This is the opener Radio. And Robbie is actually just popping up through the stage. I'm afraid you'll have to take my word for that. :lol:

 

 

http://i5.tinypic.com/27xqtsk.jpg

 

 

Hopefully, somebody standing near the stage will have some decent photos that we'll get to see. :lol:

No Suse. :cry: Would have loved to go but i'm going on holiday really really early Sunday morning. It just wouldn't have been feasible. -_-

First Review :huh: That was quick! From the Independent.

 

 

Robbie Williams, Hampden Park, Glasgow

By David Pollock

Published: 02 September 2006

What critical acceptance Robbie Williams may have been in possession of might have dropped in recent years, but there are still precious few pop artists who could oust Scotland's national football team from their own stadium on a European Championship qualifying weekend. Yet, when an eagle like Williams lands in town, there can only be one winner.

 

Perhaps that might explain why most of the men in the audience appeared to be boyfriends and husbands dragged along for the event and a little embarrassed to admit they were having a really good time. Such is the stoic impassivity of the Scots male, and Williams’ not-unfounded image as a favourite of chirpy housewives and office juniors in pink cowboys hats doesn't make him the most masculine of acts to confess a liking for.

 

Yet nor does it make him the bastion of old-school British light entertainment which he is often miscast as. True, he might address the audience with an arched delivery of which Kenneth Williams would be proud, but his stadium show is never less than an utter spectacle, and one built on a batch of canny pop songs constructed over a decade by some of pop’s most astute minds. On radio so many of them melt into the airways; live, each one possesses an anthemic quality born of simple repetition and the fans’ beatific response.

 

Even his lengthy between-song chatter is largely amusing, rather than blithely irritating. The introduction of his friend Jonny Wilkes on stage for a time - Wilkes sportingly lapping up the boos, which he apparently received for the crime of actually not being Williams - sees the pair make some dodgy puns about the first few rows getting a chance to "feel Robbie's balls'' - it's a game, and the night's one Generation Game moment.

 

Otherwise, he conforms to the image of the likeable but swollen-headed rock god which has been carefully - and somewhat artificially - sculpted over the years. On spotting an attractive girl in the front row, he professes excitement that she's with her twin sister, and proceeds to serenade her. It's corny, of course, but somewhat amusing nevertheless. Another comment is more telling, on the subject of Take That's recent reformation: "They told me, 'You've got to do it Robbie'. But I thought, 'Y'know, I've sold 3 million tickets for my own tour...'''. Wild cheering ensues.

 

Extravagant versions of early hits like Let Me Entertain You and ever-populist hymn Angels are delivered in his charismatically immodest manner, while Come Undone and Advertising Space, for example, exemplifies a more sonorous hangover-of-fame persona Williams has adopted of late. His recent collaborator Stephen 'Icicle Works' Duffy is onstage throughout, while a respectful version of Take That's Back For Good - forgoing their ironic thrash-style he's previously used to distance himself from the past - is also rolled out.

 

Yet perhaps most interesting is the forthcoming single Rude Box. Employing a riff which sees Williams rapping patchily while girls in customised Adidas jiggle around him, it's both a refreshing musical departure and a break from his merciless lyrical self-referencing.

 

However his new direction is received, it's certainly not cabaret.

 

:dance:

Thanks Jupiter for your review, and I am so thrilled it went well and you had an amazing time. and so pleased the weather held out.

 

I am really hoping that the English crowds are as good as the Scottish ones are, they have always loved Robbie haven't they..I have a flag that says so lol.

 

He feeds off the crowd, so it pays to be loud and I can imagine the atmoshphere too with all the hats banners and lights. I really hope he feels the love at Leeds and Milton Keynes.

 

:yahoo:

Edited September 2, 200618 yr by Susie

Thanks for the review Jupiter - it sounds like you had a great time :D

From the Daily Record ( I wonder when the press are going to release that the 'Doctor Story' ain't true :rolleyes: )

 

 

DOC'N' ROLLER ROBBIE

Star: I had jab before show

By Beverley Lyons

ROBBIE Williams last night told his packed Scottish show he needed a doctor before going on stage.

 

The former Take That singer said he was so ill he was told he would have to cancel the concert at Glasgow's Hampden Park.

 

Robbie said: "I woke up this morning in my bedroom alone and I got out of bed and into the bathroom and thought, 'F*****g hell. I feel like s**t'.

 

"I called the doctor, who took my temperature and said, 'Tonight, you won't be able to perform on stage'.

 

"I asked if there might be some alternative and he told me to turn around.

 

"I took a needle in my a*** this big," he said, and gestured about a foot long.

