30/11/03 Robbie and Westlife Gifts for Giant Christmas Stocking -Scotsman
Robbie Williams and Westlife are among stars who have donated gifts for a record-breaking Christmas stocking.
Twenty-five celebrities who feature in the Guinness World Records book have contributed gifts to the giant charity stocking.
It will be auctioned at Christie’s next Tuesday (December 2) with all proceeds going to Macmillan Cancer Relief.
Robbie has donated a signed album and DVD while boyband Westlife put in a host of prizes, including concert tickets and CDs.
Fatboy Slim, Shania Twain, Pavarotti and JK Rowling have also given presents.
The winning bidder will get the entire contents of the stocking.
Guinness World Records recently earned its own place in the famous book by selling its 100 millionth copy.
26/11/03 Robbie is Europe's top pop star -Ananova
Robbie Williams is the most listened to chart star in
Europe as music fans revel in a rock renaissance, a
survey has found.
The singer triumphs in a survey of 30,000 people who
were questioned on their musical preferences in eight
countries.
Williams topped the music census - for TV channel
Music Choice - in the UK, as well as Denmark, Germany
and Norway.
Rock music replaced pop as the biggest selling music
genre last year and the success of bands such as The
Darkness have emphasised its resurgence.
Although rap act Eminem is second in the list, third
place goes to US rock act Metallica, while in fourth
place is U2. Madonna flew the flag for pop at number
five.
Rock was the preferred listening in six of the eight
countries the survey found. UK artists fared well on
the continent in the poll. Radiohead and David Bowie
were 7th and 10th in Sweden, while Travis were ninth
in Norway.
A majority of Brits (82%) who were polled believed the
singles chart was no longer an accurate barometer of
musical taste.
Music Choice music & marketing director Simon George
said the census showed Europe, and particularly
Britain, was tiring of manufactured pop.
"The music industry will need to start signing and
promoting credible and talented acts in order to keep
up with changing tastes and reinvigorate interest in
the charts. Rock is back and it's packing a punch."
26/11/03 Robbie’s idea of fun doesnt measure up -The Mirror
IT'S a laugh a minute round Robbie Williams' house.
We hear the funny man likes to play the same joke on his tailor every time he visits to measure him up.
Our source tells us: "Robbie thinks it's really funny to go commando.
When the tailor asks him to drop his trousers, the boy's shlong slaps about in front of him - much to Robbie's amusement and the tailor's displeasure."
No wonder he has to come round frequently. With gags like that, Robbie, who landed in LA yesterday, must regularly split his sides.
Robbie fans should tune into the new Top Of The Pops on Friday for a chance to see the singer Down Under next month.
The BBC1 show, which unveils it's new format at 7pm, is giving away tickets for four winners to fly and see him in Sydney on December 13.
26/11/03 Robbie on TOTP relaunch -BBC
A whole host of big names have been drafted in to appear on the All New Top Of The Pops this Friday, the BBC announced today.
As previously reported, Victoria Beckham will help launch the new look show by asking viewers to vote on which of her double A-side tracks she should promote more.
Elton John will appear live from Atlanta singing one of the first songs he ever performed on TOTP, 'Your Song' whilst Robbie Williams fans will be treated to an "exclusive" performance from one of his sell-out Knebworth concerts earlier this year.
Kylie Minogue will also be present to perform a new album track before the Christmas single from The Darkness gets its first TV airing.
Other performers include from Nelly, Lisa Mafia, Mis-teeq, Will Young, Gareth Gates, Blazin Squad and this week's number one band, Westlife.
Following the BBC One show at 8pm will be All New Top of the Pops on Three on BBC Three, fronted by Richard Bacon and Margherita Taylor. The extra show will go behind-the-scenes as the stars celebrate the relaunch, as well as featuring bonus performances from Lemar, Starsailor, Dizzee Rascal, The Lost Prophet, The Black Eyed Peas and Mis-teeq.
25/11/03 Cig When You're Winning -The Sun
NICOTINE-starved ROBBIE WILLIAMS couldn’t wait to get off the plane at Los Angeles yesterday.
In fact the crown prince of pop got so strung out on the ten-hour flight from Heathrow, he had a ciggie at the ready for when he entered the baggage reclaim area.
I’m not sure the Los Angeles anti-smoking brigade would be too happy about that.
But that was probably the last thing Robbie was worried about.
I mean, if anyone saw him in those ridiculous Ali-G-style glasses, he’d never live it down.
