Williams’ forthcoming album ‘BRITPOP’ is slated for release in the fall
Robbie Williams is back with a brand new studio album. The singer announced Wednesday his upcoming thirteenth studio album, BRITPOP. Williams also released the record’s lead single “Rocket,” which features Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi. Stream the official audio below.
“I set out to create the album that I wanted to write and release after I left Take That in 1995,” Williams says. “It was the peak of Britpop and a golden age for British Music. I’ve worked with some of my heroes on this album; it’s raw, there are more guitars and it’s an album that’s even more upbeat and anthemic than usual. There’s some ‘Brit’ in there and there’s certainly some ‘pop’ too – I’m immensely proud of this as a body of work and I’m excited for fans to hear this album. I also can’t wait to perform a song or two from it on my upcoming BRITPOP Tour, which I’m opening in the UK, naturally.”
Robbie Williams’ last proper album was 2016’s The Heavy Entertainment Show. Released through Columbia Records, the album hit No. 1 in the UK, Scotland, Ireland, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. The album produced three singles – “Party Like a Russian,” “Love My Life,” and “Mixed Signals.” In 2019, Robbie released a holiday album This Christmas Present.
For the last few years, rumors have been swirling about a final Black Sabbath show featuring the band’s original lineup. Back in 2022, Ozzy Osbourne performed at the closing ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games. Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi joined him for Sabbath classics “Paranoid” and “Iron Man.” While it was a sight to see, it wasn’t quite full reunion fans were hoping for.
In 2023, Ozzy Osbourne was booked to headline the inaugural at Power Trip in California alongside Metallica, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Tool, and Guns N’ Roses. Unfortunately, Ozzy canceled his performance due to ongoing health issues. Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi would reveal that Power Trip organizers initially approached Sabbath about performing at the festival with the original lineup. The band declined the offer, citing Ozzy’s health as the main reason for not taking the gig. There’s also the issue of the fractured relationship between Ozzy, Iommi, and bassist Geezer Butler with dummer Bill Ward. Ward did not appear on the band’s final album or take part in their final tour due to contractual issues.
“It’s hard, because Ozzy’s been going through a lot of stuff lately,” Iommi told SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation host Eddie Trunk. “He’s in hospital and out of hospital, and he’s really been fighting it; he really wants to get out there. But in my mind, it’s very difficult to sort of say yes. I’ve gotta think of the people in the band as well. I’ve gotta think of Ozzy, if he’s gonna be all right to do a show and whatever. So I wasn’t that comfortable with it, but I didn’t know Ozzy would be doing it on his own. But it’s great. I hope he can do it and that it’ll be really good. He really wants to do it. And he’s really trying to pull to get himself back. He’s had to go through such a lot of hard stuff lately. It’s such a shame, really. But he’s still fighting there.”
Despite turning down Power Trip, Iommi hasn’t ruled out the possibility of a one-off Black Sabbath reunion.
“I’ve certainly done the Commonwealth Games with Ozzy, and that sort of happened, but to do a full show, you’ve gotta make sure everybody’s in good shape because people are gonna remember you by that show. And I don’t want our reputation to go downhill all of a sudden. If something goes wrong or somebody can’t make it and we have to cancel… ‘Cause I don’t know everybody’s health; I don’t know how Bill [Ward’s] feeling these days. You just don’t know. So I’d like to be sure. If you’re gonna do anything, it’s gotta be good or not bother.”
Now, the band announced that the original lineup – Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward – will play together for the first time in 20 years, and for the last time. The band will take to the stage to headline Back to the Beginning on 5 July at Villa Park.
The all-star event will celebrate the true creators of heavy metal and will see Ozzy Osbourne play his own short set before joining with Black Sabbath for his final bow.
“It’s my time to go Back to the Beginning…time for me to give back to the place where I was born,” Ozzy Osbourne said. “How blessed am I to do it with the help of people whom I love. Birmingham is the true home of metal. Birmingham Forever.”
Additionally, the show will feature an incredibly stacked lineup of special guests including Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Pantera, Guns N’ Roses, Tool, Lamb of God, Alice In Chains, Mastodon, and Halestorm.
All profits from the show will be shared equally between Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice – a Children’s Hospice supported by Aston Villa.
The all-day event will also feature a supergroup of musicians. Artists announced so far include Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins), David Draiman (Disturbed), Duff McKagan & Slash (Guns ‘n Roses), Frank Bello (Anthrax), Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit), Jake E Lee, Jonathan Davis (Korn), KK Downing, Lzzy Hale (Halestorm), Mike Bordin (Faith No More), Rudy Sarzo, Sammy Hagar, Scott Ian (Anthrax), Sleep Token ii (Sleep Token), Papa V Perpetua (Ghost), Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Wolfgang Van Halen and Zakk Wylde.