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We should take Robbie Williams more seriously

 

Plus: more blasts from the past at the O2 from Roxy Music, The Four Tops and The Temptations

 

From magazine issue: 22 October 2022

 

 

Oh, nostalgia – so much better than it used to be! You’d never have guessed pop music was once the preserve of teenagers had you been visiting the Greenwich peninsula last week – not from the crowds, or from the artists. Here were Roxy Music, whose four core members boast a combined age of 295, playing what might be their last ever show. Here were the Tops and the Temps, bands each with just one original member left – 86-year-old Duke Fakir of the Tops, 80-year-old Otis Williams of the Temps. And here was the absolute youngster of the lot, Robbie Williams, a stripling of 48, but 32 years into his pop career. Blimey, I know we keep being told retirement at 65 is a thing of the past, but this was ridiculous.

 

The oddity was that it seemed as though Roxy had the oldest crowd of all. Odd because Roxy’s influence has echoed down the decades in so many new pop movements. Every couple of years there’s a hot new band trying to be early Roxy, all archness and glitter and mixing skronk and melody, while one of alternative music’s most prevalent current trends is a sonic devotion to the sound Bryan Ferry and co were making on their Avalon and Manifesto albums, a kind of distanced, uncertain, anxious sophistication. Young people still want to be Roxy, they just don’t want to see them (or, possibly, they can’t afford to see them).

 

Truth be told, Roxy didn’t have quite the magic of the Bryan Ferry solo show I reviewed in these pages just as the first lockdown struck. Perhaps that show gained some extra edge from the knowledge that cataclysm was just around the corner, whereas this was much less emotionally complex. Perhaps, too, it’s that this one leaned quite a lot on the early recordings with Brian Eno, and – the big bangers aside – I suspect connection with some of those songs depends on context and memory because not all of them were great melodies. Still, when the bangers include ‘Virginia Plain’ – maybe the best debut single ever – it seems a little churlish to complain.

 

And the closing run – ‘Dance Away’, ‘More Than This’, ‘Avalon’, ‘Love Is the Drug’, ‘Editions of You’, ‘Virginia Plain’, ‘Jealous Guy’, ‘Do the Strand’ – was peerless. Ferry’s voice is now a papery wisp, but the more desolate the sentiment, the more apt it seemed, and a trio of backing singers filled in the gaps where needed. I may not love all their catalogue, but Roxy have a good seven or eight songs that are among pop’s greatest achievements.

 

Also among pop’s greatest achievements are the recordings of the Temptations and the Four Tops, though of course they neither played any instruments nor wrote any of the songs. But why would you need to? The Temps had Smokey Robinson, Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong writing lots of theirs; the Tops had the Holland-Dozier-Holland team. The two leaders are these days supplemented by others to do the vocal heavy lifting. Neither was ever a soloist, and when Duke Fakir took a solo slot on a maudlin version of ‘My Way’, it was hard to know whether to be moved or embarrassed – presumably he is aware his pitch is approximate these days, so it might well be a statement of human frailty. But to hear so many glorious songs – the Temptations’ set, especially, was classic after classic – was a privilege. It was just a shame so few were there to hear them: the top tier was curtained off, and there were a lot of empty seats at the back. People! How many more chances do you think you’ll get to see these groups?

 

No empty seats for Robbie, who put on the most purely enjoyable show. He can’t help but be a showman, and anyone who ever dismissed him as just a former boyband star really should pay closer attention to the craft in the songs. Yes, there was a lot of pastiche but the pastiches of Oasis – songs such as ‘Strong’ – secured him the male fans who took him out of the post-boyband world. And yes, sometimes the lyrics were a little ‘will this do?’, but they were sturdy constructions.

 

There was room, too, for a slightly chilling dissection of pop’s exploitativeness. At one point, the video for Take That’s first single ‘Do What U Like’ (not as good a debut as ‘Virginia Plain’, in case you were wondering) was shown on the big screens, with Williams offering commentary. We saw the quintet lying naked on the floor, all fetishised smooth skin. ‘I was 17 years old then,’ Williams said, ‘naked, with jelly on my arse.’ The music might have been the preserve of teenagers; the rest of the grubby business was always the preserve of adults, and not always the good ones.

 

WRITTEN BY

Michael Hann . The SPECTATOR

 

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/we-shou...-more-seriously

Edited October 20, 20222 yr by Sydney11

@1587501464158699520

 

 

 

He really invests a lot into his 'comeback'.

