10 June 2006 07:36am

DUBLIN UP

Kiki King, Eva Simpson & Caroline Hedley

ROBBIE Williams wows 78,000 fans in Dublin last night - and promised them a repeat performance for free.

Robbie, touring for the first time in three years, showed he'd lost none of his magic in a two-hour set.

Even when a stunt to lower him on stage in a gondola failed to work, he thrilled the Crowe Park Stadium crowd by telling them: "I'm coming back and doing another show for free. On my next show the f***ing gondola will work!"

But from the moment he came on, it was clear we were in for a special night as he bounded around the stage.

It seemed to catch up with him and at one point as he gasped: "I want to know how Mick Jagger does this stuff. I'm 32 and knackered. He's about 105 and still does it!"

Not that the crowd minded one bit as they helped him belt out classics such Millennium and Let Me Entertain You.

They even indulged him as he enlisted the dubious vocal talents of best pal Jonathan Wilkes for the aptly-named Me And My Shadow as well as Strong.

And there was the moment thousands had waited for as he sang Back For Good in tribute to Take That.

To crown it all was the encore, when Robbie appeared behind us all for a rousing rendition of Angels.

Then he was gone, with 38 more gigs ahead of him. And on this evidence he'll have every fan praying for a dodgy gondola and a repeat gig.

Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/tm_objectid=17208427%26method=full%26siteid=94762% 26headline=dublin-up--name_page.html

Rob's disaster Dublin gig


ROBBIE WILLIAMS set out to rock Dublin last night – but the opening night of his tour almost ended in disaster.

During the show’s finale, the singer was supposed to drop almost 100ft to the stage in a “gondola” — but things went badly wrong.

A technical glitch meant Robbie ended up running on to the set in a panic as fire exploded around him.

Clearly shocked, the fuming singer later slated the concert, saying it was so awful he would come back to Dublin to play a free gig by way of apology.

Robbie was due to perform Let Me Entertain You at the close of the gig when the risky stunt backfired.

He told the crowd afterwards: “I can let you into a little secret. When I was up there I was supposed to come down in a gondola and it was going to be entertainment at its highest peak.


“But when the man standing behind you says, ‘It’s f****d’ in front of 70,000 people, you panic. Being in a white tracksuit probably wasn’t the best thing to be in.

“You’ll never know how much panic went through my mind when I was up there. You’ve been much better than me.

“I’ve not been very good tonight so I will come back and do it for free.”

Robbie and ex-bandmates Take That had been competing for the biggest stage spectacular of the year — and until the last-minute hitch it was too close to call.

The alien-mad singer had given his tour a Close Encounters theme and it kicked off with fireworks and special flame effects blazing around the stage at Croke Park.

As the Close Encounters movie theme tune played, a countdown flashed on the screen with the warning, “Gentlemen and ladies — this is not a drill.”

Then, to a backdrop of weird ancient Egyptian symbols. the man himself shot up through the base of a podium in the middle of the crowd.

Wearing a black three-quarter length coat, jeans and a camp pink scarf, Robbie broke into hit track Radio as 78,000 fans went wild.

Rock DJ got the crowd in even more of a frenzy but after his third track, Tripping, the Loving Angels star had a breather and a cup of tea!

Addressing fans, he said: “It’s been too long. I don’t know how Mick Jagger does this. I’m knackered!”

He moved on to more songs from his current album — Monsoon and latest single Sin, Sin, Sin. That last song may have flopped in the charts but die-hard fans still knew all the words.

After the rousing Millennium, Robbie was joined on the stage by a surprise guest, best mate Jonathan Wilkes.

The TV host is travelling with Robbie throughout the tour, and the pair duetted on the classic Me And My Shadow

Robbie followed that with Take That favourite Back For Good — probably so he can get in some practise for his own “surprise” appearance on their tour.

Singing No Regrets straight after underlines his feelings towards his old muckers.

He briefly left the stage before screaming fans dragged him back for a finale including Let Me Entertain You — and that ill-fated attempt at a stunt.

Source: http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,4-2006260814,00.html

Two good photos but can't save them http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/frech/c055.gif

Robbie Williams promises free Irish concert

Sat Jun 10, 2006

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Pop star Robbie Williams promised Irish fans a free concert after kicking off the summer leg of his world tour in Dublin with what he said was a disappointing performance on Friday.

The 32-year-old, who said he wished he'd opened his sell-out "Close Encounter" tour in a village hall rather than in front of 90,000 screaming fans, made the promise after a stunt at the end of the show failed to come off.

Williams was meant to descend on a gondola from a rig above the stage during his song "Let Me Entertain You" but the device didn't work and Williams was forced to rush back down to the stage.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/1madlady/dublin1.jpg

After the song, Williams admitted what had happened and said he didn't feel he had performed as well as he could. His pledge to host a free gig was greeted with huge applause and cheers from an already animated audience packed into Dublin's Croke Park stadium.

"I'll be back before the end of the year," he said.


Source: http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2006-06-10T020224Z_01_L09662366_RTRUKOC_0_UK-ROBBIE.xml

He was originally booked in to play three gigs at Croke Park, maybe the later one will be instead of the two that never happened! Probably cos of the England match today!

dubious vocals of Jonny? are they deaf?

