Свеженькое интервью с Робби 
Robbie Williams' a better man
By Balvinder Sandhu, TODAY | Posted: 03 December 2009 1359 hrs
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Robbie Williams
SYDNEY : Robbie Williams was once saved from a bargain bin existence in 1997 - when his unimpressive first solo album after leaving Take That, "Life Thru a Lens", failed to excite more than a handful of fervent fans - thanks to his fourth single, "Angels".
And he seems to have been resurrected a second time.
Having achieved tremendous solo success since (55 million albums sold, more Brit Awards than anyone else), he was The Man Who Could Do No Wrong. Until, that is, he released "Rudebox" in 2006.
Although it hit the top spot in the UK charts, it was universally panned and was his lowest-selling album. After a three-year break - where he spent his time growing out his beard in Los Angeles and, apparently, getting passionate about UFOs and little green men ("Robbie: UFO visited my studio", screamed The Sun) - he's back with "Reality Killed The Video Star".
This time round, he's sorted out the alcohol and anxiety problems that have plagued him in the past, and is doing everything possible to avoid ending up in rehab again. And he has help from his very own "angel", actress girlfriend Ayda Field, best known for her role as a weathergirl on the short-lived Kelsey Grammer sitcom, "Back To You".
Will his newfound sobriety return him to the pedestal he seems to have bungee-jumped off? Meeting the media recently at the Park Hyatt Sydney, Robbie showed off his mature side, as he revealed his plans for kids, his embarrassing pet name and why he's still very proud of "Rudebox".
How much pressure did you feel making a comeback?
On every album, I've worried myself to death before it came out.
But with the emphasis on how the industry has changed since I've been away and, you know, how much it's depleted, (I felt it) even more so on this album.
I was certainly at a crossroads as to what's going on with my career and who I am now in the public's eyes. I find that tremendously overwhelming because I'm a big worrier, anyway.
Now that the new album is out, do you have any plans for a tour?
I've done a few shows. The first thing I did back on TV in England. I was incredibly nervous and very scared, and then everything's sort of just fit into place since then. I've got up on stage and kind of remembered what I do and actually do it.
But I've got no plans for a tour. I know what happens to me, where it takes me and which rehab I end up in.
I will tour again, but it won't be anytime soon.
You've got your girlfriend with you on the road. Are you planning on settling down?
Yeah, I think that's what's going on. I've spent three years away and got into a relationship.
All this kind of stuff sort of pales a bit when you do it for 20 years. You know, once you find somebody and you get on with them really, really well, there's more to life than coming up every 18 months with a big head, touring and singing.
She's up for marriage and I'm coming round to the idea.
Are you going to be the kind of star that calls your kids something way out there or are you more into traditional names?
We're thinking of Sunny or Sonny, depending on the sex. And, we're thinking of Snowy as well, but that's one of those celebrity names, isn't it? But Sunny's cool, yeah? Or Clive.
Can you explain your nickname, Tickles A Noo Noo?
It's a pet name that you say on a radio show with two people talking to you, then you go to a press conference and a lot of people are going, "Tickles A Noo Noo". Well, it's a pet name from the missus.
There are a lot of people who idolise you. Who are some of your idols?
Right now, who I think is really doing it and who I keep following around the world, is Michael Buble.
I think he's fantastic. He's like me, but he can actually sing. So, I'm a big fan of the Bubbles. He's the man right now.
How do you look back on "Rudebox" and the reception it got?
I was very, very excited about the album and I was very, very confident. The album was very experimental, but it was something that I kinda did on my holidays.
But I'm not the kind of artist, in hindsight, who can just fanny about. Everything for me, for the record company and everybody involved, has to be massive.
I didn't think that something as playful as the album would be such a crisis point of my career. Fortunately, I'm still very confident. There's a few duds on there, but I'm still very proud of the album.
Do you still get nervous before a big show?
It depends. It's like Russian Roulette, to be honest. And I don't know why or what happens from day to day.
But I think it's more to do with the fact that, the last tour was 3.6 million people, and, you know, it did something to my head.
I think, naturally, it would do something to most people's heads, you know, having to go out and entertain people. It was a shock to my nerves and I'm just fighting it off again.
What's making you happy now?
I'm in a good place. I'm relaxed, the missus has done a great job of showing me what relationships are about and the benefits of it.
And I've had a long break.
Did you know your new song "Bodies" was banned in Singapore?
Cool!
What do you remember most about being in Singapore?
It's hot. And they ban my records.
Any plans to go to Singapore or Asia soon?
No, I don't think so. I'm doing a promo tour over the next few months, but I don't know where I'm going or what I'm doing.
As for my experience over there, it's very hot, very humid and the audiences are very pleasant.
Pleasant nice or pleasant not-so-nice?
Pleasant nice. You know, everywhere else in the world, the audiences go a bit mental and lose themselves.
But over there, it's like, clap clap, thank you, next one, please.
Robbie Williams' "Reality Killed The Video Star" is out in stores now.
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