Robbie Williams was forced to pause a recent concert after experiencing “long Covid” symptoms on stage.
The former Take That singer was performing at the Pinkpop music festival in the Netherlands over the weekend when he asked his band to stop playing the next song.
The 49-year-old had just performed his third song, a cover of the Wilson Pickett classic Land of 1000 Dances, when he appeared out of breath.
As his band launched into his next track, the Millennium singer asked them to stop.
“No, stop stop. I’m f**ked. I’m f**ked. It’s long Covid, I’ve got long Covid,” he said before trying to make light of the situation. “It’s not my f**king age, you f**kers.”
Following the pause, the music star continued the set and performed a further 16 songs.
The British hitmaker has had two publicly reported bouts of Covid – April 2020 and January 2021.
Williams was at home in Los Angeles when he first contracted the virus in 2020 and said he was feeling “lethargic, tired and heavy” as he spent three weeks isolating in an Airbnb away from his family home to keep his wife and children safe.
He told his fans at the time: “The mental struggle has been the hardest bit about isolation, making sure we don’t slip into our own dark holes.”
His second bout of Covid occurred while on holiday in St Barts with his wife Ayda and their children and was confined to their villa as he battled the virus before flying home.
His appearance at PinkPop comes as fellow boybander Niall Horan, 29, has revealed he’d love to collaborate with Williams.
The former One Direction star warmed up the crowds for headliner Williams on Sunday at this year’s Isle of Wight Festival.
Before taking to the stage, a festivalgoer mentioned to Horan that it would be great if he got in the studio with the Rock DJ singer, 49.
Responding to the comment, Horan shared: “I’ve known Rob for years. He’s a great guy. We’d have a great session.”