 

 

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"I am proud to say I took it in the a*** for Scotland."

 

 

The 55,000-strong crowd was treated to a master class in showmanship by Robbie, who wore a Scotland football T-shirt to close the show. He belted out hits including Angels, Rock DJ, Kids, Tripping and Take That's Back For Good.

 

 

And kissing the St Andrew's Cross and Lion Rampant on his T-shirt, the star said: "Scotland, you're in a league of your own."

 

 

Earlier, he sang a duet with his pal, actor Jonathan Wilkes.

 

 

Robbie, 32, backed the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards after he was criticised for smoking during a gig at Hampden Park.

 

 

He said: "I hear the Rolling Stones got into trouble for smoking on stage. Well, I'm going to get me in some trouble tonight. You can't have a go at Keith Richards for smoking - he's over 150 years old."

 

 

Hundreds of fans spent Thursday night camped outside the stadium to be first in the queue when the doors opened.

 

 

The Daily Record again

 

 

ROBBIE MANIA

Fans camp out to get best spot at gig

ROBBIE Williams mania hit Scotland last night as the singer played the first of two sell-out gigs at Hampden Park.

 

Hundreds spent Thursday night camped outside the stadium in Glasgow to be at the front of the queue when the doors opened yesterday.

 

And while a team of technicians were putting together the set for the spectacular show, Robbie, 32, was enjoying a leisurely stroll round the grounds of his exclusive hotel 15 miles away.

 

The ex-Take That singer has already played packed stadiums in Europe as part of his Close Encounters tour.

 

The next leg will see him play gigs in Dubai :blink: , Hong Kong and Shanghai. But last night, it was the 55,000-strong Hampden crowd's turn to be treated to a master class in showmanship.

 

Staff at the stadium were in position from early morning and the huge lighting and stage rig was set up for the spectacle.

 

 

One fan had even come all the way from Australia for the gig.

 

 

Jackie Hunt, from Adelaide, said: "I love Robbie and am pretty obsessed with him.

 

 

"I've got tickets to the Milton Keynes and Leeds gigs too because I thought Robbie wasn't playing Australia.

 

 

"When I found out he was coming to Adelaide, I bought tickets for that too."

 

 

Fans Lynsey McMullen and Victoria Hendrie, from Dunbar, East Lothian, were flying the flag for Scotland at the event. Lynsey, 20, said: "Robbie has already had our flag on stage twice before so we're hoping it'll be third time lucky."

 

 

Pal Victoria, 21, said: "We got here at 10:30am to make sure we get to the front."

 

 

Karen Lister and her sister Nicola had queued overnight with friend Sue Thourghgood. The trio from Fife had never seen Robbie live before.

 

 

And Cat McKay, Sarah and Kylie Hourston, Heather Mackenzie and Kendal Korhonan posed in their specially made Robbie Rock Your Socks Off T-shirts.

 

 

Light showers didn't dampen spirits and the pre-gig atmosphere reached fever pitch as supporting acts Orson and Basement Jaxx sound-checked.

 

 

Heavy basslines filled the air as the bands tuned up just one hour before the gates opened.

 

 

Jups, thanks for the report and pics. Glad to hear you had a fantastic night.

Congrats Scotland for having the loudest crowd so far ! :D :cheer:

I can imagine Rob being touched about it, aaww, bless him. :wub:

Shame Rudebox didn't go down very well, but I sort of expected that. I think it has got a mixed reception at most gigs since he started performing it. Some go and :dance: and others are more like this :huh:

Thanks Monsoon.

 

The Robbie die-hard fans at the front of the standing area did seem to be bouncing about to it. But the people around where I was in the seats seemed to be a bit more :huh: .

So glad you had such a great time Jup

From the Daily Record. Wonder if he will turn up at the footy? :unsure: Think I'll watch the game on Sky just in case we have a sighting. ^_^

 

 

HERE SON .. TAKE THIS

THE Tartan Army have sent Robbie a T-shirt to wear to the match his concert forced them out of Hampden.

 

Scotland play the Faroes at Parkhead today and football-mad Robbie is said to be going to the game. So tartanarmy.com have sent the singer one of their new limited-edition Euro 2008 tour T-shirts.

 

An insider said last night: "If he wears this shirt, the troops might forgive him!"

 

^_^

There is a report of the concert in the Scottish Edition of the Sun. And a couple of nice photos. But the story doesn't appear in the English On-Line Edition. :cry:

 

So I've typed it out. ^_^

 

 

' Three years since Robbie Williams last played on Scottish soil, he's lost none of his cheeky charm or showmanship'.

