Friday, October 11, 2013

Robbie Williams is "Gutted" After Being Told He's Too Old for Radio 1

Call me old and all that. OK just call me old - wheel out a contraption that old people use and leave me alone in a corner to dribble on myself.

Yes the rather sobering news is Robbie Williams has been deemed too ancient for Radio 1.

 
Feel by Robbie Williams


You may not realize the importance of this if you are Stateside but when we grew up Radio 1 was the epitome of cool youf when I was growing up. So were HMV record stores and they have all closed down now.

Radio I embraced Take That when they emerged in the early 1990s as the first of a generation of manufactured boy bands. Even then I felt a tad old, looking down on Take That as lightweight, although they were far more accomplished than what followed.

Robbie Williams, now 39, was the most high profile member of the band and made a name through his bad boy antics. He fell out with the band, went solo, packed on the pounds and appeared to be destined to disappear into obscurity when his star unexpectedly soared.



He's since sold more than 70 million records and is Britain's biggest selling contemporary solo artist.

Nevertheless, Robbie is said to be "gutted" that he's no longer being played on Radio 1. Bosses have decided he's getting on a bit and have shoved him in the Perry Como file with the carpet slippers.

Radio 1's breakfast DJ Nick Grimshaw has said Williams, 39, was "not relevant" to his target audience of 15-29 year olds.

"I liked Take That when I was little, but I'm not little anymore," he told Five news.

So there you go. Robbie has a rather less impressive profile Stateside. I recall having a conversation with a colleague about him once.

 
Back for Good - Take That


"I've never found him funny," she said.

Erm. And then she went on to mention Good Morning Vietnam and I realized she was talking about Robin Williams.

I haven't listened to Radio 1 for a very long time, owing to my presence in a different country. Needless to say I wouldn't recognize the station anymore.

6 comments:

  1. I have never heard of him, but I do know that Radio, and TV, are brutal and competitive and they have no problem cutting people loose. First they shower a band/singer with praise and play them all the time, then without warning they drop them and move on to the next flavour of the day. It's really sad.

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    Replies
    1. yep sign of the times JoJo -wow surprised he hasn't made it very big over here

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  2. Can understand why he is worried, maybe now he will be happy at the stage he has reached and come to terms with the natural process of ageing.

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  3. I've always found it strange that he is so successful in the UK and Europe but has never managed to catch on here in the US. I don't really get why. I don't know his songs but it just seems odd.

    I've been feeling terribly old for quite a while now so I can sympathize with poor Robbie. ;)

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