybody can remember what I do, who I am and how good I am now.
"I'm rich! Rich beyond my wildest dreams. I want to make records and break records with EMI." Williams declared back in 2002 after signing a rumoured £80 million deal with the record label and while money and fame might have been motivating factors then, twenty one years later, his inspirations lie a little closer to home.
“It’s all about the kids”, he reveals, “The minute Teddy arrived, the first one, something kicked in, an Easter egg left there by the universe that said, “Aaand now you must provide”. I’ve had a fire up my arse ever since.”
“I need to go and do what I do for many, many different reasons. The top one being my family and just underneath that the beautiful connection I get with the wonderful audience.”
Robbie Williams live at Knebworth 2003
The current tour is set to be a joyous celebration of Robbie’s 25 years as a solo artist following the release of his album, ‘XXV’, which features many of his greatest hits and fan favourites from across his career. With 14 Uk number ones to his name and stadiums selling out all over the world he could be forgiven for pumping the brakes a little but that’s not an option for the 49 year old, “I’m someone who needs wins in my life” he explains, “and for the longest time, in my imperial phase, I was getting huge wins that felt good for the soul even though they brought with them things that you couldn’t expect. My wins now are in different projects and building things. I’m writing TV shows, I’m coming up with concepts and ideas.”
“I still need my wins! And I want my wins to be huge! I’m blessed with terrific purpose. A light that will never go out even though I’m trying to burn it out with the best of my abilities.”
Let Me Entertain You... with a Robbie Williams lyrics quiz!
Williams is great company and Steps manages to tread the line between silly, personal and professional in a wonderful interview that you can hear in full below. They cover addiction, his plans for the future and did you ever think you’d hear Robbie Williams attempt to say gromperekichelcher? We didn’t either but we’re happier now that we have and you will be too.
Tickets are also still available to buy for Robbie's July 10th Show at LuxExpo.