Oh, sorry about that Robbie ... .
21/11/03 New look Robbie, aged 30 -Guardian
After his failure to crack the US market and a gruelling world tour, Robbie Williams has pledged to reinvent himself again as a sense of mortality dawns.
The former boy band star, who will have played before 1.2m people when his Escapology tour ends in Sydney on December 14, said at a show in London that "a new me" would appear after he turned 30 in February.
He would release another Sinatra-inspired album to follow Swing When You're Winning, which sold five million copies. He also promised a greatest hits album next year.
His performance, to 300 fans at Abbey Road studios in north London on Tuesday, was organised by Radio 2 and will be broadcast on December 20.
Williams said the past year had been the "best of my life". He had conquered his drink and drug problems and was now aware of his mortality. But he was bemused at his failure to make it in the US despite his success in the rest of the world. His album Escapology peaked only at No 43. Feel only reached No 30 in the singles chart.
21/11/03 Robbie Williams plans to give up smoking -Ananova
Robbie Williams has announced his plans to give up smoking.
The singer, 29, is expected to move out of the public eye as a hectic world tour winds down in December after almost six months on the road.
Williams revealed his resolution as he rounded off his recording of a BBC Radio 2 concert in front of 300 fans.
He said: "This has been the end of a wonderful year for me. The best year I've ever had. I'm going to go away and re-dream everything and come back as a new me - thank you for being there.
"When you're growing up you drink, you smoke you do whatever you do and you go for it and you don't even question your mortality.
"Well I definitely know that I'm 30 and y'know people leave this Earth - so I'm giving up smoking.
"All of sudden it's turned into smokers anonymous - hello I'm Robbie Williams I'm a smoke addict, I've been a smoker now for 5 minutes."
21/11/03 Robbie's jeans up for charity auction - THT
Bid for unique celebrity jeans in aid of Terrence Higgins Trust.
Supermodel turned snapper, Helena Christensen, recently photographed a series of top celebrities in fabulous Levi's® jeans and jackets for her debut exhibition, 'People & Portraits'. The photographs were sold in aid of Terrence Higgins Trust (THT).
Now, to mark World AIDS Day on 1st December THT are auctioning the Levi's® jeans and jackets that were worn and signed by the celebrity models. This is your chance to bid for the Levi's® worn by Robbie Williams, Orlando Bloom, Sadie Frost, Dirty Vegas, Alex James and Michael Stipe to name but a few!
The auction, hosted by eBay.co.uk, will run from Friday 21st November until World AIDS Day on Monday 1st December. For your chance to bid please visit www.tht.org.uk and follow the links or visit www.ebay.co.uk and follow the links for the charity auctions.
Full list of celebrities who have worn and signed jeans and jackets:
Alex James, Helena Christensen, Michael Stipe, Orlando Bloom, Marianne Faithfull,
Robbie WilliamsMatthew Williamson, Daniel Craig, Goldie, Rankin, Dirty Vegas, Erin O'Connor and Sadie Frost.
20/11/03 Robbie rocks Abbey Road -Scotsman
Chart star Robbie Williams crumpled in a fit of giggles tonight as he began a one-off show for an audience 400 times smaller than his record-breaking Knebworth concerts.
He was following in the footsteps of The Beatles by performing at Abbey Road, the studios where the Fab Four recorded their greatest moments.
His performance was for a Radio 2 Christmas special and was in front of just 300 fans.
But the singer said he was unnerved by how large the intimate audience actually looked in the studio, breaking his concentration as he played Escapology album track Nan’s Song.
“I’m sorry, I was totally in my own world,” he said as he fluffed the track, which he was playing solo, and burst out laughing.
“I was playing the song and really meaning it and then I started thinking ‘there’s a lot of people here isn’t there?’
“We’ll pretend this never happened,” he said, as he continued with the opening track of the 90-minute show.
This summer, Williams, 29, played to 120,000 people each day for a three-show stint at Knebworth, setting a new record.
But he went for a more intimate setting tonight for the concert, to be broadcast by Radio 2 on December 20.
The singer said he found it weird being able to see his fans close up in the tiny venue.
“It freaks me out, it really does. I go on and do a show at Knebworth and it doesn’t exist, it’s that big. And then I come do little ones and I can see everyone and you can see me.”
Williams played a string of hits including No Regrets, Eternity, Come Undone and his breakthrough single Angels.
And he threw in a few of his more rarely aired tracks such as Lazy Days and Phoenix From The Flames.
