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31/5/03
Listen to Robbie LIVE! -thanks to Carole and BBC
BBC Radio 1 will be broadcasting live backstage at Robbie Williams' first Knebworth date on Friday 1st August. Then on Sunday 3rd August, from 7-11pm (UK time) they will be broadcasting the whole gig LIVE. Great news for us overseas fans who won't be there, and who cares what time you have to get up, it will be worth it! For more details click here.

31/5/03
Williams Wimmin' -dotmusic.com
Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't we trying to sell Robbie Williams to the States and they're politely refusing to have anything to do with him? So, why are they exporting a 'Robbie' back to us? Cunning. If you want a carbon copy of Robbie that's even been endorsed by the real thing then Ashley Hamilton's your man. He's got two famous Dads (Rod Stewart is his step dad, actor George his real one) and a life of rehab, celebrity ladies and all things that model looks encourage one to overindulge. 'Wimmin', co-written by Williams with backing vocals for good measure, is far more 'cheeky' (dare we suggest... misogynistic) than the Robster has so far attempted but Hamilton will get away with it. And if it helps Robbie's US career then everyone's a winner.

30/5/03
New URL address -from Tania
You can now access The Robbie Williams Site through the new URL address www.therobbiewilliamssite.com However you can also still access it via the old URL address www.geocities.com/therobbiewilliamssite. Both URL's will take you to the home page of the site.

30/5/03
Williams on Cole Porter feature -thanks to Jackie and Yahoo! News
Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Diana Krall, Alanis Morissette, Robbie Williams, and R&B singer Vivian Green will appear in "Just One of Those Things," a big screen musical portrait of songwriter Cole Porter.
Actor Kevin Kline will portray Porter in the MGM production, currently shooting in a number of international locations, including London and Venice. Ashley Judd co-stars as Porter's wife, Linda Lee.
"These are some of the world's top musical talents," director Irwin Winkler says in a statement. "By lending their voices to some of the most spectacular music ever written, we'll be able to introduce the genius of Cole Porter to a whole new generation of fans."
Morissette will dance and sing "Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love" in the film. She previously appeared in the non-speaking role of God in the Kevin Smith-directed features "Dogma" and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back."
Costello -- who performed with Burt Bacharach in "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" and appeared as himself in "200 Cigarettes" and "Spice World" -- performs "Let's Misbehave." The artist also had a small part as a public defender in the 2001 film "Prison Song," which starred Q-Tip and Mary J. Blige.
Crow, whose previous silver screen acting credit is 1999's "The Minus Man," save for a cameo as a nightclub patron in "54," will tackle "Begin the Beguine." Williams, who has only lent his voice to the animated features "Magic Roundabout" (currently in production) and the 1999 holiday TV special "Hooves of Fire," will perform "It's De-Lovely." He previously recorded Cole's "Did You Evah?" on his 2001 EMI album "Swing When You're Winning."
Krall, a jazz singer and pianist who is no stranger to the Porter songbook, has two songs in the film. She will be seen and heard performing the title song and "I Get a Kick Out of You." Krall will also soon be seen in Woody Allen's upcoming feature, "Anything Else." Expected later this year, that film stars Allen, Jason Biggs, Christina Ricci, Jimmy Fallon, Stockard Channing, and Danny DeVito, among others.
Green, who sings "Love for Sale," will be making her film debut in "Just One of Those Things."
Kline will perform a total of 14 songs in the film, including a duet with Judd on "In the Still of the Night." An actress who comes from a musical family that includes sister Wynonna and mother Naomi, Judd also sings "True Love" and several other songs.
Producer Rob Cowan says the film "is unlike any musical seen in recent time. With complex characters and situations for the actors to explore, amazing costumes and choreography, and Porter's terrific music to drive the narrative forward -- the result is moving and exciting."
The film's soundtrack to the film will be released by Sony Music. Projected release dates for the film and soundtrack have not been announced.

30/5/03
Robbie at 'Friedmans' premiere -New York Post
"Capturing the Friedmans" has captured the attention of stars like Minnie Driver, Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke - all of whom cornered producers Mark Smerling and Andrew Jarecki after they grabbed the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.
The dark documentary, airing on HBO after its theatrical run, also caught the attention of British pop star Robbie Williams - who sauntered into the "Friedmans" Tribeca Film Festival party with 20 models in tow. Smerling is holding a private screening of "Capturing the Friedmans" at the Angelika tonight, with Tori Amos, Vanessa Carleton, Jon Mayer and Ilene Kristen expected to attend - with an after-party at Petrocino's hosted by Kathy and Bob Smerling (who's president of Reading Entertainment City Cinemas and ex- president of Loew's/ Sony theaters).
"Capturing the Friedmans" revolves around a Great Neck family rocked when the father and son, Arnold and Jessie Friedman, were charged with child molestation in 1987.

30/5/03
Robbie popular in gay arena -Metro Weekly
Lookie here, ladies and lads, just in time for Pride we’ve got not one but two flamboyant non-homosexuals going out of their way to appeal to us. Williams offers his latest album, Escapology, and Jay-Jay Johanson offers his American debut, Antenna. And appeal, they do. Both create intensely melodic pop music that harkens back to their ambiguously sexual, musical forebears. Both tease us by hinting that they’re not exactly straight (Williams, in one of The Advocate’s gayest interviews ever) or by coping an androgynous attitude while donning gay underwear (Johanson, providing music for the 2(x)ist underwear line).
For Williams, at various points you can hear his fellow pioneering patriots Elton John, Queen, David Bowie, George Michael. Or his American contemporary John Cameron Mitchell, of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. On both Escapology and his 1999 American debut album, The Ego Has Landed, Williams virtually subs for Mitchell, singing in the same raspy voice and soaring style songs straight out of a twisted, glorious movie musical. Williams writes quirky lyrics to music that straddles rock, pop and cabaret categorizations. Take the album opener, "Feel, " for example. This is his most effective, and affecting, song to date. He’s achingly searching for love, for meaning, for himself: "I sit and talk to God/And he just laughs at my plans/My head speaks a language/I don’t understand. " The piano keys cry out his tears, the choir expresses his pain, as his voice drips with cynical ambition.
It’s probably that cynical ambition keeping him from major success in America. Williams’ new label has gone to great lengths to see to it that Escapology is the album to finally break him here, beyond the gays. But Williams, the sarcastic, self-deprecating lyricist, has never sounded more honestly unsure of himself, more acerbic and turned off by his own celebrity hype. He kicks off "Monsoon " with the great line, "I’ve sung some songs that were lame, " but by the time he ends this drowned-by-fame song, his tone goes from joking to dead serious: "But it’s all been too much for me. " Fortunately, with a new multi-album, multi-million-dollar contract, you know he’s not that serious.
Of course, as a forlorn lyricist, Williams is no match for Jay-Jay Johanson. "And I just can’t remember my last laugh in time, " Johanson sings in the weird and wonderful "I Want Some Fun. " On his best song, "Tomorrow, " he sprinkles in optimism to a musically simmering pot of depression: "And I just can’t wait, for the turn of my fate. " Yet on reflection, you realize this is misplaced optimism of the self-deluded kind: "Tomorrow, you’ll consider coming back to me, " he rather naively sings to his dearly departed. Sounds heavy, but Johanson’s steady musicianship and mid-tempo rhythm keep the brew from boiling over. And his silky, faint voice and high-arched, tentative delivery keep us calm. The Swede styles himself like a modern-day David Bowie, seeming intent on updating the post-punk ‘80s sound with the sophisticated, multi-culti sensibilities of the present. He’s poised at a very opportune moment, as electroclash emerges from the dance underground.
But will that help? Both Williams and Johanson can be oppressive songwriters, and occasionally offer cuts that seem unfinished, uninspired. Both are finding it a challenge to make it in America, land of straightforward pop music with generally simplistic sentiments, where American-born and -reared artists hold a lock on the Billboard charts -- only four of this week’s Top 40 Albums are from foreigners. That’s okay, though: they can just be our little not-gay, gay secret.

30/5/03
Program to show Robbie support -thanks to Jackie
A program is being made of a brief profile of Robbie Williams. The researcher is looking for US and UK fans to contribute to the show. Here are the details sent to me:
I'm currently researching for a brief profile we are making on Robbie Williams for Channel4 and E4 in the UK.
We are looking to interview Robbie Williams Superfans to explain why they like him so much, to defend his bad press and tell us about his personality (irony, sense of humour etc).
We will be filming in the UK and the US, so if you would like to be involved and are a big enough fan with some great stories to tell, please contact me at beatrice@firesidefavourites.co.uk.
Thanks, Beatrice
What a great opportunity to express your thoughts on Robbie. If you live in the US or UK, don't let this opportunity pass!

29/5/03
Robbie Williams Interview on E! News Live -from Tania
A Robbie Williams interview was aired last night on American entertainment program E! News Live. The show must like Robbie as this has been the fourth time he has been seen on this program. The interview was with American muso Dave Adelson who could not speak highly enough of Robbie. Robbie reveals an interesting fact about the British media and why he is attempting to make it in the States. It is a great read so click here to read the full interview.

29/5/03
Robbie to tour Australia -thanks to Jackie and Mel
Robbie Williams has confirmed that he will tour Australia. Speaking on an Australian radio station last night with Jackie O and Kyle, Robbie said that he will be coming to Australia for a tour however no dates have been confirmed yet.

