The Show Off Must Go On

1 October 1997
NORWICH, UK: UEA

2 October 1997
SOUTHAMPTON, UK: GUILDHALL

4 October 1997
NEWPORT, UK: NEWPORT CENTRE

5 October 1997
WOLVERHAMPTON, UK: CIVIC HALL

6 October 1997
MANCHESTER, UK: ACADEMY

8 October 1997
LIVERPOOL, UK: ROYAL COURT

9 October 1997
LEEDS, UK: TOWN & COUNTRY

10 October 1997
GLASGOW, UK: BARROWLANDS

2 October 1997
NEWCASTLE, UK: MAYFAIR

13 October 1997
NOTTINGHAM, UK: ROCK CITY

14 October 1997
SOUTHEND, UK: CLIFFS PAVILION

16 October 1997
LONDON, UK: HAMMERSMITH PALAIS

18 October 1997
CAMBRIDGE, UK: CORN EXCHANGE

20 October 1997
WATFORD, UK: COLISEUM

22 October 1997
DUBLIN, IRELAND: OLYMPIA

7 November 1997
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS: MELKWEG

9 November 1997
BERLIN, GERMANY

10 November 1997
HAMBURG, GERMANY

12 November 1997
COLOGNE, GERMANY

14 November 1997
NUREMBURG, GERMANY

17 November 1997
VIENNA, AUSTRIA

21 November 1997
FLORENCE, ITALY

26 November 1997
BARCELONA, SPAIN

27 November 1997
MADRID, SPAIN: AQUALUNG

Shortly after the release of Life Thru a Lens, Robbie hit the road for his first ever solo tour - a daunting experience to say the least!
After a few lost years away from Take That, he was ready for a fresh start. Set up with new management and a successful song writing partnership, the future was looking bright.

Norwich was Robbie's first stop. Loyal Take That fans were still flocking in droves to see him - but the next step was to establish a new fan base as people began to recognise the unique talents of Robbie Williams, solo artist!

With the tour confined to smaller venues, London's Hammersmith Palais held the biggest crowds of the tour. Preparations were basic and entourage was minimal. Manager David Enthoven explained: "At the beginning we put the band out and were given a stage to play on and that was it."

Before setting out, Robbie offered a sneaky insight to readers of his fanzine, Solo: "To be honest, the tour is the one thing that's keeping me going right now, getting back on stage will be like coming home. I haven't been able to do what I do best for two years - and that's entertain people.There's going to be an acoustic set in the show and I'll do some covers, including Take That songs. I'll probably do a thrash version of Could It Be Magic, but I'll also be playing all my new stuff from the album."

The Show Off Must Go On moved on to Europe shortly after its UK leg, selling out venues and attracting some curious fans.

Still pre-Angels, a pensive Robbie was riddled with insecurities and feeling doubtful that his solo career would ever take off.  Tour manager Franksy recalls: "I remember walking round a lake with him in Italy - it was around the time of his court battle with his former manager and he really thought he was going to be bankrupt. I just had to keep convincing him that it was going to happen. He was so down about it all."

With only a coach each for the band and crew respectively, entourage was minimal, dressing room space was cramped and rehearsals were almost unheard of!