How Peculiar: The story of being a teenage Robbie Williams fan

I guess it's not seen as 'normal' for a 17 year old college girl to be a major Robbie Williams fan but I am and have been since the age of 10. Most of his fans are of the older generation, in their 30s, 40s and 50s as they've known him since his 90s Take That years. I was born in September 1996; seven months after Take That split up and on year and ten days before he released his debut album Life Thru A Lens. Being a teenage Robbie Williams fan can be hard, there aren't many of us, however on twitter there are hundreds, but we often find ourselves being looked down at because we weren't there from the beginning and as always we say "Sorry we weren't born then". On the other end of the spectrum we tend to get a lot of young people saying "he's too old for you" or "I'm surprised you like him" since when did age matter? We get the piss taken out of us but it's all part of being a fan.

I can always remember being very young and in the car driving through Jarrow and Angels being played on Real Radio. As I got older and I started watching television I got to know who he was and soon found myself getting excited every time he appeared in a show or one of his music videos was played. I guess being a fanatic hit when 2009 single Bodies was released, I watched it's first play on a music channel in my bedroom, but at the age of 12 I wasn't so into going out and buying his album, I had other things on my mind such as school. In 2010 he rejoined Take That, after being asked many times by my parents whether I'd like to see them live I said "Yes" knowing that Robbie would be there. On Saturday 28th May 2011 I went to the Stadium of Light in Sunderland and saw Take That perform live. Firstly Take That came in as a four piece and sang a few songs, followed by Robbie, entering the stage and like the fangirl I am I was almost reduced to tears. The obsession grew and I soon found myself completely in love with Robbie and his music...

Last year Robbie Williams released comeback solo album Take The Crown, an absolute beauty and possibly his best album yet. He spoke endlessly of his plans to tour and soon announced dates. None of which in Sunderland. After conferring with my parents they decided I'd travel to Manchester on Friday June 21st 2013 to see my idol perform live. I'll never forget the moment I found out my dad had managed to get me a ticket in the presale - I had PE and my friend was supposed to check my phone but couldn't leave the gym so as soon as we were out I checked my phone and received two texts. I turned to my friends and said "I have two messages, I guess I'm not seeing him." I then opened them and burst into tears seeing the words "I've got you a ticket" and ended up sat on the floor sobbing. After a close friend managed to get a ticket - being a huge fan herself - we set off at 6.30am with the destination of Etihad Stadium, Manchester. After a bit of time being lost in Manchester with my parents driving us around we finally arrived and sat down and the front of the gate. Doors opened at 4.30pm and we ran in, finding ourselves in the golden circle or 'superfan zone' as it was named. 

After almost an hour of belting out Olly Murs' songs and a few cheeky winks from the man himself it was time for Robbie. Surrounded by older fans - the type who understood how I felt and hugged me when I started crying seeing Robbie's guitarist Tom Longworth walk onstage. I must admire I cried my way through the full concert and couldn't talk for about three days after. 

I've learnt a lot through Robbie; don't give up, keep trying and to stay strong. Learning of years of depression, drug and alcohol abuse taught me a lot. The fact he battled his demons and pulled through and got to where he is today truly inspires me and I look up to him. In 2007 he almost killed himself through substance abuse, look at him now - he's married, has a young daughter, is clean of everything and about to embark on another music journey in his life, a second swing album.

I'm a 17 year old teenage girl and no matter whether I get slated for it, I'm proud to be a fan of Robbie or as Robbie calls his fans - a friendlie.

-Laura x

If you don't listen to Robbie Williams check out my song suggestions below;



Go Gentle - Robbie's first single (written for his young daughter Theodora Rose) from his upcoming swing album Swings Both Ways 





 Morning Sun - The opening track to 2009 album Reality Killed the Video Star

My personal favourite; Into The Silence - Taken from 2012 album Take The Crown





 Early track Ego A Go Go - taken from debut album Life Thru A Lens





And finally; the rockier jungle-esque sounding White Man In Hanoi - B-side to 2012 single Different