29/5/03
Entertain Me! -The Wharf
A lucky Wharfer will get the chance to be top pop star Robbie Williams for a week.
The winning applicant could find himself - or herself - performing as the pop hunk in the video for his latest single, Something Beautiful.
Open auditions are being held at Docklands ExCeL centre on Saturday, May 31 from 10am.
A spokesperson for Robbie told The Wharf: "He's looking for someone to star as him in the video because he wants to give something back to his fans.
"He says the most popular request from his fans is to star in his videos, so he's giving someone that chance."
Applicants must prepare a performance of Something Beautiful to impress the panel - including the singer's dad - with a performance that capture's Robbie own.
You don't need to sound or look like Robbie and it's not just a job for the boys - girls can apply too, and organisers are encouraging wannabes to dress up for the part.
As long as you're over 18 there is no age limit imposed, so even oldies stand a chance.
Robbie's spokesperson added: "It doesn't matter what age, sex, race or size you are and you don't have to be able to sing. We're just looking for someone with Robbie's charisma and attitude."
Would-be Robbies will be auditioned on a first-come, first-served basis, and successful candidates must be available for filming from June 1 to 7.
Robbie opted for Docklands to film one of his earlier videos, She's The One, at London Arena in September 1998.
Robbie's videos have often caused a stir - his 2000 video for Rock DJ saw him literally torn to shreds by women.
And his raunchy promo for the 2001 Christmas single Something Stupid raised eyebrows as Robbie writhed on a bed with Hollywood starlet Nicole Kidman.

29/5/03
Robbie's Dad to help with auditions -www.robbiewilliams.com
Robbie Williams has asked his Dad, Pete Conway, to help out in the search to find a fan to star as himself in his next video! Robbie felt that his dad Pete would be superbly qualified to help the directors with their selection and he has also enlisted the help of one of his choreographers Les Child and Mark Summers from Mark Summers Casting. Robbie's Dad, Pete Conway said at the prospect of helping out, "I'm really looking forward to assisting in picking the contestants for the video, it's a great opportunity for them to shine just like my son". Gillian Nisbet, Producer said: 'We were thrilled when Robbie has asked his Dad to help out with the auditions - after all there are very few people who know him better. On the day we will not necessarily be looking for a Robbie sound-alike or a look-alike but we are looking for someone who has Robbie's charisma, energy and attitude. They need to prove that they can capture the essence of a Robbie Williams performance."

28/5/03
Williams will be back for another shot -thanks to Jackie and The Independent
Robbie Williams is to be sent back to the United States by his record company amid mounting concern among EMI executives at his failure to break the world's most important music market.
EMI's increasingly frenetic efforts to recover its £80m investment in the former Take That star will see Williams embark on a three-month tour in September. The 29-year-old singer has spent the past fortnight in America but failed to convince a steadfastly lukewarm public of his charms.
American music industry sources said the singer's lyrics, describing the mental turmoil of celebrity life, had mystified audiences that had never heard of him. Larry Flick, a senior talent editor at Billboard magazine, said: "There's a lot of commentary about how hard his life is as a star. To Americans it's, 'Who is this guy complaining about the hardships of being a celebrity? We've never seen him before'."
Over two weeks in America, Williams blitzed the television chat-show circuit and gave a live performance at a festival in New York, where he repeatedly reminded his audience: "I'm Robbie Williams." But his album Escapology went into the Billboard 200 at number 43, a humbling position for a man accustomed to seeing his name at the top of charts all around the globe. The record shifted only 31,000 copies in five weeks, by which time it had slipped down the chart to 156. Outside America, Escapology has sold six million copies and EMI must have hoped to shift a greater proportion of the 150,000 units they shipped across in anticipation of a favourable response to the star's promotional tour.
Williams is due back in Britain this week to begin rehearsals for a European tour. His efforts to crack the American market have again been thwarted by his commitments to a fanbase that reaches around the rest of the world. But sources close to Williams said yesterday that he was already planning a much bigger push in America before the year was out. His commitment to a three-month tour from September to November contradicts his oft-repeated claims that he is not worried by his lack of success across the Atlantic. A spokeswoman for the singer said he would be taking a different approach to his present trip and taking his show on the road. She said: "He is going to be going for the smaller, more intimate venues. He is going to be very visible."
Williams, she said, had enjoyed his best response in the past fortnight during stop-overs in San Francisco and San Diego, where he worked hard on self-promotion.
She said: "In San Francisco and San Diego he has gone into the regional charts in the top 20. The overall picture may seem low down the charts but in the specific places he has been he has done really well."
Contrary to some of the knocking copy in the British tabloids, Williams' television appearances were effective in raising his profile. His appearance on the Tonight Show was diminished in Britain because the star host Jay Leno was replaced by Katie Couric. But some American viewers were impressed by Williams and his flirting with Couric, who is hugely popular, and that edition of Tonight registered exceptional ratings. The show also produced a small sales surge for Escapology.
Williams' problem is the lack of synchronicity in his career. While European audiences can understand the thought process behind lyrics such as "It's hard to be humble when you're so f***ing big", the sentiment is lost in a US market where he is largely unrecognised. America might be ready for the singer's earlier hit "Let me Entertain You", but Williams is not ready to backtrack.
At Robert De Niro's Tribeca Film Festival in New York a fortnight ago, he introduced his hit "Angels" with: "This song was released here a few years ago and guess what? It wasn't a hit. But I'm not bitter. It made me a star everywhere in the world but here."
Mr Flick says Williams is also out of synch with American music tastes, dominated by hip hop and heavy rock.But if the American public does not get it, Billboard staff, at least, are fans and Flick says the singer's next album could be the one that cracks America for him, particularly if he replaces his friend Guy Chambers with an American producer.
Williams' previous album, Sing When You're Winning, which headed the British album charts for weeks, made only number 110 in America. By that measure, Escapology represents progress.
"In the UK, if a record doesn't go into the top 10, it's seen as a failure," Flick said. "But it's a bigger landscape here. I think there's a huge financial commitment and the label was encouraged enough to believe they should keep working him."

28/5/03
Two new biographies -from Tania and So Sincere on the forum
Two new Robbie Williams biographies will be published in the near future. Robbie Williams: Angels and Demons will be released on June 30. The other book, Robbie Williams: Biography will be released on September 1st. You can pre-order both of these at www.amazon.co.uk but please be aware that neither of these books are official biographies meaning that the content may not always be accurate.

27/5/03
'Something Beautiful' release details -thanks to Jackie
'Something Beautiful' will be released on 7/5 on a 2 track CD format with a Maxi CD & DVD single being released on 28/5 in UK and Germany.

27/5/03
Wise up and send Robbie to Eurovision -thanks to Loopy Loo
An excerpt from an article regarding UK's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest....
After Saturdays awful performance time to send in the big guns- Why can't we convince someone like Robbie Williams to get up there and play for his country..of course Robbie thinks like everyone else that Eurovision is a joke fought out between dodgy looking women, big bosomed tarts and blokes in lederhosen (the jounalist's words not Robbie's) but if Sven Goran Eriksson rang Robbie at his LA pad and asked him to pull on a shirt for England he would be on a plane faster than you could say Take That......it is everyones dream to represent their country, whatever Britain competes in - even down to tiddly winks - we have to put our best players forward who would do their very best to win. This country should be proud of its music for all our chart rubbish we still have excellent pop acts like Robbie.

26/5/03
Robbie in the lobby -Daily Star
Robbie Williams has done a complete U-turn - he's rapidly becoming Mr. Reality TV. Britain's biggest star, who admitted recently he hates the genre, will treat the Big Brother housemates to a free concert this summer.
While contestants battle it out for the prize money, Robbie will belt out his songlist for his European tour - right next door. The singer, 29, booked a place at Elstree studios in Hertfordshire, yards away from the Big Brother house. An Elstree source revealed: "It's great news for the contestants because they'll be able to sit outside in the garden and hear one of the biggest stars in the world.
We couldn't believe it when we found out that Robbie would be literally 100 feet away strutting about. it'll be like a free Robbie concert for all of them every day."
The news comes after Robbie said he's flying back from America to hold Pop idol-style auditions for fans to be in his new video for Something beautiful on 31 May.
Two days later, Robbie will start rehearsals for the sell-out 16-date Escapology tour in the first week of June.
A Robbie insider said: "It wasn't planned at all, but it is true that Robbie's studio and the Big Brother house in Elstree are on the same lot. If Robbie knows they can hear him, he might even send them a cheeky message over his stage speakers."
Robbie has slammed reality TV in the past as he feels it exploits people. He said recently: "It's such cruel television - f****** with lives for entertainment."

26/5/03
Robbie's Diazzler -Sunday Mirror
Robbie Williams may not have conquered America musically, but he's certainly making up for it with the US women.
The singer has been wooing the recently single Hollywood golden girl Cameron Diaz.
Los Angeles-based Mr Williams and 30-year-old Ms Diaz were spied canoodling on the beach in Santa Monica this week.
And very intimate they looked as they strolled along the sand, holding hands and sharing kisses.
Later, the besotted pair could be found lunching at a restaurant overlooking the beach at the exclusive Shutters on the Beach hotel. My spy tells me: "They looked like an item to me. They were laughing and messing around and seemed to having great fun together.
"At the restaurant, they were flirting outrageously together and attracting loads of attention - well, Cameron was. It looked like the start of something serious to me and Robbie certainly seemed very keen on the whole thing Typically, Robbie, 29, has been playing games, insisting in a TV interview he's got a massive crush on the Something About Mary star.
"I don't know if I can say this on TV but I have got a crush on Cameron Diaz - quite badly really," he told US entertainment show Access Hollywood with a smirk, in another bid to conquer the States.
The time for romance is right for the Robster, who has been single since dumping Rachel Hunter in the New Year. And Cameron is single and fancy-free since ending her four-year romance with actor Jared Leto two months ago.
But Robbie had better keep his wits about him as he has competition for Cameron from another American actor, Vince Vaughn.
She and Vince have enjoyed dates since meeting him recently while filming pre-recorded segments for the MTV Movie Awards next month.
The Robster has proved rather popular with American females.
He famously ensnared Nicole Kidman (OK, she's originally Aussie) after recording a duet of Something Stupid with Tom Cruise's ex-wife .
Then he managed to charm leggy film star Daryl Hannah into appearing in his video for Feel after meeting her in a bar.

26/5/03
Robbie's my check-mate -Irish Examiner and thanks to Jackie
Chart star Robbie Williams is a demon draughts player – and can take on all comers, his pal Bono has revealed.
The star – who has a chequered past himself with his battles against drink and drugs – is a devotee of the board game.
U2 frontman Bono said the Come Undone singer would rather get the games out than make music when he pops round to his mansion.
The Irish rock superstar said: “You know what, Robbie’s very good at the old checkers. He’s mad for it.
“He comes round my house and he doesn’t want to play a tune, although we occasionally do. His whole thing is draughts. He loves playing draughts and he always wins.
“I beat him at the bingo but he always beats me at the draughts.”
A spokeswoman for Robbie said: “Robbie is really into his board games. He loves playing Uno and he’s a big fan of chess.”

