2 days ago
16
Robbie Williams has made the painful admission he struggled on stage during his New Years Eve concert in Sydney on Tuesday.
The UK megastar, 50, admitted he struggled with mental health 'demons' as he performed on stage in front of thousands of fans, which almost interrupted his show.
'I battled with anxiety and mental health demons. Yes, the other night I was on stage on TV. I had the tail ends of a cold,' Robbie told the Herald Sun.
The singer added he was taking medication for his cold and when combined with his ongoing mental health battle, he was left feeling very vulnerable.
'On top of a cold, I had jetlag. Cold plus jet lag plus anxiety and mental illness is a very potent combination.
'I noticed once I stepped on stage in front of 11 million viewing people, I felt crazy. I also had to hold it together and not, outwardly, let what was happening inwardly.'
Robbie Williams (pictured) has made the painful admission he struggled on stage during his New Years Eve concert in Sydney on Tuesday
He added his 'demon' of insecurity began to play with his mind and he worried about whether he would be able to perform to the best of his ability.
'The demons now are, "Twitter's gonna think I’m on stage off my face on coke." Not only do I look crazy, I feel crazy.
'While I'm enjoying myself, and going with it, I'm also experiencing anxiety, and all the mean comments out there in internet land.'
Fortunately, Robbie managed to pull himself together and gave his many fans a show to remember.
Elsewhere at the concert, Robbie took a not-so-subtle potshot at an audience member.
The former Take That star was the headline act for the city's New Year celebrations, which was broadcast on the ABC.
Robbie's stellar performance was otherwise marred by an awkward exchange with an audience member.
After regaling the crowd with his chart-topper Let Me Entertain You and Wilson Pickett's Land of 1000 Dances, Robbie and his 13-piece backing band launched into his 2002 track Me and My Monkey.
The UK megastar, 50, admitted he struggled with mental health 'demons' as he performed on stage in front of thousands of fans, which almost interrupted his show
Fortunately, Robbie managed to pull himself together and gave his many fans a show to remember
Robbie seemingly invited the audience to sing along, but was evidently less than impressed with one reveller's rhythmic ability.
The singer awkwardly fell silent before chastising the audience member for their lack of timing.
'You made me come in, in the wrong place,' Robbie said.
'Can you stop doing the lyrics to the song, then I don't get it wrong.'
The camera then cut to a close up of Robbie, who was sporting an expression that suggested he was more than a little miffed with the audience member.
'Now, okay?' Robbie sternly instructed before continuing with the song.
Robbie's eight song set was full of some of his biggest hots such as Feel, Better Man and Rock DJ.
He also surprised the crowd with a rousing rendition of the John Farnham classic You're The Voice, before rounding out 2024 with his 2002 ballad Angels.
'Aussie, Aussie, Aussie,' Robbie chanted during the song's bridge, with the audience responding with the obligatory: 'Oi, Oi, Oi.'
The British pop superstar spared no opportunity to promote his new documentary, Better Man, launching into a shameless plug mid-set.
It was before his performance of Better Man that Robbie gave a rave review to his own movie of same name.
'Some critics are calling it the movie of the century! Not my words, except they are because I just made that up' he said to the crowd.
Robbie then asked if anyone had seen the movie as yet, and explained it had been filmed in Australia.
He even changed some of the lyrics to Better Man, and sang, 'so go watch my movie, it's full of drugs and sex, I've got my own biopic, I'm not even dead'.
English (US) ·