BACK in 2006, I was one of the tens of thousands that packed Subiaco Oval for the spectacular event that was Robbie William’s Close Encounters World Tour and despite having terrible seats up in the nosebleed section, I have to say it was a fantastic gig from a world-class performer.
But lately, Williams has been mysteriously missing from our musical radars, no longer featuring in the tabloids flaunting his latest conquests or sneaking out of rehab. He has, however, surfaced long enough to say that he is enjoying life away from the public eye, and that he hoped to put out a new studio album in 2009. He also warned fans not to expect a live performance anytime soon.
So just what has he been up to for the past year or so?
Well, according to Williams himself, he has been chasing UFOs.
Holed up in Los Angeles (where I’m sure he has more chance of finding aliens that anywhere else in the world), Williams has revealed that he has seen UFOs three times in his life – once as a child in Britain, once in Beverly Hills and the third time just after writing a song about alien contact.
Sounds strange, but now something had popped up that may just entice the singer out of hibernation for another live performance. He has been offered more than $3 million to perform a single half-hour concert, according to London’s Daily Telegraph.
Estimated to be worth more than £130 million, Williams is yet to decide whether to accept the offer, which would see him headlining a festival in Norway.
Having been in hiding for a while, punters would no doubt turn out in droves if he were to accept. And because it doesn’t really seem like he needs the money, perhaps he could put it towards his charity Give It Sum, which aims to ‘improve local conditions and strengthen community life by giving money to those who are disadvantaged’.
But either way, I think that if anyone warranted a $3 million payment for a half-hour performance, Williams would be at the top of the list.