26/5/03
Party's over for Kelly -Sunday People
Robbie Williams has read Kelly Osbourne the riot act: "No booze or drugs on my tour."
Ozzy's wildchild daughter was overjoyed to be chosen as the support act for Robbie's European gigs. But the 18-year-old loves a drink or several and may not be so pleased at the three-month tour's no-partying rules. Robbie has been teetotal for nearly four years - and doesn't want any temptation. An insider said: "It'll be hard for Kelly."

26/5/03
Robbie and Guy patch up differences -popdirt.com
The Sun reports Robbie Williams is starting to patch things up with his ex-songwriting partner Guy Chambers. "I’ve been in touch with Robbie," Guy said. "I feel sorry for him, he gets given a bad time and doesn’t deserve it. He is still the UK’s biggest star

26/5/03
Robbie contributing to Austrlian DVD sales -Melbourne Herald Sun
Notorious rapper Eminem has his detractors in Australia, but he's helping the local music industry stay afloat during a global slump in CD sales.
New figures from the Australian Record Industry Association show an increase of almost 6 per cent in CD sales for the first quarter of 2003, compared with the equivalent period last year. The figures are also a "slight increase" on the previous three months to December last year, according to ARIA chief executive officer Stephen Peach.
Mr Peach attributed the positive figures to big-name artists such as jazz singer Norah Jones and Eminem, whose album The Eminem Show has sold almost half a million copies in Australia.
That album and Eminem's soundtrack to the film 8 Mile are both in the top five sellers for the March quarter.
"Those high-profile artists, including local artists like Delta Goodrem and Silverchair, have had widespread appeal," Mr Peach said. "We're obviously pleased to see sales increase, but it's hard to say after one quarter whether we're out of the woods."
The increase is in sharp contrast to the situation in Britain, where sales fell 13 per cent in the first quarter. Sales in the US have also fallen in the past 12 months.
However, while the industry continues to combat piracy and streamline its online music capabilities, the most encouraging figures are for the sales of music DVDs.
These have almost trebled in the past year, with more than 850,000 sold in Australia until the end of March. Eminem is among the big sellers there too, along with Kylie Minogue, The Eagles and Robbie Williams.
"People want to experience visuals as well as sound," Mr Peach said. "We're seeing DVDs generally, including film, go through the roof."
Leading record companies worldwide this week launched their latest initiative to combat piracy - the website Pro-Music.org. This has been set up to promote legitimate online music services, such as Apple's iTunes, which sold more than 1 million songs in a week following its launch in the US last month.
Apple is expected to introduce the service in Australia by the end of this year.
"The Apple experience tells us that people are happy to pay for that kind of service if the price is right and it's simple enough," Mr Peach said.

26/5/03
Robbie to help with Eurovision -Haaretz.com
Taken from an article about the new changes to the Eurovision Song Contest from next year.... Another innovation: On November 15, a Eurovision for children will be held in Denmark, moderated by Ronan Keating (formerly of Boyzone) and with the participation of Robbie Williams and Britney Spears. The contest will be limited, at least in its first year, to 11 competitors aged 8 to 16. The winner will release a single with EMI.
To read the full article click here.

25/5/03
Swinging Standards -The Washington Post
An excerpt taken from The Washington Post on an article about celebrities recording swing albums in honour of Frank Sinatra.....
The recent trend got going in earnest when bad-boy British pop star Robbie Williams took a break from hip-hop grooves and Euro-pop melodies to front a big band. The 2001 album, "Swing When You're Winning," was a pastiche of Rat Pack tropes — a rowdy celebration of the "swagger and attitude" that Bono so admired in Mr. Sinatra. The record was a monster hit in England. "Swing When You're Winning" sold more than 5 million copies and was EMI's biggest selling record in 2001. The success of the record helped Mr. Williams land a — get this — $125 million contract for his next four albums at EMI. Yet, for all the commercial success of his swing shtick, Robbie Williams isn't sticking with it. His newly released "Escapology" takes him solidly back into the realm of modern pop.

24/5/03
Robbie Williams: Outspoken and Outrageous, read the transcript -thanks to Shilo
You can now read the full transcript of the short Robbie Williams intervew from Access Hollywood. Thanks to Shilo who wrote down the interview word for word! A very dedicated robbie fan!! Click here.

24/5/03
He'll be expecting you -dotmusic.com
Robbie Williams is giving a fan the chance to be the star in the forthcoming video for his new single. Auditions to appear in the promo film for 'Something Beautiful' take place in London on May 31 and have been called 'Rob Idol', aping the UK TV music talent search. Robbie is expected to attend the auditions to personally choose the successful candidate for the video, with his label, EMI, apparently anticipating thousands of people from across the globe. A spokesman for the label explained: "Robbie wants to give something back to fans for the support they've shown him. "The auditions are open to anyone over 18. We don't care what colour, height, weight or sex - you don't even have to be able to sing very well."

24/5/03
Fan to play Robbie -Ananova
Robbie Williams fans are being given a chance to play their idol in the singer's next video. Producers of the video for new single Something Beautiful are looking for someone to "perform" the track when filming takes place early next month. Open auditions are taking place for someone who has "Robbie's charisma" in London next week. It has not yet been decided whether the singer himself will appear in the film. A spokeswoman for Williams said: "We are not necessarily looking for a lookalike or even someone who can sing - we just want someone who has Robbie's charisma, energy and attitude. "We want to find someone with the essence of Robbie. "The thing that fans are always asking is whether they can appear in one of his videos and now he is giving them the chance."

24/5/03
Robbie Williams explains -Hollywood Digest
Robbie Williams wants to make it perfectly clear he is straight, even if he did tell a gay magazine he thinks The Rock is hot.
An interviewer for The Advocate asked the British pop star if he thought Dwayne Johnson ("The Scorpion King") was hot, and Williams said he did. On Thursday, Williams told "Access Hollywood" he doesn't actually feel that way about Johnson -- he was just fooling around with his image as a rock 'n' roll ladies' man.
"I just thought it would be interesting to see the reaction it got from the guy who was interviewing me," said Williams. "There are a few pop stars out there, or rock stars, whatever, that pretend to be straight, but are actually gay. I'm championing the cause for straight pop stars to act gay, or at least say gay things."
Williams said he is straight and has "never gotten down and dirty" with a man. "If the fancy takes me, I probably would," he said, "but it just doesn't." Also for the record, Williams said he has a huge -- "bad actually, it's quite bad" -- crush on Cameron Diaz.

23/5/03
Rob Idol -star in his video!! -thanks to Jackie, robbiewilliams.com and The Sun
Have you got the charisma, energy and attitude of Robbie Williams? Would you like the chance to perform AS ROBBIE in the video for his forthcoming single 'Something Beautiful'?
The search is on! Open auditions are going to be held at the ExCel Centre (West Entrance), London Docklands, E16 on Saturday 31st May 2003 from 10am. All interested applicants need to prepare a performance of Something Beautiful to impress the panel. You will not necessarily be a sound-alike or a look-alike, and you may be male OR female, but feel free to dress up for the part if you think it will enhance your moves! Above all, you will need to prove to the panel that you really can capture the essence of a Robbie Williams' performance - just show them you've got what it takes!
and an snippet from The Sun...
He wants a fan to take the lead role and is personally holding auditions dubbed “Rob Idol” in London on May 31. Record company EMI expect thousands of wannabes from all over the world to turn up. A spokesman said: “Robbie wants to give something back to fans for the support they’ve shown him.

23/5/03
Robbie jealous of Justin -MTV
Robbie Williams has admitted he is jealous of Justin Timberlake. He says, "Justin looks like a Greek God. I was like, 'on to the gym for me and keep it up this time'."

23/5/03
No Novella for Robbie -from Tania
Robbie Williams last night missed out on winning the Ivor Novella Award for International Hit of the Year. Robbie Williams and then writing partner Guy Chambers were nominated for ‘Feel’ but the awards went to Avril Lavigne for ‘Complicated’. Other winners included U2 for Outstanding Song Collection and Coldplay for Songwriters of the Year.

23/5/03
Robbie Williams: Outspoken and Outrageous, watch the interview -Access Hollywood
Robbie Williams appeared on Access Hollywood last night for an interview. To read some of the interview and watch a small segment click here. Find out who he has a crush on!!

22/5/03
Execs lobby for Robbie -San Francisco Examiner
Execs at Robbie Williams' label EMI say the very fact that Robbie appears in columns like The Scoop at least three or four times a week means he still has a shot at stateside stardom. "Robbie has already attainted celebrity status in America which is the major first step for an artist."

21/5/03
'Something Beautiful' release date -thanks to Jackie
According to a European radio station 'Something Beautiful' will be released in the UK on June 28th, the same day that Robbie's European tour kicks off. It is then set to be released in Germany on July 15th.

21/5/03
EMI bent on making Robbie a star in the States -Rueters
Top-selling British pop star Robbie Williams has got off to a slow start in the key U.S. market, but his music company EMI Group said on Tuesday it was still determined to make him a big hit in America.
After re-signing Williams in a multi-million dollar deal last year, EMI denied the 29-year-old pop singer needed to break the United States to justify his contract, but said it was committed to repeating his European success in the world's biggest market.
"It's about slowly moving Robbie into the consciousness of the American people," said EMI Chief Financial Officer Roger Faxon. "While Robbie is a superstar in the rest of the world, he's not that in America, but we expect in due course that he will be."
Williams' latest album "Escapology" has sold around six million copies outside the United States, ranking the former boy-band member as one of EMI's top acts, but only 150,000 units have been shipped to the United States.
"The contract is totally viable without American sales. We never expected Robbie to break the United States overnight. From a purely contractual point of view, we are doing better than expected," said Alain Levy, head of EMI's recorded music arm.
EMI re-signed Williams last year in one of the industry's most expensive record deals, which for the first time included a take of his touring, merchandising and publishing revenues, though EMI has not put a figure on the contract's value.
The United States, the world's No.1 market, is a gold mine for any musician who makes it big there. But it is a notoriously difficult market for British acts to break. Williams himself said last November he was not bothered about U.S. success because it was "too much hard work."
Cynics have long questioned whether Williams is too British in his style to appeal to young American fans, but EMI insists it is making progress. "Robbie has already attained celebrity status in America which is the major first step for an artist," Martin Bandier, EMI's head of music publishing, told reporters.

