Cheeky, fun, boisterous… These are just a few words all of us could use to describe singing superstar Robbie Williams.
However, behind his seemingly dauntless stage presence, his bold, sometimes brazen performances, the 44-year-old father-of-two says he sometimes finds himself crippled by a “disease that wants to kill me”.
Robbie told 60 Minutes Australia: “My natural way of living would be sort of isolating away from people, and feeling uncomfortable in social situations.”
“Sometimes it overwhelms me and sometimes it’s a tool I need to get on stage. Sometimes I live in bliss and it’s wonderful,” he says, as reported by The Sun.
“The things I’ve put myself through, I’ve been close to . . . It’s like, ‘By the grace of God go I’. It’s been so close so many times.”
Robbie admitted that he’s been struggling with his mental health since he was a teenager.
Following a long-documented history of affliction with drug and alcohol addiction, Robbie went on to say that despite crediting his wife, Ayda Field, and two kids, Teddy and Charlie, for turning his life around on and on a healthier path, the death of George Michael rocked him.
“I miss George Michael, I wish he was here,” the singer, who happens to be in Australia performing his The Heavy Entertainment Show tour, continues.
“Was it 2016 when everybody popped off? It was just a dreadful year, all of everybody’s heroes – disappear, you’re realising you’re not immortal and never more so than being 43 having two kids.”
“It was just a dreadful thing to happen and I miss him.”
“Once you’ve been on the planet for 43 years, you realise that — even if you’ve got everything that I have — you’re not invincible. So from now on I’m going to look after myself a lot more carefully.”
Robbie with his wife, American actress Ayda Field.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with their mental health, consider talking to your health care professional about counselling, or you can contact:
Depression.org.nz – their 24/7 helpline number is: 0800 111 757
Mental Health Foundation mentalhealth.org.nz
Youthline free phone 0800 376 633
Lifeline 0800 543 354