What are your bets, will he get the Glastonbury legend spot 2023?

Just checked Zane Lowe's activity.

He interviewed Lady Gaga, Harry, Arctic Monkeys, Justin Bieber and others during 2022.

 

And all these interviews last 1 hour

 

So waiting for the same for Rob.

Good to see his promotion at Apple. Still very difficult to reach streaming audience but he tries...

 

 

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Great to hear some snippet of Nobody Someday... Please more rare songs!

 

Not sure about Legend slot.

He can do a full headliner slot.

So in 10 years he will be fine for Legend slot.

Edited November 1, 20222 yr by Better Man

Just checked Zane Lowe's activity.

He interviewed Lady Gaga, Harry, Arctic Monkeys, Justin Bieber and others during 2022.

 

And all these interviews last 1 hour

 

So waiting for the same for Rob.

Good to see his promotion at Apple. Still very difficult to reach streaming audience but he tries...

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Thanks for info Alex , look forward to hearing that interview.

 

Yes he does try , his age does not help nor his fanbase ages -_- . Candy turned out to be a very popular song with younger people, any idea how it did streaming wise although it was ten years ago since it was released , hard to believe it was that long ago ..

 

I do think in general that over the years his use of social media has been very bad & that makes a huge difference. If you are not seen you do not exist . It's been a bit better for this tour but nothing like it should be . Not sure who's fault that is tbh but it's something they need to work on but I cannot see it happening.

Edited November 2, 20222 yr by Sydney11

I wonder if they will invest in more social media appeal. this would only make sense if he expects a massive impact and I do not see that with the kind of music Robbie does.

I believe the only way he can increase his appeal to the general young public would be to do a duet with one of 'their' stars like Taylor, Harry or any K-pop band

Robbie Williams wants to make a documentary about dark side of fame

In a new interview with Apple Music, Williams opened up about his aim to create a documentary about the mental health and addiction issues that often plague boy/girl bands.

 

 

Picture Apple music

 

 

Robbie Williams has said he wants to make a documentary that explores the dark side of fame often faced by boybands and girlbands across the world. The pop icon, who publicly faced his own battles with addiction after leaving Take That, opened up in a new interview on the The Zane Lowe Show on Apple Music 1.

 

Speaking at the home ground of his football team Port Vale, Vale Park, in his home city of Stoke-on-Trent, Williams explained how mental health issues and addiction have proved rife as young band members struggle to navigate the often overwhelming realities of fame at a young age.

 

He said: “If you run through every boy band and girl band that’s ever existed. With Take That, Gary Barlow leaves the band, his career’s supposed to do that and it didn’t. He suffered with bulimia, didn’t leave his house, went to sleep underneath his piano because he’d forgotten how to write songs. Incredibly depressed. Changed his name on his credit card because he didn’t want people to see Barlow.”

 

He added: “Howard Donald wanted to commit suicide after he left Take That. Mark Owen’s been to rehab and Jason Orange just can’t do it. And then there’s me, the mental health, the rehabs, the addiction, there’s all of that.”

 

Outlining his desire to create a documentary, he explained: “So that’s what being in a boy band really does. And I’m sure that in 5 or 10 years’ time if you sit down with One Direction to a man, they’re all going to have their isms that have been caused by this machine. I want to do a documentary about it. Maybe we should do it together. About boy bands and girl bands and what really happens. Why fame does that to you.” The singer, who has been sober for 20 years, previously branded the UK ‘delusional’ over its drink and drugs culture. He said in an Instagram Live video: “The thing about drugs and drink is the delusion. In the UK and many places, it’s as natural as breathing.

 

‘You just do not think about it — you leave school then you go to the pub and that is it, and then you drink. What I am finding, since I have actually been properly sober, is what a delusion that way of thinking is.”

 

Last night (November 1) saw Robbie Williams wrap up his tour of UK & Ireland to mark 25 years of solo stardom.

 

In a four-star review of the tour’s second night at London’s O2 Arena, Rolling Stone UK wrote: “It’s his career and Williams’ remarkable showmanship, unfettered after 25 years, that proves to be the night’s greatest strength. British pop icons of the last 25 years don’t come any bigger than him, a man who has lived a life of sex, drugs, rock and roll, and emerged relatively unscathed on the other side.”

 

 

Next week will see him play two sold-out shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall which will be filmed for his forthcoming biopic Better Man, directed by The Greatest Showman helmer Michael Gracey.

 

Williams will also headline the final night of the Isle of Wight Festival next year.