21/5/03
MTV rapped over Robbie video -Ananova
MTV has been criticised after showing an uncensored version of Robbie Williams' controversial new video.
Come Undone features the singer wandering through the detritus of a wild party and having sex with two other people.
MTV Romania was rapped by the country's broadcasting watchdog after it broke broadcasting guidelines by showing the video before 10pm.
The video is not permitted to be shown at all before this time and then only in its censored form until midnight, after which point the original version can be shown.
Romania's broadcasting watchdog said: "The video contains explicit sexual images, drug consumption and violence.
"To show this at a time when many youngsters are tuned in to the channel to watch their favourite pop stars was extremely irresponsible. This video is little better than porn."

21/5/03
See Robbie for free -dotmusic.com
Robbie Williams is to play an unprecedented three-night stand at the 125,000-capacity Knebworth Park this summer, and dotmusic has a pair of tickets to give away.
The concerts, part of Robbie's forthcoming European tour, take place from August 1-3 and come in support of the pop superstar's latest chart-topping album, 'Escapology'.
Demand for tickets has been huge, but dotmusic can offer you the chance to win two tickets to Robbie's opening night on Friday, August 1. To enter the competition, click here.

21/5/03
Who's killing music? -Channel 4 news
Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue and even Mick Jagger still rule the columns of newspapers and the dreams of teenagers, but their hold on our pockets at least, seems to be loosening.
The music giant EMI today reported a 12.6 per cent drop in music sales - and its not just them, sales across the industry have dropped by 9 per cent.
Is it the internet and chance to download music for free? Or are music companies reaping the whirlwind of the sound-a-like boy bands that now dominate the charts?
Our Arts Correspondent Nicholas Glass investigates:
It's a fact of musical life.
Every music format ever invented has eventually been superseded by something else.
From Edison's wax cylinders to piano rolls, from 78 records to 45s, from tape casettes to compact discs.
CD's are still the popular choice - but for how much longer?
Musical piracy is also a fact of life.
And the industry admits that - at any one time - at least five million people, round the world are downloading music through the internet - mostly for free. There are a few licensed and legitimate websites - like MP-3. But many more - like Kazaa that aren't.
What you have in effect is a great musical swapshop - across the internet.
And teenagers - with their bedroom computers - don't worry about the rights or wrongs of it. They're downloading any song they can find.
The fact is that the CD is in slow decline. People are buying fewer of them.
EMI may have impressive and smaller stable of artists - including Robbie Williams - for whom they paid dear last year.
And after restructuring - they're back in profit.
But CD sales are down 12 percent.
And the same is true of other four major music companies.

21/5/03
Charitable Stars -The Independent
Taken from an article about charitable stars:
ROBBIE WILLIAMS: Set up his 'Give It Sum' foundation three years ago, with the £2m he was paid to front a Pepsi commercial.
The fund is run by the Comic Relief charity and gives money to Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, Unicef and projects in his home town of Stoke-on-Trent.
Williams, who recently signed an £80m record deal with EMI, has sold off his clothes, guitar and even his bed to raise funds for the charity.

21/5/03
Williams to tour North America -thanks to Jackie and Susie
It has been announced that Robbie Williams will tour North America in September. Dates are yet to be confirmed. Click here for more details.

20/5/03
Robbie plans duet with Nena -Ananova
Robbie Williams is said to be planning a duet with German singer Nena. Nena told Bild newspaper that Robbie approached her during the Echo awards ceremony in Berlin. "He wants to sing 99 Red Balloons with me. I'm looking forward to it like crazy," she told the paper. "Robbie grew up with the song," she added. The two are planning to premiere their duet in July at the Schalke Arena football stadium in Gelsenkirchen, where Robbie will be performing on July 13.

20/5/03
Robbie on American TV -from Tania
Robbie Williams is getting more exopusre in the States when last night he again appeared on E News Live! He was on a small segment where he announced the Top 5 Albums of the week. Last week he was on the show again on a story about the Tribeca Film Festival.

19/5/03
Extra Robbie tickets on sale -Ananova
Extra tickets have been made available for the first of Robbie Williams' three concerts at Knebworth. The tickets, for the concert on Friday, August 1, are available now from Ticketmaster. Williams sold out his two planned weekend dates at the outdoor venue on August 2 and 3 in less than eight hours when they went on sale last November, and a third concert was quickly added. Ticketmaster say tickets will not be sent out until June "in order to prevent forgery and reduce ticket loss scenarios".

18/5/03
Slipping under the radar -London Free Press
Robbie Williams' latest album is called Escapology. And that title helps to explains why England's biggest pop star has been living in Los Angeles for the last year --escaping the ever-encroaching British tabloids and his own image back home.
"Well, I hated Robbie Williams 18 months ago," Williams, 29, says.
"I believed my press -- the bad press -- for a while. And, you know, I've done a lot of albums in a short period of time. I've worked at being him, or me. I do definitely see the two as being separate, so excuse me if I talk in third party."
Seriously, though, Williams nearly packed it all in. Or at least the solo persona he had created.
"I wanted to release a greatest hits and then join a band and take on the world, sort of Bono-esque. Truth to God," said Williams.
"And then I took some time off and realized that I was just burnt out. And when I started to record (Escapology), I really started to enjoy it. I moved out to Los Angeles and my life started to be brilliant. And I thought, 'You know what? I really like him -- let's give him another go!' "
Despite having sold 20 million albums worldwide, mostly in Europe and Asia, the former member of '90s British boy band Take That has yet to establish himself as a star on this side of the pond.
"It's only frustrating when it gets mentioned so much," Williams said. "Obviously, North America seems to be on everyone's lips 'cause it's the only thing I haven't done yet. It bothers me that I get asked about it so much, but apart from that I'm not that bothered."
The upside is that he can wander around L.A. without being recognized -- most of the time.
"They're more interested in the MTV Cribs thing that I've done," he said, referring to the TV show that features rock stars in their homes. "So if I walk around, I'm the guy who owns property. I'm not the guy that does music." Not so in Europe, where he is pursued by media relentlessly.
"It's quite unpleasant, but I can (walk down the street)," Williams said. "You're pretty much under 24-hour watch when you get to London. I wake up and I peek through me blinds and there'll be, like, three carfuls. The most there's even been is, like, three camera crews and about 10 paparazzi. And that's on a day when I haven't done anything. It's just to photograph me coming out of me house."
Williams said the only way to get used to that kind of public scrutiny is to leave it behind.
"It can drive you mental. I think being watched for any amount of time -- when everywhere you go, everything that you do is captured -- makes you feel like you're being mugged 24 hours a day."
Escapology is Williams' fourth album in Canada, a country that always has warmed to him more than the U.S. So far the disc, released last November, is approaching platinum status here, while achieving six-times-platinum sales in England. It was released April 1 in the U.S., where it debuted at No. 43 on the Billboard album chart and has since dropped.
"Canada's a better market for me," Williams said before explaining his lack of success down south. "The theory is this -- I spent a month (there) for one album, three albums ago, and apart from that I haven't been back to do any promotion or anything.
"It didn't really catch fire last time 'cause it's such a big country and you really have to want it there. You have to commit yourself to working that and that alone for several months, and I haven't got the energy. I'm of the school that I do very little and see if it gives any reward. And if it does, it does and if it doesn't, it doesn't."
This, from a guy who signed the biggest record contract in British history last fall, worth a reported $200 million US for four albums.
"Was I surprised? No, I was really happy," Williams said, despite the doom-and-gloom mood surrounding record labels. "I think what has been neglected on the reports of the deal is what it actually means. I think what's been reported is this, 'EMI are really stupid for giving Robbie Williams all that money.' Well, EMI has been in the business quite a long time and there must be some sort of structure to the deal that goes, 'EMI will make money back, no matter what.' And, quite literally, they will do."
Williams said he's already thinking about making his next album: "A story album. That sort of excites me."

17/5/03
Rock Mecca revisted -thanks to Jackie
Concerts at Knebworth have always been historic events as pop pilgrims descend on the stately home which has become renowned as the mecca for rock.The visit of warbler Robbie Williams in August will be another colossal Knebworth event that is guaranteed to attract almost 400,000 people over the three days.To those who rocked at Knebworth during the heady days when the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Queen, Led Zeppelin, The Allman Brothers, Van Morrison, Frank Zappa, Jefferson Starship, Genesis, great icons of rock history, appeared at the park, the appearance of Williams will revive heady memories of almost 30 years ago.I was lucky to have been there and have great memories but I am still worried that our rural peace in the shires will be disrupted in August because 400,000 people will be a lot to handle for the police.Fans will have to be fed and watered and getting in and out of Knebworth Park on to the A1 (M), the main road artery for the area, will mean avoiding congestion is just impossible.Thirty years ago it was bad enough for just a weekend but three changes of audience over three nights means shuffling up to a quarter of a million people on two of them.Fears of a mass invasion by those waiting to attend the concert are real and closing a few lanes will just push the bulge in another direction.Some residents in Knebworth and Codicote have already decided to go away that weekend because concerts of this magnitude and civilised living are not compatible.I just hope the police and the organisers have got their plan of action correct otherwise, while the concertgoers have a ball, residents will have a weekend of misery.But for Mr Williams there will be no such headache. He will be ferried in each day by helicopter. I shall travel by pushbike!

17/5/03
Robbie Williams YMCA -askmen.com
I really like Robbie Williams; I think his music's great, his look is very debonair, and his attitude is very carefree. And now it's beginning to look like he's set to star as the gay cowboy, Randy Jones, in an upcoming movie about the popular '70s band the Village People.
Some may think this is a smart move; others not so much. But one thing's for sure; if Robbie wanted to get in America's face and hit the market with a bang, he will surely pull that off through this, to say the least.
And although Williams admits that, "Some of the Village People were gay, some of them weren't," he feels that their story needs to be told nonetheless. I can name at least one demographic that Robbie will be popular with after this movie is released.

17/5/03
Rob to perform in Milan -thanks to Jackie
Robbie Williams is to perform in Milan at "Festivalbar" Date has not yet been confimed.

16/5/03
Robbie Williams gets a royal welcome from Kilborn-Popdirt
Robbie Williams was on the Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn where he got a near royal introduction complete with countdown timer and all before a wildly enthusiastic crowd. Still, Robbie wondered if they even knew who he was. Craig tried to get him to put down an American pop artist, but while mentioning Justin Timberlake, he insisted the *NSYNC star was a "gem". Robbie said, "He is actually excellent. And you know, you have said a funnier thing earlier on that I quite liked, but he is a great dancer, and a great looking guy and a great singer and you have a gem with him in America. I really do." After his interview, Robbie performed 'Feel'. Click here for a full transcript.

16/5/03
Williams could hit big with Escapology-gaywired.com
Robbie Williams is a man who likes turns and twists in his life. Always on the edge he continually manages to reinvent himself just when we think we've figured him out.
He's done it again with Escapology, the new CD written on the beach in California that moves him into the adult pop venue. It's straightforward style plants his feet firmly in the adult contemporary format. That is until he changes again.
Williams wrote or co-wrote most of the tracks, including "Nan's Song," a touching ballad dedicated to his grandmother. Sure enough, the tattooed idol does a fine job of exploring his more serious side on cuts such as "Feel," with its fusion of lush orchestration and mid-tempo beats, and the sweeping, Elton John–reminiscent "To Love Somebody," which draws on strings and a gospel choir.
This is a strong album that is sure to get him the North American recognition that he deserves.
But, there are still no answers to the question most gay men want to know: Is he or isn't he? Williams has been teasing us for years.
He continues to dispel the rumors he's gay but turns around and tells an interviewer he had thought about sex with guys but never acted on it. Then his best buddy, and roommate ads fuel to the fire saying the two often sleep together, but "never have sex."
Most recently, he was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying he's grown sick of bedding celebrity females: "I've slept with all the best-looking girls in show business. Maybe I should start sleeping with some of the best-looking men instead."
That sounds like a good plan to us!
He first hit stardom as the front man of Take That, but he never really seemed to fit in. Roguishly handsome where his bandmates were merely cute, Williams was tougher and sexier than the rest, which made him more distinctive. He also fought regularly with the other members and their management, primarily because he was occasionally adverse to being so heavily packaged.
It didn't come as a surprise that he was the first to leave the band, departing early in the summer of 1995 to pursue a solo career (by some accounts, he was fired from the group). Although he was the first out of the gate, it took Williams a while to get started.
For most of 1995, he attempted to boost his credibility by tagging along with Oasis, hoping that Noel Gallagher would give him a couple of songs. He never did, but all of his time with Oasis launched Williams into a world of heavy partying, drinking and drugging.
Over the course of 1996, he was only heard from in gossip columns, and every published picture indicated he had put on considerable weight. Occasionally, he was quoted as saying his new music would abandon lightweight dance-pop for traditional Brit-pop, but his first single was a cover of George Michael's "Freedom '90." Released late in 1996, the single was a disaster, but his second single, 1997's "Old Before I Die," was more in the vein of his early pronouncements, featuring a distinct Oasis influence.
Williams released his first solo album, "Life Thru A Lens", in 1997. The album became a big hit in Britain, prompting his second, "I've Been Expecting Your, in 1998. In time for the millennium Williams released The Ego Has Landed.
In an era of corporately controlled pop products, Williams may be the real thing, with good taste in songs and a budding interpretive vocal style.

16/5/03
Williams sings for Johnny English-Billboard
U.K. pop star Robbie Williams has contributed the new song "A Man for All Seasons" to Decca's soundtrack for "Johnny English," the hit English spy spoof starring Rowan Atkinson. Due July 15 in the United States, the set also features several tracks by female string quartet Bond, one by Moloko, an ABBA song, and score composed by Edward Shearmur ("Charlie's Angels," "Miss Congeniality"). The Williams song was written with noted soundtrack composer Hans Zimmer, and is not to be confused with similarly titled songs by the Bee Gees, Al Stewart, Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, or Jorma Kaukonen. U.K. dance duo Moloko donates "The Only Ones," from its international release "Statues," while ABBA is represented by "Does Your Mother Know." Bond adds "Kismet," from its 2001 debut, "Born," as well as a salsa version of Shearmur's "Theme From Johnny English." The group's inclusion on the set is apt, as the film is a send-up of James Bond films. The film, which has grossed about $100 million at the foreign box office, opens July 18 in the U.S. The film and soundtrack were released in April in the U.K.

16/5/03
MTV to broadcast Tribeca Concert-Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Norah Jones fans who couldn't quite make it down to lower Manhattan to see the Grammy-winner perform during the Tribeca Film Festival can catch her in concert on MTV and VH1. "100 Percent NYC: A Concert Celebrating the Tribeca Film Festival" is scheduled to air simultaneously on both cable music channels at 8 p.m. EDT Saturday. The show took place in Battery Park during the second annual festival, which ran May 3-11. The Roots, Sean Paul, Robbie Williams and Jewel also performed, along with comedians Wanda Sykes, Denis Leary and Jimmy Fallon. The hour-long broadcast will include behind-the-scenes footage from the free show, which drew 15,000 people on May 9.

15/5/03
100% NYC: A Concert Celebrating the Tribeca Film Festival airing times-VH1
I was just about to turn my computer off after sending the subscribers the latest headline news when the email came in regarding the airing times for the 100% NYC: A Concert Celebrating the Tribeca Film Festival. To see all airing times click here.
If anyone out there from the States feels like doing a good deed, please help a poor Robbie fan who is desperate to see this and tape it for me (and send me the bill)!!!!! Please!!!

15/5/03
Subscribe to The Robbie Williams Site -from Tania
Wanna be the first to know the latest daily Robbie news? Well then subscribe to The Robbie Williams Site to receive a daily email with the latest news breaking headlines. To subscribe click here.

15/5/03
Robbie appears on Late Late Show -thanks to Jackie
Robbie Williams took the Late Late show by storm last night. He spent a half hour talking with Craig Kilborn and performing for the overly enthusiastic crowd. Apparently Robbie has been getting a lot of airplay in L.A. radio stations, where the show is filmed, and it really showed. The crowd went wild for him. If he does in fact keep up his promotion in America he may become a huge hit there afterall. Only time will tell, but this past week has been a great one for Robbie.

15/5/03
Watch '5 Questions' with Robbie Williams from The Late Late Show -from Tania
In case you missed Robbie's appearance on Craig Kilborn you can watch a segment from the show. The segment is '5 Questions' where Robbie got 3 out of 5 correct. Click here.

15/5/03
Robbie and Norah rock New York -thanks to Jackie
New York City rocked the night away as MTV and VH1 invited thousands of the city dwellers to a free concert in lower Manhattan's Battery Park. Over 12,000 music lovers gathered to hear Norah Jones, Robbie Williams, Jewel and more celebrate the second annual Tribeca Film Festival Concert entitled '100 Per cent NYC.' New Yorker and co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival, Robert DeNiro was at hand with the honor of introducing Grammy-winner Jones. The shy Jones delighted audiences with 10 songs including her latest hit, Come Away With Me.
Williams was a studied but equally successful contrast and obviously had no problem wooing his audience."People seemed to enjoy themselves and they clapped. It means a great deal to me. I don't actually know what it means to the film festival, or for me performing at the film festival, but the crowd was amazing, and I'm very excited about what just happened," said the British star.
Unlike his immense popularity in the UK, Williams is still without a huge American following, but he's already come up with a method to spread his music. "I'm planning to do it one by one. One person at a time. There's going to be about 16 people in the lobby this evening, and it's going to be a long night," said Williams.
Pop and folk star Jewel sparkled in the setting sun. She rocked the crowd with her melodic voice and her new punk-chick look. Though Jewel performed a few songs from her previous albums, she concentrated more on new material from her upcoming album, 0304, to be released next month.
"This is a great festival. I can't believe it's only the second year for the festival," said Jewel.
And love was definitely in the air at Battery Park, as 12,000 music fans grooved the night away to some of the industry's top artists.

15/5/03
Robbie eyes cowboy role -Empire Online and thanks to Jackie
Every once in a while a news story comes along that despite its dodgy provenance and general unlikeliness, we still feel it's worth sharing with Empire Online readers. Today, two London newspapers are reporting the frankly bizarre story that popster Robbie Williams is in talks to star in a movie about the Village People. It gets better; apparently he's keen to play the band's gay cowboy.
According to The Metro and the London Evening Standard, Williams is putting up a great wadge of money to secure the film rights to the story, telling a friend. 'The Village People were icons. They defined disco and their story is amazing. It will make a great movie.'
The unnamed source (that's handy, then) goes on to say that Robbie told them that, 'some of the Village People were gay and some of them weren't. But, gay or not, they were great entertainers and their story deserves to be told.'

15/5/03
Robbie shocks viewers -News24
Robbie Williams has shocked US TV viewers by giving Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell a lap dance.
The star gyrated on Cowell's knee as he sang his single Feel on The Tonight Show.
Robbie's fifth album, Escapology, has been out for five weeks in the US but has only sold 31 000 copies.
Last week, Robbie begged Americans to support him in his bid to crack the lucrative US market.
He asked 15 000 fans at a New York concert to phone local radio stations to urge them to play his latest single.

