Heavy metal legend Tony Iommi has teamed up with British pop icon Robbie Williams for an unexpected collaboration on “Rocket,” the explosive lead single from Williams’s upcoming album Britpop. The song is a powerful fusion of anthemic rock energy and pop charisma, featuring pounding drums, a soaring chorus, and a blistering guitar solo courtesy of the Black Sabbath riff master himself.
The music video for “Rocket,” which you can watch below, is as bold and energetic as the track itself. It opens with Robbie striding through the streets of London in full punk regalia — red tartan pants, a heavy chain necklace, and a graffiti-covered leather biker jacket — flanked by a flash mob as they hit iconic landmarks across the city. The video also includes scenes shot in Birmingham, Tony Iommi’s hometown, where the two artists share the screen, uniting their vastly different musical worlds.
“Rocket” was co-written by Williams, Iommi, drummer Karl Brazil, and guitarist Tom Longworth. It sets the tone for Britpop, an album Robbie describes as the project he always wanted to create following his departure from Take That in 1995 — during the height of the Britpop movement. The cover artwork reflects this theme, depicting a painting of Robbie in the red tracksuit he famously wore to Glastonbury Festival that same year.
Scheduled for release this fall via Columbia Records, Britpop will be available in several formats including CD, deluxe CD, cassette, alt cassette, and digital editions. Signed bundles will also be offered for a limited time through Robbie’s official store.
“This is the album I always wanted to make,” Robbie said of Britpop. “It’s raw, it’s loud, and it captures the energy of a golden age in British music. Working with Tony Iommi — one of my heroes — has been a real thrill. There’s more guitar, more punch, and it’s as upbeat and anthemic as anything I’ve done.”
Fans will soon have the chance to hear “Rocket” live as part of Robbie’s massive Britpop stadium tour, which kicks off May 31 in Edinburgh. The tour, which has been rebranded from Robbie Williams Live 2025 to match the album’s title, will travel through the U.K., Ireland, and major cities across Europe, giving fans their first live taste of this genre-blending new sound.