Croke Park - Dublin

Fireworks shot into the Dublin sky as entertainer Robbie Williams greeted 80,000 adoring fans to kick off his European tour.
"How are you doin'?" he asked, but did not have to, as the crowd screamed back at him begging the star to start the evening's entertainment.

He duly obliged. The first of a night of hits and a number one to boot, Radio, brought the thousands to their feet. And there they stayed.
Rock DJ followed to which everyone joined in without him asking.
Letting his fans do the work the pop icon who began life as a star in Take That swaggered down a flight of stairs towards his fans encouraging them to sing along.

As he walked to the edge of the stage two England flags draped from the barriers greeted him along with a message "Robbie's Angels".
The St George's Cross a rare sight in Dublin's Croke Park the home of Ireland's Gaelic games.

The first night of this 40-leg tour gave fans across Europe a taste of what is to come.

The crowd of 80,000 screamed as the star sang, danced, strutted and teased his way through the night.

Robbie, an ardent football fan relaxed before the gig in his back-stage dressing room by watching Germany beat Costa Rica in the opening game of the World Cup.

source (http://uk.news.yahoo.com/09062006/344/t/dublin-hosts-robbie-euro-tour-start.html)
Thanks to RW Italy

DUBLIN UP

ROBBIE Williams wowed 78,000 fans in Dublin last night - and promised them a repeat performance for free.

Robbie, touring for the first time in three years, showed he'd lost none of his magic in a two-hour set.


Even when a stunt to lower him on stage in a gondola failed to work, he thrilled the Crowe Park Stadium crowd by telling them: "I'm coming back and doing another show for free. On my next show the f***ing gondola will work!"


But from the moment he came on, it was clear we were in for a special night as he bounded around the stage.

It seemed to catch up with him and at one point as he gasped: "I want to know how Mick Jagger does this stuff. I'm 32 and knackered. He's about 105 and still does it!"


Not that the crowd minded one bit as they helped him belt out classics such Millennium and Let Me Entertain You.

They even indulged him as he enlisted the dubious vocal talents of best pal Jonathan Wilkes for the aptly-named Me And My Shadow as well as Strong.


And there was the moment thousands had waited for as he sang Back For Good in tribute to Take That.

To crown it all was the encore, when Robbie appeared behind us all for a rousing rendition of Angels.

Then he was gone, with 38 more gigs ahead of him. And on this evidence he'll have every fan praying for a dodgy gondola and a repeat gig.

www.mirror.co.uk (http://www.mirror.co.uk)

Rob's disaster Dublin gig

http://images.thesun.co.uk/images/trans.gifhttp://images.thesun.co.uk/picture/0,,2006261827,00.jpgBefore stunt ... Rob sings to adoring fans
http://images.thesun.co.uk/images/trans.gifhttp://images.thesun.co.uk/images/trans.gif Also in today's Bizarrehttp://images.thesun.co.uk/images/trans.gifhttp://images.thesun.co.uk/images/trans.gifhttp://images.thesun.co.uk/images/trans.gifhttp://images.thesun.co.uk/images/trans.gifhttp://images.thesun.co.uk/images/trans.gifhttp://images.thesun.co.uk/images/trans.gifhttp://images.thesun.co.uk/images/trans.gif

http://images.thesun.co.uk/images/trans.gifhttp://images.thesun.co.uk/images/trans.gifhttp://images.thesun.co.uk/images/trans.gifhttp://images.thesun.co.uk/images/trans.gifhttp://images.thesun.co.uk/images/trans.gifhttp://images.thesun.co.uk/images/trans.gifhttp://images.thesun.co.uk/images/trans.gifhttp://images.thesun.co.uk/images/trans.gifROBBIE WILLIAMS set out to rock Dublin last night ? but the opening night of his tour almost ended in disaster.
During the show?s finale, the singer was supposed to drop almost 100ft to the stage in a ?gondola? ? but things went badly wrong.
A technical glitch meant Robbie ended up running on to the set in a panic as fire exploded around him.
Clearly shocked, the fuming singer later slated the concert, saying it was so awful he would come back to Dublin to play a free gig by way of apology.

Robbie was due to perform Let Me Entertain You at the close of the gig when the risky stunt backfired.
He told the crowd afterwards: ?I can let you into a little secret. When I was up there I was supposed to come down in a gondola and it was going to be entertainment at its highest peak.


http://images.thesun.co.uk/picture/0,,2006261829,00.jpgRob ... enjoying himself

?But when the man standing behind you says, ?It?s f****d? in front of 70,000 people, you panic. Being in a white tracksuit probably wasn?t the best thing to be in.
?You?ll never know how much panic went through my mind when I was up there. You?ve been much better than me.
?I?ve not been very good tonight so I will come back and do it for free.?
Robbie and ex-bandmates Take That had been competing for the biggest stage spectacular of the year ? and until the last-minute hitch it was too close to call.
The alien-mad singer had given his tour a Close Encounters theme and it kicked off with fireworks and special flame effects blazing around the stage at Croke Park.