 

At last night's first of 2 sellout gigs at Hampden Park, the raunchy pop god had the crowd in stitches with a string of saucy gags and naughty dance moves.

 

From the moment he burst through the floor of the stage amid an explosion of fireworks, his fans were captivated.

And seduced, as he writhed on the stage floor, unbuttoned his trousers then ripped off his T-shirt to expose a toned torso. :wub:

 

A blistering rendition of Radio kicked off 2 hours of hits, each greeted by a Hampden roar.

Rock DJ, Millennium, Let me entertain you, Advertising Space, Angels.... Robbie hit the spot every time. He even managed a Take That spoof in a high pitched voice and joked, ' i thought of rejoining them, but I've sold 3 million tickets for MY tour!'

 

Then he told how he was unwell yesterday :rolleyes: and a doc gave him a jab in the bottom to save the gig: ' I took it in the a**e for Scotland!' Well thanks for that, Robster!'

 

^_^

Great to see all the positive reviews :D

Radio , not the best though <_<

 

[flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4tJ291tm5o.swf

The photos in the Scottish Sun. Sorry I couldn't be bothered loading up my scanner. So I just photographed them. :lol:

 

 

http://i4.tinypic.com/27yopvq.jpg

 

 

http://i7.tinypic.com/27yoq2v.jpg

Your video doesn't work Scotty. Says it can't be embedded. :angry:

Your video doesn't work Scotty. Says it can't be embedded. :angry:

 

:o :angry:

Wow getting even more excited for MK now!! Great to hear he's doing a mix of the old and new, and that the crowds are loving him (had no doubts but its still nice to be confirmed)

From BBC Scotland-

 

Williams' stadium magic returns

By Julie Broadfoot

BBC Scotland, Hampden Park

 

 

Amid the scandal of stolen tickets and speculation about quitting the music business, Robbie Williams brought his Close Encounters tour to the UK.

 

At the first of two shows at Glasgow's Hampden Park, he declared himself "home" and was taken aback by the reaction to his performance, which saw the zealous Scottish audience eating out of his hand.

 

Thousands of frantic devotees flocking to use public transport found it a challenge to make it to the gig, but it was clearly worth the wait.

 

A massive, complex set contained a winding walkway and a revolving stage into the crowd.

 

Add in fireworks and a hanging gondola, and the concert could have turned into a bit of a circus.

 

But it simply came down to Robbie the showman. He comfortably commanded the stage and captivated his audience throughout.

 

Cheeky charm

 

Dressed in a black coat, red silk scarf and jeans with a vest that he swiftly ripped off, he was suave with his trademark cheeky charm.

 

He touched on the recent controversy surrounding Keith Richards' flouting of the smoking ban at Hampden, promising to get into trouble himself, but didn't appear to risk it.

 

Robbie's gigs meant that Scotland's match against the Faroe Islands was displaced from the National Stadium, but he told Scotland to "go to Italy and batter them, then go to France and batter them, then we'll see you in the European Cup!"

 

 

Hampden Park was transformed by an impressive stage

 

Despite having already played over 30 dates on this tour, he was visibly shocked by the audience's reaction after just a couple of songs.

 

"These things in my ears are playing the band to me. When I came up here tonight, for the first time in my life, I couldn't hear anything."

 

Cue further deafening screams.

 

Homage

 

It was no surprise that recent reformation of Take That came up, and he admitted he'd thought about joining them as everyone was telling him to.

 

"But then I thought I've sold three million tickets for my own tour," and that was that.

 

He paid homage to them though with a rare and sincere performance of Back For Good.

 

New electro-rap single Rudebox may not have been well received by the critics, but it seems he can do no wrong - it must be creeping into the nation's consciousness as it did nothing to dampen spirits

 

 

A twee duet of My Shadow and Me with best friend Jonathan Wilkes would have looked at home at a Royal Variety Performance, but their relaxed banter and nonsense pleased fans.

 

He was wise enough not to try out any unheard songs from his forthcoming album, instead sticking to his anthemic pop classics Let Me Entertain You, Millennium and Angels.

 

They were the obvious hits and, while the fans went wild, Robbie himself appeared to be emotional.

 

Ending with Kids, he proclaimed: "Scotland, you're in a league of your own. I love you and always will. See you next time."

 

It sounds like he's not hanging up his mic just yet

 

 

:cheer:

 

 

http://i4.tinypic.com/27ypqpe.jpg

Edited September 2, 200618 yr by jupiter9

Wow, it all sounds absolutely awesome :yahoo: :yahoo:

 

Thanks for the report Jups, and am glad you had such a good time. I can't wait to see it all for myself :yahoo: :yahoo: