First tour in six years

The comic-turned actor has announced that his Weapons Of Self-Destruction tour of America will kick off on September 25.

He said he chose to go on the road now because the presidential elections made it an interesting time, and because he has material from recent personal problems including a stint in rehab and a split from his wife of 19 years, Marsha.

‘I'll talk about everything that's going on. The election. The choices. What are we going to do?,’ he told USA Today. ’Between the politics and things that have happened to me personally, it's free range. I'll open up about that as much as I can.

Despite more than 30 years of performing experience, Williams still admits to crushing nerves before he goes on stage.

‘I get narcoleptic, almost,’ he said. ‘You just breathe and hope you don't pass out. Colon, you're empty? Let's do this. Brain? Here we go…

‘You have to get ready. There’s that dead-man-walking thing where they walk you down the hallway. Show time!’

Williams’s last tour, in 2002, was filmed for HBO and programme, Robin Williams: Live on Broadway, earned two Emmy nominations.

Published: 4 Aug 2008