15/5/03
Romp-ie Williams -TOTP
It's no secret that the Robster has had his eye on American pop fans for yonks, but of all his wacky antics (going out with Geri Halliwell?) we can't help but think that his latest stunt is slightly over the top.
While performing the song 'Feel' on the US Jay Leno show, the Robster proceeded to lap dance for none other than arch pop overlord Simon Cowell. If that wasn't a scary enough image to handle, even more worrying was that the Pop Idol judge even seemed to enjoy the show.
Ever eager to make an enduring impression on Americans, Robbie even kissed fans and planted a big smacker on stand-in host Katie Couric. One source told the Daily Record: "His performance was breathtaking." Presumably because he'd snogged all the air from her lungs. The source added: "Some people will think Robbie is getting desperate but a lot more Americans will know who he is now."

15/5/03
'Something Beautiful' set for Japan release -thanks to Jackie
Jackie form the UK tells me that Robbie Williams has now left the US and is headed for Japan where 'Something Beautiful' will be released as the next single from 'Escapology'. The release is set for May 22nd.

14/5/03
Robbie Williams turns up charm for Katie Couric -Popdirt
Today Show host Katie Couric shows viewers the behind-the-scenes action of her stint as a Tonight Show guest host, as well as highlights of the show. The show clips of Simon Cowell as a guest, Katie pretending to be Paula Abdul judging a singer, and Robbie Williams dancing suggestively for Katie. Robbie is on right at the end at about 6:25secs Watch it here.

14/5/03
Robbie entertains them -Glasgow Daily Record
Robbie Williams resorts to desperate measures to boost his flagging career in America - by giving Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell a lap dance.
The cheeky performer gyrated on Cowell's knee as he sang single Feel on The Tonight Show.
Robbie's fifth album, Escapology, has been out for five weeks in the US but has sold 31,000 copies.
But insiders say his performance - which received a standing ovation - could turn things around for the star.
He kissed fans and guest presenter Katie Couric, standing in for Jay Leno, and chatted up a pretty girl in the audience.
A source said: "His performance was breathtaking.
"Some people will think Robbie is getting desperate but a lot more Americans will know who he is now."

14/5/03
Fly Like An Ego -Village Voice, New York
An interesting article on Robbie Williams. Click here.

14/5/03
Robbie finding US hard -BBC
Robbie Williams says he's finding it hard to crack America and reckons he's not getting enough support from US radio stations.
He's been promoting his album 'Escapalogy' in the States and performed at Robert De Niro's Tribeca festival in New York over the weekend.
BBC3's 'Liquid News' spoke to him at the festival and asked if he thought Americans had difficulty understanding his sense of humour:
"No it's nothing to do with irony because I've been doing loads of shows with radio stations and everybody has laughed at all of my jokes. The plain matter of it all is whether you get your record onto radio here or not. And the fact that I'm very big everywhere else means jack**** here. And the reason why that my momentum of steam from everywhere else doesn't make any difference here is because it's a big country and they don't need acts like me."
But he did say he will never give up and go home:
"No! No. This is part of my schedule that I'm fulfilling along with everywhere else and I think it's far more important or it seems to be far more interesting in the soap of the tabloids whether I break here or not. I'm gonna sing a few songs tonight and then I'm gonna go to bed. And whether I sell records here or not I'm doing all right!"

14/5/03
Ashley Hamilton sticks up for Robbie -BBC
Ashley Hamilton, the son of perma-tanned actor George Hamilton, has been standing up for Robbie William's attempt to crack the States.
The US singer, who co-wrote his single 'Wimmin' with Robbie, told Radio 1 that it's not his fault he's having trouble in America - each radio station over there only plays one specific type of music like hip hop or rock, and they don't know where he fits in to all that.
Apart from working with Robbie, Ashley is very well connected. He enlisted the help of Mixmaster Mike from the Beastie Boys, Tommy Lee and the Sex Pistols' Steve Jones for his new album, plus he's also the step-son of Rod Stewart. He even went to the same LA school as Angelina Jolie:
"She's gorgeous! She was very goth, so you know, she was very into goth and some other crazy things. She was very pretty, but everybody at school was really scared of her."
'Wimmin' is released on June 2.

13/5/03
Robbie Williams on E News Live! -from Tania
Just watched E News Live on Fox 8 (Foxtel/Optus) and they had a quick story on the Tribeca Film Festival Concert where there was a very short interview with Robbie Williams. In true Robbie style he was asking whether singer Jewel was married or had a boyfriend, to which the reply was yes! He looked really happy to be there and seemed to be enjoying himself and, of course, he looked fantastic! There will be a repeat episode tomorrow morning on Fox 8 at 10am. Don't miss it!
P.S. Don't forget Jay Leno tonight -Comedy Channel, Foxtel/Optus, 9.30pm

13/5/03
Robbie: Britain should back me -Channel 4 news
Robbie Williams has attacked Britain for failing to back his bid to crack the US.
Williams's fifth album Escapology debuted at number 43 in the US charts last month - his highest position yet - before nosediving out of the top 100. The singer - who played a festival in New York at the weekend - says he expects people at home to be more "proud" of his achievements.
In an interview for BBC3's Liquid News, Williams makes it clear he is sick of negative attitudes towards his efforts across the Atlantic.
"Whether I sell records here or not I'm doing all right," he said from New York. "I think it's weird how England has treated my so-called onslaught into America, you know. 'Robbie will never do it, stop it, don't even try' and all that business. Come on England - get behind me.
"It's such a shame that I could be, at the minute, one of the only people that could come over here and break it big. You'd think they'd be proud of me.
He added: "I'm aiming to be the biggest artist in the world without America on this album. That's not to say that I'm giving up on this territory."
"It's a big country and they don't need acts like me," Williams explained.

13/5/03
Glasto DVD release -vote for Robbie
Glastonbury Festival organisers are planning to release a definitive DVD of the annual event, dotmusic can report.
Though very little footage of the early festivals exists, Glastonbury Television has been documenting performances since 1994, with some classic moments already in the can.
Now organisers, stuck with arduous task of selecting clips from hundreds of hours of footage, want music fans to vote for their favourite Glastonbury moments.
Shortlisted performances include sets from Paul Weller, Beck, Beastie Boys, The Pretenders, The Verve, Supergrass, Jeff Buckley, PJ Harvey, Page & Plant, Elastica, Oasis, Pulp, Prodigy, Cast, Radiohead, Robbie Williams, Tori Amos, Foo Fighters, Catatonia, Tricky, James, Spiritualized, Ash, Hole, Manic Street Preachers, REM, Travis, David Gray, Moby, David Bowie, Coldplay, Stereophonics, The White Stripes, Badly Drawn Boy, Starsailor and Faithless.
To vote for your favourite performances, click here. A release date for the official Glastonbury DVD will be announced later this year.
Meanwhile, this year's festival takes place from June 27-29, with headline performances from both Radiohead and REM already confirmed.

12/5/03
An eclectic evening -New York Daily News
Civic boosting comes at a cost. The Tribeca Film Festival gave itself a star-studded concert in Battery Park Friday night to further its cause of encouraging people to spend as much money in downtown Manhattan as possible. Certainly it was nice to have two hours of free music on a pleasant night - highlighted by stars like Norah Jones, Sean Paul and The Roots.
But the audience spent another two hours twiddling its collective thumbs while workers fussed with equipment between sets so the show could be televised this coming Saturday at 8 p.m. on MTV and VH1. Naturally, this meant the concert doubled as a plug for the networks - with their programs promoted on video screens between performances - buttressed by plugs for the festival, a credit card company, a local radio station, and, of course, several of the stars' new CDs.
Then again, what do you expect when the whole point was to promote commerce? At least the intermittent music had its moments, not to mention a nice breadth of styles. Only fame connected the players, who included reggae star Sean Paul, pop folkie Jewel, neo-crooner Norah Jones, campy fop Robbie Williams, and The "every style you can name" Roots.
Paul had the most fleeting stage time. but he made the most of it. Backed by a full band, he performed his hit, "Get Busy," plus several sound-alikes, all highlighted by his wicked patois skipping dizzily over the clacking beats. Jewel tested out her snazzy new self during her set. Along with several old hits, she plugged a pair of songs from her upcoming album, a more up-beat affair. While the added aggression eased some of the old tedium, her lyrics remained as routine, and her singing as overbearing, as ever.
The longest, and most striking, set came from The Roots. Though known as the world's most skilled hip hop band, this time they grooved through Latin soul, rock, reggae, blues, and psychedelia, with equal conviction. The set worked in two guest singers, Musiq and Cody Chesnutt, both of whom whetted the appetite for more.
Williams added a dash of flounce and humor. This charming Brit operates as a kind of meta-pop star, wryly putting down fame, ego, and cute looks at the same moment he epitomizes them. While Williams has yet to score a U.S. hit, the crowd treated him like the icon he deserves to be.
Norah Jones had the thankless task of closing the show right when many in the crowd were ready to head home. The distracting outdoor venue hardly flattered her delicate tones and intimate music. But she performed beautifully. Like many aspects of the evening, at least her intentions were good.

12/5/03
Robbie asks for US airplay. -BBC News
Desperate Robbie Williams has begged Americans to phone their local radio stations and demand they play his latest single. The star, who is struggling to crack the US market, urged 15,000 fans at a New York concert to bale him out. "Even if you don't like it, can you ask for it?" he pleaded. The singer received a low-key reception as he took to the stage as one of several support acts for record breaking Grammy Award winner Norah Jones at the open-air event in downtown Manhattan. The free concert was part of Robert De Niro's Tribeca film festival and will be broadcast on MTV in the US. The singer repeatedly told the crowd - some of whom admitted before the show they had never heard of him - "my name is Robbie Williams". By the end of a 30-minute set he had at least a few girls in the audience chanting his name. Williams has sold 28 million albums across the globe during his solo career. But he remains a relative unknown in the US. Bosses at struggling record company EMI offered him a £50m contact in an effort turn him into a household name and turn around their company. But Williams has failed to make an impact on the US Billboard charts

12/5/03
The Robbie Williams Show -from Tania
The Robbie Williams Show has hit no.1 in the Australian DVD Charts. Fantastic! The DVD debuted in the Top Ten after its release on March 31st and has slowly climbed its way to no.1. Great news for Robbie and Australian fans. Escapology is also slowly climbing its way back up the charts coming in at no.17 this week.

