Special – Chris Briggs (Rob’s Record Company A&R man)

Part 1 – released 23rd August 2023
Our extra special guest has worked with Robbie longer than anyone else in his solo career. Chris Briggs has been Robbie’s A&R man since 1996, soon after he left Take That. Chris has been by Rob’s side even longer than his management.

Chris shares never heard before stories about the launch of Rob’s solo career: how he came to work with Guy Chambers and the rest of his band, what happened when he went to Miami to work with Desmond Child, how Life Thru A Lens was recorded, and what many record company execs really thought of Robbie ‘pre-Angels’. We also hear which songwriter Rob failed to click with prior to Guy. Chris explains what A&R actually involves, and how he ended up in that role.

Chris has also worked with a plethora of other artists including ABC, Blondie, Def Leppard, Dire Straits, Big Country, Olly Murs, Laura Marling, Starsailor and Geri Halliwell. He won A&R of the year at the Music Producers Guilds Awards in 2016.

Available on all major podcast providers – listen here! (Or listen on our player below)

Part 2 – released 30th August 2023
We continue our interview with Rob’s A&R man, Chris Briggs, who’s worked continuously with Robbie from the very start of his solo career.

In this episode, Chris discusses Robbie’s career from 1998 to the current day. We cover the Swing albums, hear all about the fallout from the Escapology era, what happened when Robbie started writing Rudebox with Jerry Meehan before Intensive Care was even completed, the background to Reality Killed The Video Star and why XXV came about. Plus, we learn the hilarious story about the night Robbie first met Tim & Flynn which led to Take The Crown!

Chris offers his thoughts on why Robbie’s career has had such longevity and what it is that makes him so successful.

Chris has also worked with a plethora of other artists including ABC, Blondie, Def Leppard, Dire Straits, Big Country, Olly Murs, Laura Marling, Starsailor and Geri Halliwell. He won A&R of the year at the Music Producers Guilds Awards in 2016.

Available on all major podcast providers – listen here! (Or listen on our player below)