 

https://www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/news/r...-of-fame-24329/

Edited November 2, 20222 yr by Sydney11

Interview not available yet on Apple music radio, has anyone found it elsewhere :unsure:

Small snippet from ZL interview on Apple -

 

 

https://embed.apple.media/public/assets/pla...7b19a000187e909

 

 

 

Robbie Williams says Liam Gallagher was 'gigantic bully' but it's 'vital' he exists

Robbie Williams has shared why the industry needs artists like Liam Gallagher but admits it was in his nature to compete against him during their chart topping days

 

Robbie Williams has looked back on his dealings with the stars of Oasis and labelled Liam and Noel Gallagher as 'gigantic bullies' to everyone at the height of their fame. But despite being compelled to compete for chart success the She's The One singer said he's a 'huge fan' of the band and the 'incredible hedonism and reckless abandon and rock 'n’ roll' they represented. Speaking on an Apple podcast he admitted his competitive nature was part of it, but also allowed him to benefit on both sides if their songs failed to become hits. He said: "The great thing about being a fan of Oasis is when Liam comes out with a great album, I can be a fan. "The great thing about being resentful towards them, is when they don’t, I’m happy. I win on both sides. Labelling the Mancunian music makers 'gigantic bullies' 'to the whole industry, everybody in it' he said that he didn't like that side of them admitting they are probably 'different people now'. But he admits it's 'vital' the industry has pop stars who can be 'personalities' and not conform adding: "It's fantastic that there's a Liam Gallagher in the world."

 

The hit maker later compares a band's fandom — once they reach a 'certain stature' to be long lasting in the same way a football team has die hard fans. He surmised fans remain loyal despite the decades that may have lapsed since earning their allegiance for the likes of 'Spice Girls, One Direction, Take That, NSYNC, New Kids on the Block'.

He added: "All of those people that reach that place, it's their, the fans' football team. So it's Liverpool or it's Manchester United. Do you know what I mean? And you just never stop supporting Liverpool. It gets etched in. So it's like a young girl’s, primarily, football team."

 

Meanwhile Robbie is set to perform this weekend at The Royal Albert Hall this weekend (November 5th & 6th) performing a mixture of swing classics and some of his biggest hits.

 

The show will also gather fan footage to be used in his upcoming movie 'Better Man' written, produced and directed by Michael Gracey.

 

https://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/celebrit...lagher-28391017

Edited November 2, 20222 yr by Sydney11

The interview is now available to access via your iTunes account if you have one

 

 

 

 

 

 

FULL INTERVIEW with Zane Lowe (Apple Music)

 

 

Thanks to: https://retropopmagazine.com/robbie-william...e-on-boy-bands/

 

Edited November 2, 20222 yr by Better Man

Thanks Alex

The end of the interview is awesome )))))))

Aw ! it was good. Very funny in parts.

 

Loved the bit about the 80ml from EMI & then thanking them as such with Rudebox :lol:

 

I love his honesty , it's so refreshing . He defo still has some rocks in that rucksack which he admits to , one being his old friend Jonny, let's hope he gets to removing it sooner rather than later .

 

Have to admit it's great being part of that RW 'Tribe' he talks about & part three of the story

 

 

Looks like they have blocked the video on YT -_-

The end of the interview is awesome )))))))

 

 

What did you make of what he said about the Netflix documentary. That is was not the usual type of documentary looking back at old footage etc but something different . Has me puzzled :thinking:

Looks like they have blocked the video on YT -_-

Available again =)

I wonder if they will invest in more social media appeal. this would only make sense if he expects a massive impact and I do not see that with the kind of music Robbie does.

I believe the only way he can increase his appeal to the general young public would be to do a duet with one of 'their' stars like Taylor, Harry or any K-pop band

 

I do not see him looking for that 'massive impact' somehow , he's been there , done that , now he has a family . I would love to see him do something with Taylor . I wonder if this will be her last big tour for a while, she is 43 years old & has a steady boyfriend these days , she spent quite a bit of time in Ireland with him last year, he was making a film here

 

I am sure Robbie has lots of projects & ideas in the pipelines if his recent interviews are anything to go by which is a great feeling

 

I would love to see him do something with Taylor . I wonder if this will be her last big tour for a while, she is 43 years old

Taylor? She's 32 :)

 

What did you make of what he said about the Netflix documentary.

I think he's right. It's all about post-production and I'm afraid Netflix will fix all 'bad' things.