11/5/03
Robbie Williams launches charm offensive on States -Denver Post
A fantastic article on the charm and charisma of Robbie Williams. Click here.

11/5/03
Robbie in Porter biopic -Fox News
Robbie Williams has landed his first role in a major Hollywood movie. The star is to play a wedding singer - a part some might say was made for him - in the Cole Porter biopic 'Just One of Those Things'.
The singing and speaking part as a 1930s crooner in the £10 million production will give Robbie the chance to belt out Porter standards such as Don't Fence Me In and I Get A Kick Out Of You. His Sinatra impersonations on Swing When Your Winning two years ago obviously helped him land the role.
Porter is played by Fish Called Wanda star Kevin Kline - and sexy Ashley Judd, of 'Frida' and 'Heat' fame, is the legendary songwriter's wife Linda Lee.
Strangely, as he lives in LA now, Robbie has to come to London next month to shoot two days of scenes with the pair at the Old Vic theatre.

11/5/03
Tribeca Film Festival. -ITV
Robbie Williams is begging Americans to support him as he faces his toughest test yet in his bid to crack the lucrative US market.
The former Take That star has asked 15,000 fans at a New York concert to phone local radio stations to urge them to play his latest single.
"Even if you don't like it, can you ask for it?" he pleaded with the crowd. The singer received a muted reception as he took to the stage as one of several support acts for record breaking Grammy Award winner Norah Jones at the open-air event in downtown Manhattan.
The free concert was part of Robert De Niro's Tribeca film festival and will be broadcast on MTV in the US.
The singer repeatedly told the crowd - some of whom admitted before the show they had never heard of him - "my name is Robbie Williams."
By the end of a raunchy 30 minute set he had at least a few girls in the audience chanting his name.
The 29-year-old singer also joked about his previous failures to succeed in America as he performed his single Angels.
"This song was released here a few years ago and guess what? It wasn't a hit," he said.
"But I'm not bitter. It made me a star everywhere in the world but here."
Williams has sold 28 million albums across the globe during his solo career, but remains a relative unknown in the US.
Bosses at struggling record company EMI have put their hopes of a revival on turning the performer into a household name in America.
They offered him a the most lucrative record deal in UK pop history last year, worth at least £50 million.
Despite the investment Williams has failed to make an impact on the US Billboard charts.
The singer flopped at a high-profile pre-Grammy Awards performance in New York in February when he failed to rouse the crowd.
Last week he admitted he was "bothered" by his lack of success in the US. He said: "North America seems to be on everyone's lips because it's the only thing I haven't done yet."

11/5/03
Virgin Radio -thanks to Carole
Robbie Williams will be on Virgin Radio Zoo on May 11th between 6pm and 7pm (UK time), (3am-4am Melbourne time).You can listen online at virginradio.co.uk

11/5/03
Smiling Robbie lit up with joy. -The Sun
Robbie Williams is clearly not letting the New York ban on fags get him down.
In fact the star looks healthier and happier than I’ve seen him in ages, even though he’s no longer allowed to take a puff in the pub.
It is rare to see him smiling these days and judging by how handsome he looks in these pictures I think he should do it more often.
Robbie was told to get out of a bar to smoke his ciggie as he prepared to play at a festival in the city.
Smoking in NY public buildings is banned but Robbie wasn’t fuming, he carried on outside like everyone else.
He’s in New York for the Tribeca Film Festival and will share the bill with his EMI pal Norah Jones.
MEMO TO ROBBIE: I know you log on to read this column every day — wherever you are in the world — so when are you going to give me that interview?!

11/5/03
Amadeus Awards -thanks to Jackie
Jackie has informed me that Robbie Williams has won Best International Artist of the Year at the 2003 Amadeus Awards held in Austria. We couldn't agree more!

11/5/03
You can now watch three videos of Robbie's performance on Alice106 in Denver. Click here.

10/5/03
Robbie fans face ban over touts' net tickets -Edinburgh News
Robbie Williams fans who buy their tickets from touts over the internet face being banned from the singer’s shows at Murrayfield next month. Promoters of the superstar’s massive Capital concerts are threatening to cancel the tickets of anyone caught selling them at hugely inflated prices over the net. And they have also warned that anyone found either trying to use a fake ticket to gain entry to the stadium or trying to sell bogus briefs faces being handed over to the police. DF Concerts have warned fans desperate to go to the two sell-out shows that they risk massive disappointment by buying over the internet or dealing with street touts on the day. Tickets for the £35-a-head concerts are already going for up to £200 on internet auction sites, even though they are still more than a month away.
But DF chiefs say they are "quite entitled" to make void any tickets they can track down via e-mails, home addresses, bank details or credit card numbers. They are threatening the same course of action as that taken by the organisers of the Glastonbury Festival, who have warned fans against buying tickets over the web, insisting they will be turned away if the tickets have been made invalid. Although touting is not a criminal offence, a notice on the back of each ticket makes it clear that tickets cannot be sold on without the express permission of the promoter.
While DF is powerless to prevent touts from trying to sell tickets over the odds on the streets of Murrayfield on the day of the concerts, they insist they have the power to track down internet cheats. They are also warning that the sophisticated technology used to produce the tickets, which have been held back from distribution in a bid to curb forgery and touting problems, will make it "virtually impossible" for fakes to get through turnstile gates on the day. Fake tickets for Williams’ concerts flooded on to the market in the run-up to the star’s two sell-out concerts at Hampden Park, in Glasgow, last summer. Despite media publicity in the run-up to the shows, around 30 forgeries were discovered at the turnstiles.
Although none are yet believed to be in circulation for the Edinburgh extravaganzas, both of which are 55,000-ticket sell-outs, DF chief Geoff Ellis believes it is likely touts are willing to try their luck at conning fans of the pin-up again. He said: "Ticket touting isn’t illegal in the UK and is a real tall order to deal with, but to an extent it’s a bit of a free enterprise as the touts are only making what people are prepared to pay.
"However, the tout doesn’t lose out at all if the fan who has paid money in good faith for a ticket finds out it’s a fake when they turn up at the turnstile."
He added: "We’ve had big problems from internet websites claiming to have tickets months in advance from them even being printed up and companies selling packages when they just don’t have the tickets.
"An organised tout could have paid their friends to buy 20 tickets purely to resell them at inflated prices and this is how some people make a living.
"However, it is possible for us to retrace where tickets have been bought from initially and people should be aware that we’re within our rights to cancel any tickets if people are in breach of the conditions on the back of them." Mr Ellis said that all tickets for the Murrayfield shows were made from a special kind of material which was "extremely difficult" to copy and were also fitted with an invis
ible image which shows up when it is passed through turnstile equipment.
A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Police said that officers would investigate any forged tickets that were discovered. She said: "We’ve very concerned about the possibility of either fake tickets being sold for these concerts or people touting tickets, especially from a public safety point of view.
"If any forgeries do come to light over the next few weeks we’d obviously take steps to investigate and anyone caught selling them could be charged with attempted fraud."
And a spokeswoman for the city council’s trading standards department added: "We’re going to have a team of officers on duty at both concerts.
"They’ll be mainly looking out for counterfeit merchandise, such as T-shirts, but any evidence of fake tickets circulating will be referred to the police." Five thousand extra briefs for each of the Murrayfield shows on June 28 and 29 were put on sale - and quickly snapped up - last weekend.

9/5/03
All go for Robbie gigs -thanks to Jackie.
That was the message from police this week to residents in Old Knebworth who face the prospect of having nearly 400,000 Robbie Williams fans descend on their doorsteps in August.The army of music enthusiasts will be travelling to Knebworth Park on Friday 1, Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 for the only UK legs of the crooner's European tour.And while many locals have voiced concern at the potential scale of disruption caused by the event, police have promised they will be out in force to maintain law and order.Speaking at a press conference held at Stevenage police station on Tuesday, Chief Supt Andy Wright said: "Our objective, as far as the organiser is concerned, is to ensure that all those attending the event have an enjoyable and safe time."But at the same time we wish to reassure residents, particularly those living in the Old Knebworth area, and business owners that plans have been put in place to keep disruption to a minimum."He added: "Just because there's a concert of this magnitude taking place it doesn't mean their lives have to be a misery for three days. I am quite confident we can work together with local residents to ensure that isn't the case."Organisers have been planning for the event since December with preparations helped by the staging of previous gigs at the venue by the likes of Oasis, Queen and The Rolling Stones.Each day of the Robbie event will cater for 125,000 fans, with gates opening from midday to 10.30pm for appearances from five acts including the 29-year-old former Take That member.Without revealing specific numbers, Chief Supt Wright said that the dates would mark the "biggest deployment of police officers for an event in Hertfordshire" except for the Potters Bar and Hatfield rail crashes.Funded by promoters Metropolis Music, plain clothes and covert officers will patrol inside and outside the grounds, while the organisers themselves will also be providing their own security team.During the shows, Old Knebworth Lane and Hitchin Lane will be closed off to through traffic - but not residents - while diversions and part closures will also be in force at a number of other roads nearby.The hard shoulder and inside lane of the A1(M) will both be used at the discretion of police to transport cars off the motorway to the venue.And special rail services will also be provided by operators Wagn, although customers must buy their travel tickets in advance.Police have asked for those without concert tickets to keep away from the venue and have also advised ticket holders to prepare sensibly and watch out for dehydration and sunstroke.Chief Supt Wright said that further public information would be released closer to the event but he added: "Ultimately it is about facilitating people to have a good time and I'm sure they will be a series of excellent concerts."

9/5/03
Quick Hits review of Escapology -Orange County Register.
Robbie Williams, "Escapology" (Chrysalis/Virgin) - Why every other country that laps up Western pop loves him is exactly the reason mainstream America still doesn't get him: He sells in Queen-y pomp and Elton John balladry. We buy the former only for nostalgia (and strictly from the originator); we've grown comfortable with the latter's schmaltz and don't know what to think of someone who remembers when Elton used to infuse Bernie's quirkier moments with glam-rock and retro-soul and delectable cynicism.
Are we missing out? Yes and no. Williams remains a refreshingly down-to-earth voice compared with stateside howlers. He's a tremendous live performer yet also a humorously self-deprecating lyricist (see the I'm-scum declarations of "Come Undone"). And right now he's alone in his field. That said, he's been more consistent. In English football terms, he starts off strong, scores quick and steadily, but falls apart in the final period.

9/5/03
Criag Kilborn huge Robbie fan. -thanks to So Sincere on the fourm
Craig Kilborn, host of The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, is a huge Robbie fan. He has been doing a countdown to Robbie's performance next week and has been playing 'Feel' every night. He announced that he intends to make Robbie huge in the States. Great to have someone in the States on Robbie's side. Good luck to Robbie for his performances next week on Craig Kilborn and Jay Leno.

9/5/03
Tabloid Tidbits -Sun Sentinel
British pop star Robbie Williams -- best known stateside for a possible brief fling with Nicole Kidman -- was seen last Saturday hiking up the hills at Runyon Canyon with a male companion (trainer, perhaps?) and two dogs in tow.

9/5/03
Robbie No.2 in Top Ten Males. -curlio.com
A dutch program called 'Top Ten' recently had the show on Top Ten Males In The World. Comimg in at no.2 was Robbie Williams. Why he wasn't no.1 I don't know, that position went to Brad Pitt.

8/5/03
More pictures from Robbie's performance at Alice 106 in Denver here.

8/5/03
Music to get the league going -Channel 4 News
Badboy rapper Eminem is top of the table for kick-starting Premiership footballs teams, according to a new survey. The rapper's soundtrack to the movie 8 Mile is favourite to get sides in the mood as they warm-up in the dressing rooms. Seven of the 20 top flight teams listed their top pre-match listening in the survey for the Barclaycard Premiership. It also reveals that Manchester United have been listening to Iggy Pop classic Lust for Life - used in the movie Trainspotting - on the road to this year's title. Music psychologist Dr Neil Todd, of Manchester University, said psyching up sides to the heavy beats and rhythms of music such as Eminem's Lose Yourself can give players a competitive advantage. He said: "Eminem's music may play a role rather like the Haka (New Zealand rugby's pre-match custom) in helping players reach an aroused competitive state. "Some players will be motivated by the determined, repetitive dance rhythms combined with cutting lyrics that are often themed around reclaiming pride and self-confidence in the face of difficult circumstances. Songs such as Lose Yourself are a good example of this."
U2 provided the second most popular soundtrack for the dressing room. Dr Todd said: "U2's music may work in a different way - lively, positive and uplifting songs such as Beautiful Day can help create a positive frame of mind also have a physiological effect by inducing a sense of euphoria by activating the brain's dopamine system. "The release of adrenaline prior to a match has the additional effect of raising heart rate helping prepare the body before a game."
Barclaycard Premiership dressing room Top 10:
1. Eminem - 8 Mile
2. U2- The Best of 1990-2000
3. Nelly - Nellyville
4. Oasis - Heathen Chemistry
5. Red Hot Chili Peppers - By The Way
6. Justin Timberlake - Justified
7. Robbie Williams - Escapology
8. Kylie - Fever
9. J-lo - J to Tha Lo
10 Jay-Z - The Blueprint 2

7/5/03
Ever played the game 'Six Degrees of Separation' where you have to link a personality back to themselves through six other people? Well my husband and I play it all the time and it can get quite tricky but I was fiddling around today and came up with a few for Robbie Williams. Here is one of them:

Robbie Williams, it was announced today, will provide the voice over for a lion in the upcoming BBC movie Pride. Another star involved in the project is British actress Kate Winslet(1). Kate Winslet once starred along veteran British actor Jim Broadbent(2) in Iris, the story of Iris Murdoch. In the same year of 2001 he also starred in Bridget Jones’ Diary playing Colin Jones, whose daughter Bridget was played by Renee Zellweger(3). Renee Zellweger appeared in the movie Jerry Maguire with American actor Tom Cruise(4). Once married to Tom Cruise is Nicole Kidman(5) who appeared in the Somethin’ Stupid video and sang a duet with Robbie Williams(6).

If you can think of anymore yourself I would love to read them so you can either email them to me or post them on the forum.

7/5/03
Williams to voice lion in tv movie -Irish Examiner.
Click here.

7/5/03
TOTP 'Today's Big Question' is Is Escapology any cop? Well here in Australia we don't use that term but I'm gathering by the messages on the message boards at TOTP they are asking is 'Escapology' crap? (am i right?) Well now you can show everyone on the board who dislike Escapology that it isn't crap by voting for it. To vote visit TOTP and click on the 'vote' icon.

7/5/03
Exclusive performance by Robbie Williams -Radio Q102
Radio Q102 are providing an exclusive performance by Robbie Williams at "Jillian's" (Kentucky) on May 10 at 1pm. To register click here.

6/5/03
Yesterday we had the news that either 'Escapology' or 'Sexed Up' was no.1 in Brazil, well now we can confirm that it is infact 'Escapology'.

6/5/03
Live Showcase in Paris -channelv.com.au
You can listen to Robbie's live showcase in Paris where he performed Monsoon, Feel, No Regrets, Nan's Song, Sexed Up, Come Undone, Supreme and Angels. You can also watch the Come Undone video which includes a commentary from Robbie himself. Click here. (I tried to watch the video with the commentary and a strange looking box appeared so I'm not sure if they have the correct link, I'm not sure but if you can access it and watch it please let me know.)

5/5/03
The Robbie Williams Show review -Sain Magazine
On the set of England's famous Pinewood Studios, a set somewhat more intimate than the Royal Albert Hall where his last DVD was shot, the self-confessed "(world's most) Handsome Man" entertains a privileged audience with tracks that span most of his solo albums. From the minute he kick starts the show with 'Rock DJ' all the way through to a stirring finale with the magnificent 'Angels' 90 minutes later, RW demonstrates why he is the one that put the 'Brit' in 'celebrity'. From the album 'Swing When You're Winning' come the tracks 'Mr. Bojangles' and 'Have You Met Miss Jones?', but most of the show's content is off his latest, 'Escapology'. Two versions of his most recent hit 'Feel' make a case for this song joining 'Angels' as two of the all-time great ballads, and to top it off, Robbie includes arguably the best song ever written about a monkey. The DVD looks absolutely brilliant to say the least, and the sound places you in the first row of the small crowd that surrounds the circular stage. Twenty minutes of outstanding backstage footage allows you to see Robbie, who normally comes off so confident and arrogant in the public eye, admit he is 'shitting himself' prior to going on to do one hell of a performance.

5/5/03
There is a great interview in the Canoe News from Canada with Robbie Williams. To read the full interview click here.

5/5/03
No.1 in Brazil -thanks to Susie
Robbie Williams is no.1 in Brazil and has been for the last three weeks. At present we are not sure if it is for 'Escapology' or 'Sexed Up' but I will find out and let you know. It seems that 'Sexed Up' is very popular over there.

5/5/03
DeNiro Calls Up Robbie -Sky News
Chart star Robbie Williams has been given a personal invitation to perform at Robert De Niro's film festival later this week. Williams has been trying to crack the US with his new album Escapology, although recent album sales have tailed off. He will play Oscar winner De Niro's respected Tribeca Film Festival on Friday. Williams will perform in New York's Battery Park on a bill which also includes record-breaking Grammy winner Norah Jones. The singer now divides his time between Britain and his home in Los Angeles. He is due to play a 30-minute show at the 100% NYC concert which is a highlight of the festival. Last year's event climaxed with an outdoor show by David Bowie in front of 10,000 fans. Williams will also be exposed to a huge US audience as a guest on the Jay Leno show on May 12.

4/5/03
Robbie Learns the Hard Way -Canoe News, Canada
Robbie Williams says there were some growing pains associated with his re-location to Los Angeles over the past year. The British pop star told The Toronto Sun, in an exclusive Canadian newspaper interview recently, that it took him a while to size up Los Angelenos who had an agenda:
"I didn't have my 'dickhead radar' fixed when I came to the States," said Williams, 29, in town to chat up his latest release, Escapology. "I got it fixed for Europe and I can normally weed out, 'Oh, you like me 'cause I'm famous,' or 'You like me 'cause I've got money' or 'You like me 'cause I could probably get you a job,' in London.
"But it sort of broke on the flight to L.A. So I got stabbed in the back a few times. It sounds pretty harsh. It wasn't really stabbed in the back, it was let down."
Robbie Williams, Sean Paul, and comedian Mario Cantone have joined the lineup of a free concert May 9 at New York's Battery Park as part of the Tribeca Film Festival. The Roots and Norah Jones were previously announced performers for the concert, titled 100% NYC: A Concert Celebrating the Tribeca Film Festival. The show will also include guest appearances by comedians Whoopi Goldberg and Denis Leary, as well as other performers to be announced. Free tickets for the show are available by calling 212-846-2596 or logging onto the official Tribeca Film festival Web site. MTV and VH1 will televise the concert in a May 17 TV special about the festival.

4/5/03
Thanks to Jackie
Robbie Williams has been described as looking like a dog's dinner - but I've never actually heard of him trying to have a dog for dinner. The singer looks like he's taking a bite out of a wolf on the cover of the Japanese issue of two million-selling album Escapology. Don't worry though, he's only giving the friendly animal a cuddle. Robbie had to come up with a different cover because he is not instantly recognisable in Japan. So the UK image of him hanging from a building was ditched for a new set of pictures showing Robbie in typically cheeky mood. Cult Japanese photographer Kazuaki Kiriya decided to use a wolf to reflect the star's wild personality.
Meanwhile, Robbie is to have his biggest go yet at cracking the US market. He is sharing the bill with multi-Grammy winner Norah Jones in front of 10,000 people at New York's arty Tribeca Film Festival on May 9. Robbie will perform a 30-minute set to a packed audience in downtown Manhattan.
He will also appear on two huge American TV chat shows - JAY LENO and the Late Late Show.

4/5/03
Man For All Seasons Gets Airplay in Canada -thanks to Jackie.
Jackie from the Uk tells me that 'Man For All Seasons' is getting airplay in Canada. Great news for Robbie. His popularity seems to be growing in Canada.