Pop star Robbie Williams became addicted to sex with strangers after giving up drink and drugs while on tour, the singer says in a new book being serialized by a British newspaper.
Extracts from the book “Somebody Someday,” written with Williams’ approval during his European tour earlier this year, were printed in the News of the World tabloid Sunday.
In the book, the singer, 27, talks candidly about his battle with drink and drugs and his love-hate relationship with fame.
“I gave up drink and drugs on the tour and wanted to substitute it with something else, so I had sex. For me it was a compulsion.
“Sexually, you can do what you want, act out however you want to. It’s allowed, I’m a pop star. But it’s soulless.”
Williams said that while it was a powerful feeling to be on stage and make his fans go wild, he feels inferior to other stars despite his enormous success.
“I always want the ground to open up whenever I’m talking to any of my peers like Bonn or Elton John. I don’t feel worthy to be in their company. If I speak to them for too long, they’re going to know I’m a charlatan.”
Williams shot to fame in the mid-1990s as a member of the chart-topping boyband Take That. Since going solo he has become one of Britain’s most successful performers, enjoying a string of hits including “Angel,” “Let Me Entertain You” and “Eternity.”
But the singer has said that although he enjoys writing music, he hates the experience of touring.
“How many times do I have to tour before I actually finally realize that it makes me ill.”
He also put the record straight on his relationship with former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, saying they were not going out together but were just “really good friends.”
