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 the previous record set by the Beatles. The singer, whose Long 90s tour begins this week, is taking a moment to mark his 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 tells BBC News. It's what we do best. In many ways it's why we're great.
But with this one, I really want to let it sink in and I really want to stand in the middle of it and go, 'OK, success, do your thing to me'.
The tour will take in smaller venues, the kind he would have played at the start of his solo stardom. The 51-year-old says Britpop is the album he wanted to make when he first left Take That. It sees him collaborate with former bandmate Gary Barlow, Gaz Coombes from Supergrass, and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi.
Although he looks back at the Britpop era with mixed feelings, experiencing both professional success and personal struggles, he reflects, What a decade... the last great decade for popular culture because everything since then has become quite vanilla.
Williams recalls having difficulty enjoying his success amid struggles with mental health, stating, I was going through my own mental illness and anything good that's happening to somebody that is in the throes of depression... they can't experience joy.
His return to the UK has been joyful too, as he finds solace away from early pressures from the British tabloids. He feels grateful for the chance to focus on his music and family, stating, I’m having an amazing time.
Looking ahead, Williams shares his entrepreneurial aspirations, expressing a desire to build hotels with venues and revolutionize education through a university of entertainment.
Britpop by Robbie Williams is out now, and the Long 90s tour began earlier this week.}
I think as British people we're very good at piercing the balloon of our own success and undercutting it and devaluing ourselves, he tells BBC News. It's what we do best. In many ways it's why we're great.
But with this one, I really want to let it sink in and I really want to stand in the middle of it and go, 'OK, success, do your thing to me'.
The tour will take in smaller venues, the kind he would have played at the start of his solo stardom. The 51-year-old says Britpop is the album he wanted to make when he first left Take That. It sees him collaborate with former bandmate Gary Barlow, Gaz Coombes from Supergrass, and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi.
Although he looks back at the Britpop era with mixed feelings, experiencing both professional success and personal struggles, he reflects, What a decade... the last great decade for popular culture because everything since then has become quite vanilla.
Williams recalls having difficulty enjoying his success amid struggles with mental health, stating, I was going through my own mental illness and anything good that's happening to somebody that is in the throes of depression... they can't experience joy.
His return to the UK has been joyful too, as he finds solace away from early pressures from the British tabloids. He feels grateful for the chance to focus on his music and family, stating, I’m having an amazing time.
Looking ahead, Williams shares his entrepreneurial aspirations, expressing a desire to build hotels with venues and revolutionize education through a university of entertainment.
Britpop by Robbie Williams is out now, and the Long 90s tour began earlier this week.}
