**Robbie Williams Announces ‘Britpop’ Album, Marking Return to the Era of 1990s Pop Rivalries**
Robbie Williams has revealed that his eagerly anticipated new album will revisit the definitive sounds and spirit of the 1990s Britpop movement, decades after his public falling out with Oasis legends Liam and Noel Gallagher dominated tabloids. The new record, simply titled ‘Britpop’, is set for release this autumn, and aims to capture the energy and creative edge which defined an entire generation of British music.
The former Take That singer, now 51, describes ‘Britpop’ as the album he longed to create immediately after departing the celebrated boyband in 1995. That period, he says, was a “golden age for British music” and played host to some of his most notorious antics, including his brief friendship and later rivalry with Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher. The lingering cultural memory of those turbulent times appears to have directly influenced both the sound and the visual flourishes of Williams’ latest offering.
Sunday’s announcement also unveiled the lead single from the album, ‘Rocket’. Notably, the track features a guest appearance from Tony Iommi, the iconic guitarist from heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath. It is an unexpected collaboration, forming a bridge between the guitar-driven indie rock of 90s Britpop and Birmingham’s legendary heavy metal legacy—both of which have left their mark on British culture.
The accompanying music video for ‘Rocket’ showcases Williams in unmistakably punk-inspired attire, complete with red tartan trousers and a graffiti-scrawled leather jacket, navigating London landmarks alongside a flash mob. Iommi also joins Williams for segments filmed in his home city of Birmingham, cementing the single’s celebration of British musical heritage.
A particularly nostalgic touch is the album’s cover art, featuring Williams in the red tracksuit that became synonymous with his appearance at Glastonbury Festival in 1995. That moment in history saw him mingling with the brightest stars of the Britpop era and bidding farewell to his boyband past. For many fans, the image conjures memories of a time when British pop culture was at its brash, exuberant peak.
Explaining his vision for the album, Williams commented: *“I set out to create the album that I wanted to write and release after I left Take That in 1995. It was the peak of Britpop, a moment when British music was in the world’s spotlight. There are more guitars, it’s raw, energetic, and proudly anthemic—definitely a blend of Brit and pop.”* He went on to express his excitement for fans to experience the new songs both on the album and during his freshly renamed ‘Britpop Tour’, scheduled to launch in the UK this May.
In a move sure to delight fans across the continent, the ‘Britpop Tour’—formerly known as ‘Robbie Williams Live 2025’—will commence in Edinburgh on 31 May, before taking in major cities such as London, Manchester, and Bath, as well as a raft of European dates including shows in Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Sweden. Williams assured audiences that he is eager to bring the energy and camaraderie of the Britpop era to contemporary stages.
The rivalry between Williams and the Gallagher brothers was once the stuff of sensational front-page headlines. Noel Gallagher’s now infamous quip, referring to Williams as the “fat dancer from Take That”, encapsulated the public sparring that helped define an era as much as the music itself. Yet, Williams has since expressed admiration for Oasis and the Britpop scene, admitting that he was drawn to their sound and often envied the freedom they enjoyed artistically.
With his new album and revitalised tour, Robbie Williams appears set on reconciling his boyband legacy with the iconic sounds that shaped his own musical ambitions. ‘Britpop’ is being positioned as both an homage to, and a reimagining of, a decade that transformed British music—not only for artists but for millions of fans worldwide.
‘Rocket’—the album’s first single—is available now on all major streaming platforms, while ‘Britpop’ will drop later this year. The forthcoming tour promises to be a celebration not just of Williams’ own career, but of an entire musical movement that continues to inspire nostalgia and debate in equal measure.