Gqeberha muso Francois Malan, best known as “Franky” from popular swing band Franky and The Misfits, is still revelling in the moment his idol, Robbie Williams, picked him from a 10,000-strong crowd to ask his name.
From that moment on, Williams made Malan a part of his Pretoria show as he asked him to finish the lyrics to his songs, teased him that he looked like a member of boy band Boyzone, and made fun of his “French sounding” name.
It is therefore only fitting that Malan will be paying tribute to the global icon with his Franky v Robbie — The Very Best of Robbie Williams tribute show at The Music Kitchen at the weekend.
Malan will be supported on stage by half-a-dozen dancers from Defying Gravity Productions, led by Heidi Sampson.
The show itself will contain elements of rock ’n roll, musical theatre, modern dance, cabaret, stand-up comedy, acoustic guitar and storytelling, all wrapped up in a mixed bowl of extravagant entertainment, taking the audience along on the journey this super fan has walked with Williams’ music through the years.
After high school, Malan studied performing arts in Stellenbosch and then musical theatre at StageWorld Theatre School in Gqeberha.
He said his first love, however, was always singing.
“In the beginning I sang in punk bands, and then over the years recorded my own music, and created and ran a little music festival to support and showcase the local music scene, called Rocking the PEtunias, for 13 years.
“In 2019, I created Franky and The Misfits with Evan Perkins, a swing and jazz big band that I front.
“It’s done really well. We’ve toured up and down the coastal route,” he said, adding that they had been blessed with sold-out shows everywhere.
On his upcoming tribute show, he said he was excited to perform all his favourite Robbie Williams hits.
IMAGE: Supplied
“I will be incorporating elements of stand-up comedy, telling the story of my nearly three-decade journey with Robbie, and celebrating my own 20-year journey as a musician.
“We’ve brought in the amazing team at ReSound to make the stage decor visually spectacular too,” he said.
He said, so far, the response to the show had been great.
“I think some of the supporters are interested to see what I’m going to bring to the table after my interaction with Robbie.
“Plus, I haven’t done a show yet this year, so a few of them are hungry for top-notch entertainment.”
Malan’s admiration for Williams was ignited in the late ’90s, when he saw a TV interview and footage of him performing live.
“I was fascinated with his performance style and have incorporated many of his mannerisms into my own shows over the years.
“Besides that, the songs and music have also been a constant companion for decades.”
He said he had travelled to Pretoria towards the end of January to catch Williams live in Time Square.
“Our accommodation was right around the corner from the venue and when we saw a queue was already forming, I decided to wait in line.
“I’m not normally a fan of large crowds or concerts of this magnitude, however, since I missed his last visit to SA as I was overseas at the time, the mission was always to get right in front.”
He said soon into the show, Williams spotted him in the crowd.
“He made the cameraman show my face on the giant screens and made a joke along the lines that I look like a former member from boy band, Boyzone.
“The whole thing was a little surreal and I don’t think my brain fully fathomed what was happening.
“I’ve only ever known him through the screen, so to have him converse with me, in front of 10,000 people no less, was a little bit mind boggling.
“Him asking me my name was funny, as I think he didn’t expect a French sounding name in the heart of Pretoria. He found it so amusing, he said it throughout the night.”
Asked what his favourite Robbie Williams song was to perform, he said he found them all fun, but if he had to choose it would be either Millennium or Supreme.
Malan, a husband and father to a soon-to-be eight-year-old girl, said when he was not at work or working on a show, he could be found doing school runs, homework and maths lessons.
“But the occasional braai is also always welcome,” he quipped.
He said he was also planning on recording some tracks again this year, and Franky and The Misfits had a few dates set out for performances along the coast.
The show takes place at The Music Kitchen on Friday and Saturday night at 7pm.
Tickets cost R180 via www.musickitchen.co.za or 072-1434-786.