As the Close Encounters movie theme tune played, a countdown flashed on the screen with the warning, ?Gentlemen and ladies ? this is not a drill.?
Then, to a backdrop of weird ancient Egyptian symbols. the man himself shot up through the base of a podium in the middle of the crowd.

http://images.thesun.co.uk/picture/0,,2006261697,00.jpgPrivate plane ... sing when you're winging


Wearing a black three-quarter length coat, jeans and a camp pink scarf, Robbie broke into hit track Radio as 78,000 fans went wild.Rock DJ got the crowd in even more of a frenzy but after his third track, Tripping, the Loving Angels star had a breather and a cup of tea!
Addressing fans, he said: ?It?s been too long. I don?t know how Mick Jagger does this. I?m knackered!?
He moved on to more songs from his current album ? Monsoon and latest single Sin, Sin, Sin. That last song may have flopped in the charts but die-hard fans still knew all the words.

After the rousing Millennium, Robbie was joined on the stage by a surprise guest, best mate Jonathan Wilkes.

The TV host is travelling with Robbie throughout the tour, and the pair duetted on the classic Me And My Shadow
Robbie followed that with Take That favourite Back For Good ? probably so he can get in some practise for his own ?surprise? appearance on their tour.
Singing No Regrets straight after underlines his feelings towards his old muckers.
He briefly left the stage before screaming fans dragged him back for a finale including Let Me Entertain You ? and that ill-fated attempt at a stunt.

www.thesun.co.uk (http://www.thesun.co.uk)

dubious vocals of Jonny? are they deaf?

just the three http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/figuren/c050.gif http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/figuren/c050.gifhttp://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/figuren/c050.gifagain http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/frech/p015.gif

dubious vocals of Jonny? are they deaf?

No, just stupid.

I'm guessing they wernt even there.The entire article is made up of the stuff released elsewhere.

I'm guessing they wernt even there.The entire article is made up of the stuff released elsewhere.
they won't have been there - they can't come out til midnight :lol:

Its so funny to read all the reports journalists obviously need ears testing. Most of those quotes are totally wrong. He said that he hadn't rehearsed enough, and he should have done a village hall before Croker. Then when the gondala didn't work he said he'd do a gig for free, but he said that he was so nervous he didn't feel he gave the Dublin crowd what we gave him back and that he would see us before the end of the year. We'll see what happens!!

http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/liebe/d070.gif Serc for putting the record straight http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/froehlich/a020.gif Bloody tabloids, they always have to put a spin on everything http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/boese/a040.gif

Serc what was the set list http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/konfus/a040.gif Please please tell me that he did do 'A place to crash' http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/froehlich/g040.gif

He did do a Place to Crash. My memory is crap though I can't really remember the order so if anyone was there and can help me out!! He started with Radio, then Rock DJ, then Trippin. But the order after that is a bit hazy he did about five before heading off to get changed. Then Jonny came out and they did Me and My Shadow and Strong. In between the split the audience to sing, but they hadn't rehearsed it so it was quite funny. He did Sin Sin Sin, Advertising Space, Millenium, Oh Yeah, Place to Crash, Back for Good, No Regrets, (Unlike the Sun report, he said he def won't be doing any Take That gigs, he has a rather successful tour of his own to do, he did say nice things about their meeting up though) Monsoon. He finished up with Let Me Entertain You (probably now the most publicised rendition of it) which he only sang half of it (I actually thought he was scared of the height or something) and finished with Angels and cried! He said he'd be back by the end of the year, I hope he does, but I won't be holding my breath!

I'm sure I've left something out, so any other people who went to the gig, what did I miss!

Make me pure?

Did he do an encore?

Yeah, Let me Entertain You and Angels were the encore

Ahh thanks :)

http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/liebe/d070.gif Serc http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/froehlich/a035.gif Poor man, I bet he was terrified http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/konfus/a090.gif

Robbie Williams, Croke Park, Dublin

A maudlin night of self-absorption that does not come cheap

By Ben Walsh Published: 10 June 2006 Independent online edition




"Take That have reformed without me," Robbie pronounces to a chorus of jeers. "I tried desperately to get on that tour, and they wouldn't have me (comedy pause), which isn't strictly true. I had a fantastically successful tour to do. I'm busy."
The great mass of humanity, 78,000 of them, cheer before Robbie launches into a sentimental rendition of "Back for Good", the best song Take That did.
One thing you can say for Robbie is he doesn't need to fall back on material from his former band. His solo material stands up on its own. Like Cliff, Cilla and Elton, Robbie now looms large enough in the nation's consciousness to drop the surname. He is one of ours, and tonight he straps and gurns his way through the first gig of an epic tour.
The stage is suitably expensive and there is a barrage of coloured lights. It's good to know hefty ticket prices were put to good use.
Since his pinnacle in 2002, when he duetted with the freshly single dish of the day Nicole Kidman on "Something Stupid" (tonight he duets with his best pal, Jonathan Wilkes), things haven't quite worked out as planned for Robbie.
The once-mooted film career never materialised, and the Americans didn't take to his pop-rock shtick. To paraphrase Ultravox, it meant nothing to them. They prefer the drab James Blunt. And after his little stint with Wilkes, it's barely surprising.
The two pals do an Eric and Ernie stage routine to "Me and My Shadow", which is not entirely coherent, and then ask the crowd to do a karaoke version of "Strong".
The crowd gamely oblige. However, at least this is distracting, as the rest of the night seems to be strewn with maudlin soft rock and confessional anthems. It seems Robbie's ego was first stranded (after the Take That fall-out), then it landed (at Glastonbury in 1998). Now it's painfully candid (on most of the songs on his new album Intensive Care).
After kicking off with a rousing "Radio" and the Queen-like stadium-pleasing "Rock DJ", he follows with a rather bleak rock set, including the resentful "Tripping" with the vitriolic lyrics, "First they ignore you, then they laugh and hate you, then they fight you, then you win." And his ode to self-loathing, "The Trouble with Me"
He's receiving a lot of love tonight. Worship, even. And "Millennium", the James Bond kitschy number, lightens the mood considerably.
He even manages to pull a blue-steel look from the film Zoolander. After "Millennium", he trudges through more morose power ballads, including the noisome "Make Me Pure", which contains the lyrics "I don't have to try, I just dial it in." But he can't dial it in tonight, not on these ticket prices.
The encore is the most thrilling section of the night. He ends on the enjoyable stomp "Let Me Entertain You" and then, of course, "Angels", the song that saved him from penury and appearances on Celebrity Big Brother. It is the ultimate raised-lighter moment and almost washes away the self-absorption of his material before.
There were even moments, weak moments, when you almost missed Gary Barlow and the boys being there with him. Maybe, sometime soon, there'll be a day when Robbie will need Take That more than they need him.s

"Take That have reformed without me," Robbie pronounces to a chorus of jeers. "I tried desperately to get on that tour, and they wouldn't have me (comedy pause), which isn't strictly true. I had a fantastically successful tour to do. I'm busy."
The great mass of humanity, 78,000 of them, cheer before Robbie launches into a sentimental rendition of "Back for Good", the best song Take That did.
One thing you can say for Robbie is he doesn't need to fall back on material from his former band. His solo material stands up on its own. Like Cliff, Cilla and Elton, Robbie now looms large enough in the nation's consciousness to drop the surname. He is one of ours, and tonight he straps and gurns his way through the first gig of an epic tour.
The stage is suitably expensive and there is a barrage of coloured lights. It's good to know hefty ticket prices were put to good use.
Since his pinnacle in 2002, when he duetted with the freshly single dish of the day Nicole Kidman on "Something Stupid" (tonight he duets with his best pal, Jonathan Wilkes), things haven't quite worked out as planned for Robbie.
The once-mooted film career never materialised, and the Americans didn't take to his pop-rock shtick. To paraphrase Ultravox, it meant nothing to them. They prefer the drab James Blunt. And after his little stint with Wilkes, it's barely surprising.
The two pals do an Eric and Ernie stage routine to "Me and My Shadow", which is not entirely coherent, and then ask the crowd to do a karaoke version of "Strong".
The crowd gamely oblige. However, at least this is distracting, as the rest of the night seems to be strewn with maudlin soft rock and confessional anthems. It seems Robbie's ego was first stranded (after the Take That fall-out), then it landed (at Glastonbury in 1998). Now it's painfully candid (on most of the songs on his new album Intensive Care).

The Trouble with Me, I knew I forgot one, at least that cynical article was good for something!!!!

is this last review worth reading. I read the first paragraph and got so cross I stopped http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/midi/boese/a134.gif

What the f**k is the point of sending someone who obviously hates the artist concerned to review a concert ? Fair enough, you don't want to send an obsessed person either, but at least send someone prepared to have a good time.

not sure where to put this, but here's the set list from Dublin, with big thanks to Fans-supreme http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/midi/liebe/f050.gif

Radio
-Rock DJ
-Tripping
-Monsoon
-Sin sin sin
-Trouble with me
-Millenium
-Make me pure
-Me and my shadow
-Strong
-Back for good
-No regrets
-Advertising space
-Place to crash
-Feel
-Come undone
......................
-Let me entertain you
-Angels

Thanks hun, ive been after that :)

THE ROB'S A GOOD'UN
LIVE REVIEW Williams wows as tour starts
By Cath Bennett
source (http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/therazz/tm_objectid=17207763%26method=full%26siteid=66633% 26headline=the%2drob%2ds%2da%2dgood%2dun-name_page.html)

More than 78,000 fans squeezed into Croke Park to see one of the world's best showmen sing his heart out.

Ditching his usual opening Let Me Entertain You, he launched into Radio and dazzled throughout the two-hour set.

But Robbie admitted he was nervous. He told the crowd: "I was s****ing myself before I came on. There's so many of you. You'd think I'd be used to it by now."

The title of the tour was inspired by the 1977 sci-fi movie and crop circles, alien abduction and space ships all featured in the show. But it was the Robster himself who the crowd wanted to see on the giant screens - and every cheeky grin and wink was greeted with hysterical screams.

Radio was followed by Rock DJ and last year's comeback track, Trippin. Although material from Intensive Care was well received, it was the old favourites that went down best, and Millennium had the whole crowd bouncing along.

For Me And My Shadow, Robbie was joined by best pal Jonathan Wilkes, who remained on stage to duet on Strong. The encore was a blinder - Let Me Entertain You, followed by Kids, and finishing with Angels.

And Robbie, who'll be in Scotland in September, revealed that he definitely won't be joining Take That on their comeback tour.

He said: "I couldn't do the tour because I had a tremendously successful tour of my own to do. B*****ks to that, I'm doing my own stuff."

Robbie red-hot in Dublin as world tour gets off to rocking start

By Sonya Rabbitte Jun 10, 2006

Dublin - When tickets for the European leg of Robbie Williams' world tour went on sale last November, 1.6 million were snapped up on the first day - earning Williams an estimated 80 million pounds (147.5 million dollars) and a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the fastest and largest ticket sales in a single day.

Judging from the rapturous welcome that greeted Robbie at the start of his world tour this weekend, many of the 90,000 Irish fans who bought tickets that day were happy to have helped smash the record.

Amid an impressive fireworks display and thunderous applause, Williams, dressed in a black coat and red scarf, took to the stage at Dublin's Croke Park stadium Friday for the first night of his five- month world tour. Launching straight into a set that included Radio, Rock DJ and Tripping from his latest album Intensive Care, Robbie had the fans cheering wildly from the start, setting the scene for a two- hour musical extravaganza.

Many fans had waited for hours in scorching heat to see their rock hero and they were not left disappointed. The hot evening sun only helped fire their enthusiasm. Old favourites were mixed with new tracks and classics such as Millenium and No Regrets were interspersed with the newest singles, Advertising Space and Sin, Sin, Sin. As dusk fell more than a few of the estimated 90,000 fans whipped out cigarette lighters for a heartfelt version of Feel.

There may still be 14 dates in 44 countries before the tour wraps up in Melbourne on December 17, but it seemed that the former Take That star was feeling the burn on night one. 'I don't know how Mick Jagger does this, I'm 32 and I'm knackered,' said a smiling Robbie a couple of songs into his set.

But he trooped on regardless, performing a duet with best mate and special guest Jonathon Wilkes. Not content with one record, there were efforts to set a second one for Dublin's largest Karaoke sing-a- long. With Williams and Wilkes leading proceedings from the stage tens of thousands of voices sang along to Strong. It might not have set the Guinness Book of Records hopping but it went down a storm with the elated fans in Croke Park.

A surprise track was Take That's Back for Good. While many in the audience may have been mere toddlers when the boyband were strutting their stuff, there were enough cheering fans who remembered the boyband heyday. Over ten years after his Take That departure, Robbie was quick to put to bed rumours that he was still at odds with his former band members and wished them well in their upcoming reunion tour.

As night fell he rounded up his set with Come Undone, leaving the stage to impassioned pleas for more. He did not let the fans down. Within minutes he was back, clad in a white tracksuit, for a two-song encore. A stomping version of Let Me Entertain You was followed by a tear jerking rendition of Angels, the single that kickstarted solo showbiz success for the former boy band member.

The crowd cheered, fireworks exploded. No one wanted to go home. But Robbie wasn't happy. He was twenty feet up in the air preparing to perform a stunt at the climax of Let Me Entertain You. The crowd may have been red hot, but on this particular night the electronics behind his sky-high Gondola stunt weren't.

'I've disappointed you,' he told fans. 'You've given more than I have' - judging from the audience's energy that might not have been too far from the truth.

With promises of a free concert, complete with fully functioning Gondola stunt, Robbie made his final stage exit. 'I'll be back in Dublin before the end of the year,' he shouted. Judging from the ear splitting roars of approval he won't be the only one there.


Souce: http://music.monstersandcritics.com/features/article_1171735.php/Robbie_red-hot_in_Dublin_as_world_tour_gets_off_to_rocking_st art
© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Great article, thanks Mon :)

The concert was amazing!!! Fuck all them bad reports, it was the first nite of the tour for god sake!! It is possible that he was really nervous about it and the glitch didnt help but nobody in the crowd cared about that!!! He was sooo good. Cant see him coming back to Croke Park this year tho. If im right, they only hold 3 concerts a year at Croker and Bon Jovi, Robbie and somebody else is/has played this year.

gonna be a bit late in the year for outdoor events too, by the time he is "free". unless there are any indoor places.

Dublin - With ear-splitting roars an adoring audience greeted Robbie Williams as he kickstarted the European leg of his world tour in Dublin on Friday.

An estimated 90,000 fans turned up for the sold-out event in Dublin Croke Park and the hot evening sun only helped fire their enthusiasm.

The fans were treated to a fireworks display before Williams took to the stage. Wearing a black coat and red scarf, he kickstarted the set with the classic Rock DJ and Tripping from his new album Intensive Care.

From his first appearance the record-breaking singer had the fans cheering wildly, setting the scene for a two-hour musical extravanganza.

Many fans had waited for hours in scorching heat for the event and they were not left disappointed. The crowd rocked to favourites like Millenium and Strong, while 90,000 voices accompanied Robbie on a heartfelt version of Feel.

Rounding up the set with Come Undone, Robbie left the stage to impassioned cries for more. He did not let the fans down. A stomping encore set included Let Me Entertain You and a cheer-jerking rendition of Angels.

Source: http://music.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1171559.php

© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

It says in today's Irish Mirror that it will be in December and that his manager has been on to Croke Park already. But I don't think he'll get Croke Park again they only do a few concerts a year, we shall see I guess!

Robbie Williams

Croke Park, Dublin

Caroline Sullivan
Monday June 12, 2006 The Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/)

There's only one person in this army of 78,000 who isn't having a whale of a time, and that's the one around whom the whole thing revolves. Pink with exertion as he trots into the home stretch of the two-hour show, Robbie Williams is feeling critical of his opening-night performance. He's not simply miffed about having hit a bum note, or some such; he thinks the entire evening was below par.

"I don't feel I've done the best I can tonight. I haven't been very good." He pauses earnestly. "So I'm going to come back and do it again - for free." The video cameras mischievously swing toward Williams' manager at the side of the stage. His face is fixed in a stunned rictus grin. Clearly, he'll be having words with his charge about the recklessness of offering, in front of 78,000 witnesses, to stage a show of this magnitude (the tour programme lists no fewer than 200 personnel) "for free".You can, however, understand where Williams is coming from. The one place in the world where he is second to none is on the stage. His gigs are where Robbie agnostics become believers, justifying his 10 years of ubiquity. If he doesn't cut it in front of an audience, where does that leave him?

And tonight, as he asserts, he wasn't all he could have been. For the first half-hour, he simply doesn't engage. Surprisingly for a celebrity who is positively American in offering a running account of his private life, tonight he's just not sharing. Radio and new single Sin Sin Sin generically chug by. After Trippin', he swigs a cup of tea, confessing: "I'm 32 and I'm knackered."

Finally, Williams turns from the disappointing Intensive Care album to the stuff we really want to hear, and a spark of life burns through his torpor. "I was wondering last night what it'd be like to have 90,000 people blow on me," he says, and from that surreal moment on, he's properly Robbie. Millennium, Strong and, obviously, Angels are melancholically perfect, and the Take That classic Back for Good gets a hammy kicking: "They reformed without me! They wouldn't have me on the tour!"

But just as he's about to end the show in triumph, a hydraulic lift malfunctions during Let Me Entertain You, forcing him to abort a stunt. It throws Williams into a funk, and this is when he contritely offers the free show. If it ever happens, and he's on form, it will be a heck of a party.

Stuff the stunts, it's the songs that rock the stadium

Neil McCormick reviews Robbie Williams at Croke Park in Dublin
Three songs into the opening of his summer tour at the enormous Croke Park stadium in Dublin, Robbie Williams is puffing for breath. "I don't know how Mick Jagger keeps doing this," he gasps. "I'm 32 and I'm f***ing knackered."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/graphics/2006/06/12/bmrobbie.jpgBig, bold and emotional:
Robbie WilliamsPlaying stadiums is perhaps the most specialised task in popular entertainment, and not many performers do it particularly well. Spectacle, volume and big gestures are required to replace more subtle and intimate musical pleasures, and the tiny dot at the centre of the show has to have an ego and charisma big enough to hold the centre of vast spaces full of tens of thousands of other dots, many of them peering through binoculars. At least Jagger has a great band to share the load. Williams is really on his own out there.

The last band to play Croke Park were hometown heroes U2, and design-wise this is basically a U2 show, fronted by a Bono mini-me. It is a huge improvement on Williams's last end-of-the-pier karaoke set. Gone are the dancers and lazy backdrops, in come vast LED screens flashing ironic messages, neon-lit second stages, runways, platforms and pyrotechnics, all framed by two enormous cranes.

Yet, somehow, the hi-tech splendour only emphasises the emptiness at the heart of the experience. Not so much Zoo TV as Saturday night light entertainment with dry ice, this is the medium without the message, a show that barely even aspires to becoming more than the sum of its parts. At times, the leering, gurning silliness and bottom-of-the-barrel declarations ("I like tits!" proclaims Williams, as he marshals all the technology at his disposal to focus on some random cleavage) are cringe-inducing.

What he does have are songs: big songs, bold songs, emotional songs, with the kind of perfectly simple melodies and sentiments that can get 78,000 people belting them out in unison. When Williams and his fans lose themselves in the chorus of songs with as much yearning and vulnerability as Strong and Feel, you get a sense of how great he could really be.

He lives entirely in the moment. Delivering raunchy good-time pop, he looks as happy as a spring bunny, but during the self-lacerating Come Undone the big screens show him close to tears. There is something utterly compelling about witnessing this complicated everyman's neuroses played out in this enormous crucible, with the audience roaring loving approval as he confesses: "I am scum, but I'm your son."

The grand finale should have involved a vertigo-inducing descent from the top of a crane but, due to a technical hitch, Williams climbs up, only to have to climb back down, muttering about Spinal Tap. He gets away with it because the real climax is not a stunt, it is the crowd singing Angels with him. It is a moment that suggests Williams could still be doing this when he is as old as Jagger, he just needs to learn to trust his songs.

source (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/06/12/bmrobbie12.xml&sSheet=/arts/2006/06/12/ixartleft.html)

Na, it wont be in Croke Park and esp not in December. It would be rainin all the time. Jez i wonder if its really true!! How would it work tho, the free concert?? Would they just have competitions to win tix or somethin?

I've been thinking about this and it would have to be a free concert for the ones who had attended fridays as it was that one he was disappointed with, and those people he feel he 'owes' more..

I'd advise hanging onto wrist bands and ticket stubs ;)

I dunno about everybody else at the Dublin concert but none of our 3 ticket stubs got ripped. I still have a full ticket, stub and all. It was weird cuz at everyother concert they rip off the stub of it but they didnt this time, very strange! Altho we did have our tickets checked at about 5 different gates.

Trouble with Robbie
By John Aizlewood, Evening Standard
Dublin, Croke Park
source (http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/articles/22858894?source=Evening%20Standard)


Sometimes it's only fair to let the acts review themselves. "I wasn't so good tonight," admitted Robbie Williams to 70,000 Dubliners at the end of the first performance of his European tour.

And just to show that pop's most unashamed ham wasn't being disingenuous, after securing permission from his manager, ashen-faced on one of the big screens, Williams promised to return before the year's end to play for free.

Trouble with Robbie (http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/articles/22860656?source=Metro)
In fairness, the man dressed as Steptoe's errant cousin was being slightly harsh on himself, but such are the perils of a career based on personality rather than music.

The sound was wretched, the set amateurishly paced (roughly, a chunk of new album tracks followed by some hits) and his vaudeville version of Me And My Shadow, alongside his mini-me Jonathan Wilkes, would have been excruciatingly embarrassing at a family wedding.

And, in the moment that seemed to tip him into his free show, the gondola meant to ferry him from the very top of the gantr, down to the stage during Let Me Entertain You malfunctioned.

Yet, in such moments, his charmingly frank disclosure of what had not happened endeared him further still to his public. As he instinctively understands, his appeal lies in himself, rather than the wretched Rock DJ or Trouble With Me.

He swore profusely, he apologised for swearing profusely and in one genuinely funny moment he asked everyone to blow on him to see what happened. The results were delivered with exemplary comic timing: "Nothing. Absolutely f*** all." However, there were moments when Williams, his music and genuine sense of occasion gelled.

Surprisingly, Wilkes redeemed himself on the duet, Strong; an acoustic version of Take That's Back For Good ("I desperately wanted to be on that reunion tour," he fibbed) was a loving singalong and No Regrets and Feel had genuine pathos, despite Williams's incessant gurning.

Best of all came last of all. Angels may well be a saccharine self-help ballad, but sung by the massed voices of Dublin with Williams - less mocking of it than he once was - on occasional accompaniment, it assumed a life and shivery dignity of its own.

The show reaches Britain in September, by which time what "wasn't so good" might just be very good indeed.

Robbie Williams

Lisa Verrico at Croke Park, Dublin

http://images.thetimes.co.uk/images/trans.gif
A MALFUNCTIONING stage prop proved a handy scapegoat, but Robbie Williams had only himself to blame for a disappointing start to his European tour, which reaches Britain at the start of September.

A performance that lacked passion until the last 20 minutes suggested that the singer would prefer to stay at home rather than play for more than 80,000 fans in Dublin.

At the end of the evening, when the sole big stunt of his show let him down — he was meant to descend from a high-rise walkway in a gondola, but it wouldn’t move — Williams promised to return to the city to play a free concert by way of compensation. Compensation for the gondola or for the gig? Some assumed that it was the former, but the man widely regarded as pop’s premier entertainer has never needed stunts to put on a good show.

Radio and Rock DJ were wearily reeled out as the show’s openers, with Williams occasionally making his way to a small second stage out in the crowd. Once there, though, he didn’t seem sure what to do and tended to beat a hasty retreat back to his band, or to blend in between five backing singers.

He didn’t look too healthy either, and by a terrible Tripping he was dripping in sweat, shown in scary close-up on the big screens. After only ten minutes he said: “I’m 32 and I’m f**kin’ knackered.” He should have tried taking his coat off.

Williams continued to search — although not very hard — for the showman inside during Monsoon, Trouble With Me and the dreary recent single Sin Sin Sin. Then, just after Millennium had prompted an increase in energy levels and an acoustic guitar-backed Pure provided his first beguiling vocal of the night, on walked Jonathan Wilkes to duet on a shockingly soppy showtune rendition of Me & My Shadow.

Robbie may well need a mate right now, but he shouldn’t parade them in public. Some company, however, seemed to suit him, and by Strong he was finally finding his feet.

It was Take That’s Back For Good that really got the gig going, despite Williams dousing his ex-bandmates’ hopes of a guest appearance on their reunion tour — sorry guys, he says he’s too busy. Even better was Come Undone — the only track to make sufficient use of four guitarists — which segued seamlessly into Walk On the Wild Side.

A fabulous Feel then closed the show, with Williams disappearing through a hole in the stage. He reappeared up on the walkway for an encore of Let Me Entertain You, where he suffered his Spinal Tap-style gondola moment.

Funnily enough, it was when the stunt went wrong that Williams finally turned the charm up to ten and seemed like a real superstar. Suddenly, he had a challenge on his hands, if only to get down without looking silly. The rest of the time, it was all too easy. The gig was poor, yet the crowd still screamed for every song. Robbie Williams doesn’t have to try anymore, but that’s no excuse.

source (http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,14936-2221247.html)

cant do with people ****ging it off already !!

me 'n all http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/midi/boese/a010.gif

It was his first night so he's bound to be a bit rusty and scared (sh*tless!!). Yes he's done it before, but that doesn't make it any easier.

I just hope he doesn't let the reviews (and the technical hitches) get to him.

