Robbie Williams Takes Aim at Noel Gallagher with Billboard in Manchester
Robbie Williams has reignited his long-running rivalry with Noel Gallagher by erecting a billboard referencing his latest album, Britpop, on Whitworth Street West in Manchester – the very street where Gallagher once resided. The playful jab comes ahead of Williams’ performance at Aviva Studios on February 27th as part of BRITs Week, a series of gigs benefiting the War Child charity.
Billboard References Album Review
The billboard features a quote from a Daily Telegraph review of Britpop, stating that the album contains “sing-along choruses to make Noel Gallagher question whether he ever needs to bother writing another song.” Williams shared an image of the billboard on Instagram with the caption “LONG 90’S IN MANCHESTER/..TONIGHT!”
A History of Rivalry
The animosity between Williams and Gallagher dates back to the Britpop era of the mid-1990s. A particularly memorable moment occurred at Glastonbury in 1995, shortly after Williams left Take That. Williams recounted the event in 2022, describing it as the “start of his new life” and referencing champagne and cocaine.
Gallagher famously referred to Williams as “the fat dancer from Take That” during that period, and Williams challenged Liam Gallagher to a £100,000 fight at the 2000 BRIT Awards. More recently, Williams described Oasis as “bullies” in 2022, despite acknowledging his admiration for the band and the “incredible hedonism” of the era.
Liam Gallagher responded to Williams’ comments, stating he didn’t consider Oasis to be bullies, but admitted to being a “massive piss taker.” When the possibility of an Oasis reunion arose in 2024, Williams quipped that Liam Gallagher reading his phone on the toilet would be more entertaining than Noel’s stage presence.
BRITs Week and the Brit Awards
Williams’ performance at Aviva Studios will be supported by The Lottery Winners, with all proceeds going to War Child. Other artists participating in BRITs Week 2026 include Olivia Dean, Spiritualized, The K’s, Fatboy Slim, and Jacob Alon.
The 2026 Brit Awards will be held at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena on Saturday, February 28th. Noel Gallagher is set to receive the Songwriter of the Year prize at the ceremony, a decision that has drawn some criticism given he hasn’t released new music in the past year. Gallagher has responded to the backlash, challenging his critics to “meet me there” and settle the dispute on the red carpet.