Set List:
Nans Song
Heaven From Here
Singing For The Lonely
Come Undone
Lazy Days
Monsoon
No Regrets
Me And My Monkey
Better Man
Mr. Bojangles
One For My Baby
Feel
Eternity
Phoenix From The Flames
Angels
20/11/03 Robbie gets smart
Leicester Square will come to a standstill on 18 November as Robbie Williams arrives in style, accompanied by a fleet of smart, for a night with family, friends and hundreds of fans.
Less than four months after his historic Knebworth shows, Robbie Williams returns to the UK for his start-studded West End premiere of "What We Did Last Summer – Robbie Williams Live at Knebworth", a preview for his DVD (same title) which will be released globally on 24 November.
The DVD of "What We Did Last Summer" recreates the entire live Knebworth experience. From Robbie’s Houdini-like arrival on stage singing ‘Let Me Entertain You’ through to an emotional sing-along finale of ‘Angels’, the DVD will feature the show in its entirety, alongside a package of unseen footage and unique interactive extras.
As part of smart’s ongoing sponsorship of Robbie's European tour, a fleet of smart city-coupes will transport VIP guests to the premiere.
smart gmbh and Robbie Williams have been working together since the premiere of the film "Nobody Someday" in December 2001, and the handing over of the smart crossblade in April 2002.
20/11/03 What We Did Last Summer - The Knebworth Premiere!!! -www.robbbiewilliams.com
Yesterday, Tuesday 18th November, Knebworth came to London for one very special night when the Odeon Cinema, Leicester Square hosted the much anticipated premiere of What We Did Last Summer - Robbie Williams Live At Knebworth! The 6 dancers from the tour were out in force to entertain the crowds before Robbie then arrived, to be greeted by the hundreds of fans who had queued for hours to see him. Robbie then spent about 20 minutes signing autographs and chatting to the crowds before speaking to tv and radio crews. The audience meanwhile, including 200 Inner Sanctum ticket winners, were already in their seats and viewed the red carpet action on the big screen! When asked to describe his experience of Knebworth, Robbie admitted that he couldn't remember too much of it - but is looking forward to watching it all in a few months time, when he can really look back and take it all in! "I can't remember much of it to tell the truth because it was so scary" he explained, going on to say "The more cocky I appear to be on stage I can guarantee that at that moment in time I'm petrified in my head. My confidence comes from fear."
The showing of the film itself was preceded by the short Unicef film, "More Precious Than Gold". Introduced by Ralph Fiennes for Unicef, the film highlights the problems of child trafficking, and was also shown at the shows this summer. If you haven't yet seen this short, but incredibly powerful film which is introduced and narrated by Robbie, then check out the 'More Precious Than Gold' feature in Music. Then, at last, Robbie himself entered the screen and introduced the film everyone had really come to see 'What We Did Last Summer'. The film was shown in all its high-definition digital glory, and the sound was certainly loud! For all those of you who weren't there last night, you can see the concert this Sunday in the UK on Channel 4 from 4.05pm to 5.35pm and the DVD and VHS hit the streets on Monday! For a taster, brilliant new wallpapers, and the full low down on the release, go straight to the new Feature in Music!
20/11/03 Robbie leaves pary for dinner with his mother -Ananova
Robbie Williams left a party he was throwing after just six minutes so he could have a meal with his mother.
The singer was holding the event in London's Elysium nightclub after the film premiere of What We Did Last Summer - the live recordings of his Knebworth gigs.
Williams left friend Max Beesley, his backing dancers and record management to entertain the 300 guests at the £90,000 party.
Williams said: "This isn't really my scene. I'm going home now. I'm done with the playboy lifestyle. I'd rather drink coffee and walk my dogs."
The Sun says when Robbie left the party, he joined his mother for a takeaway in front of the television.
19/11/03 World premiere of Robbie Williams new DVD -NDTV
Tuesday saw the world premiere of Robbie Williams' new DVD What We Did Last Summer - Robbie Williams Live at Knebworth. Fans crowded into Leicester Square for a glimpse of their idol and he did not disappoint, arriving with friend and current band-member Max Beesley.
Williams was greeted by a troupe of scantily clad dancers before he proceeded to greet his fans and hold a quick press conference to promote the release of the eagerly awaited DVD. Other stars on hand included former Take That member Mark Owen and film star Ralph Fiennes, who is a supporter of UNICEF - a charity close to Robbie Williams' heart.
Throughout the evening, