There But For The Grace Of God

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I read with sadness this week that pop star Robbie Williams used his 33rd birthday to check himself into rehab for drink and drug problems. For those of you in the US that don’t know who he is, let me tell you he is huge in the UK and Europe. He started in a boy band called Take That in the early 90’s and launched a solo career about 10 years ago. His first album although coolly received initially by all but the more astute critics soon spread by word of mouth and catapulted him to superstardom. It mixed biting, insightful often auto-biographical lyrics with great pop tunes and was delivered with a rare gusto and verve that eventually got the recognition it deserved

Williams is a brilliant live performer brimming with self-confidence and charisma, adored by the ladies and respected by the guys. He is funny and down to earth whilst at the same time looking to have that hollow look in his eyes that so often accompanies people that are deeply lonely.

It seems there is hardly a week goes by when somebody famous isn’t either exposed as a drug taker, alcohol abuser or sex addict and the only surprise to me is that anybody is ever surprised anymore. Society puts these people on pedestals, gives them wealth beyond avarice, showers them with adulation and then wonders why they find it hard to cope with life away from the spotlight. Quite frankly I am astonished that so many do deal with it and do not end up as total basket cases.

Do you know for a fact that you could deal with the constant pressure of performing to an adoring public? Would the back-biting and relentless digs at you from the more jealous members of the media run off your back with no ill effect? Do you know that you would always say no to that relaxing extra drink or the drugs that would allow you to keep the high well after the event? Isn’t performing to huge crowds an addictive high anyway? If you could manage that and a whole lot more, then congratulations you are indeed a grounded person and I also suspect that you are a member of a small minority.

I have no doubt that many will judge and condemn Robbie Williams and even take pleasure in seeing his downfall. Personally I hope he bounces back better than ever and uses this experience as a valuable lesson in life.