Williams ‘terrified’ of death after Warne’s heart attack

Melbourne-bound superstar Robbie Williams says he’s questioning his own mortality after the sudden death of friend Shane Warne.

Robbie Wililams is heading to Melbourne to film his biopic Better Man. Picture: AFP

Melbourne-bound pop star Robbie Williams has said that the sudden death of Shane Warne has made him contemplate his own mortality.

“I have been thinking about this and it’s devastating,” Williams said of the late cricket great, who died of a heart attack, aged 52, last week.

“His passing has inspired me to think about life in a different way – and the fragility of life is terrifying.”

Warne was known to be a fan of the Angels and Rock DJ singer and Williams said that, despite being English, the feeling was mutual.

He placed the leg-spinner ahead of footballing greats such Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi and alongside sprinter Usain Bolt as sportsmen who “transcend tribalism”, and added “if you don’t love Shane Warne, you’re an a---hole”.

“There are a only a handful of people throughout the course of history, across all sports that people from all countries feel like they have an ownership over them,” Williams said.

“It takes a very special person to achieve that – and Shane is one of them. Even before my love affair with Australia started, Shane was in my heart as ‘he’s one of us’.”

Williams is heading to Warne’s home town next month to film Better Man, a biopic based on the singer’s life, which will be directed by Melbourne-raised Michael Gracey, of The Greatest Showman fame.

Williams said the movie, which is expected to create around 2200 local jobs and inject up to $107m into the local economy, would be a warts-and-all retelling of his colourful life from his working class roots to being one of the biggest names in world music.

While he is in Melbourne, the singer will also play a one-off show at Rod Laver Arena on April 30, billed An Exclusive Evening With Robbie Williams, with tickets on sale March 18. The show will include an hour-long greatest hits set, some of which will be filmed for inclusion in Better Man, as well an interview with veteran music broadcaster Richard Wilkins about his life and the film.

“It’s not a normal tour show per se but people will get their money’s worth,” Williams said, adding that won’t be feeling any added pressure from the cameras.

“I am fine with that – I know the words,” he said.

“I think the pressure is on the audience. They better be good.”