I hope they do get to him tbh, and he comes back and kicks ass

I dunno about everybody else at the Dublin concert but none of our 3 ticket stubs got ripped. I still have a full ticket, stub and all. It was weird cuz at everyother concert they rip off the stub of it but they didnt this time, very strange! Altho we did have our tickets checked at about 5 different gates.

same thing happened to us. i'm goin to keep hold of my tickets just in case

hi by the way! i'm new to pure robbie. looking 4ward to joining in.

Hi Sheps, and welcome to the forum http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/midi/froehlich/a010.gif . Why not introduce yourself in the Been Expecting You thread http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/midi/froehlich/a013.gif

http://www.purerobbie.com/forumdisplay.php?f=2

thanks, will do that

Rob, whatever happens, we love you...

Rob, whatever happens, we love you...

Exactly!! Only thing is now that he has said he will come back and do a free concert, if he doesnt the media will slate him no end!!! He doesnt need that esp when he has just started a world tour. I was at the Dublin concert and when he siad it we just took it in jest like id say alot of people did but we all know what the media are like.

Teresa, he'll do it. be sure. he can't do it right away but he'll do it. I'm certain. You know, one thing he is indeed is ambitious. he might not admit but he is. he wants to do his stuff perfect and he will come back to dublin. as he said, people carried him that night although it was so easy to spot how bad he felt. he will pay you back for that as well.

Do ya really think he will? He shouldnt feel like he has to tho!! If he does, he will have just finished a world tour, he will be exhausted!!! It would be fab if he did but i dont think he's fans expect him to. To have him play here once is enough!

I think he will do it !!

Yes. I'm sure he will. And he might give you the time of your life finishing his tour...

well just back from a week in portugal and a quick look thru the threads shows fairly positive reactions to the dublin gig.
I'll get the camera charged up tonight and hopefully get some <more> pics up soon,
throughly enjoyed the concert myself BTW!
still puzzled about the "free" gig later this yr thou

great pics from dublin check them out on this site www.piczo.com/woooooods

http://p5.piczo.com/img/i86833607_56732_5.jpg

http://p5.piczo.com/img/i87079223_90259_5.jpgwww.piczo.com/woooooods?g=17624444&cr=5

that is an amazing photo woody

great picture , i am all flustered

great pics

Seems a bit unlikely, but you never know. Stranger things have happened!

Interesting reading..The good ,the bad and the ugly reviews :lol:

Robbie entertained FAS guests to the tune of €2,255

Friday February 19 2010

THE head of the department which signed off on the "golden-handshake" package for former FAS chief Rody Molloy was brought to a Robbie Williams concert at taxpayers' expense..

(My note: Well better that than a house for ducks :foottap: )

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment secretary general Sean Gorman was among a group of 28 people invited by FAS to the concert in Croke Park in 2006. The other invited guests included Mr Molloy, GAA president Christy Cooney, an AIB banker and two senior members of the Labour Relations Commission.

Mr Gorman confirmed yesterday that he did attend the Robbie Williams concert as a guest of FAS. A former board member of FAS, he was appointed secretary general of the Enterprise Department in 2004 and was involved in the negotiations over the severance package for Mr Molloy in November 2008.

The former director general was given a pension worth €111,000 a year, a once-off lump sum of €333,000, and another payment worth €111,000. He also retained an Audi car worth €20,800 after resigning in the wake of controversy over his spending on foreign travel.

The Public Accounts Committee heard yesterday that FAS did not have details of how many of those invited actually attended the June 2006 concert, which cost the organisation €2,255 for tickets and food.

At the concert, Robbie Williams promised to give the 78,000 fans present another "free concert" (which never materialised) after admitting that he was disappointed with his performance on the night.

The committee heard yesterday that the report ordered by Tanaiste Mary Coughlan into Mr Molloy's severance package had found there was "no legal basis" to overturn it. Mr Gorman said this was the advice from the Attorney General, after claims were made about deliberate withholding of information from the FAS board.

Another committee member, Fianna Fail TD Darragh O'Brien, said he was "very disappointed" with the view taken on the severance package, which was approved by Finance Minister Brian Lenihan and Ms Coughlan.

Package

"It is remiss of everyone involved that we didn't seek legal advice before the package was signed off on," he said. The committee published a letter yesterday from FAS executive Terry Corcoran, who was moved aside from his position as head of internal audit by Mr Molloy. He said his investigation into spending irregularities in FAS had been constrained by senior management who were worried about "possible damage to the image of FAS".

He wrote that almost all of the controversial spending on sporting events and concerts had been approved by Mr Molloy. Between 2002 and 2008, Fas paid €35,000 for tickets to events such as matches and concerts, including tickets for Billy Joel, Bon Jovi, the Police, Westlife and Neil Diamond.

Fine Gael committee chairman Bernard Allen said the FAS executives who organised the hospitality were operating in a "parallel universe" while staff working on the ground had to "account for every penny".

He also highlighted that alcohol accounted for 40pc of the FAS bill for a workshop held for the International School for Peace -- and for 64pc of a bill for a lunch attended by three FAS personnel to discuss a training project.

FAS director general Paul O'Toole said no spending on concerts or sporting events was being undertaken -- and the FAS foreign travel budget had been cut from an annual average of €420,000 to €90,000 last year.

- Michael Brennan Political Correspondent

Irish Independent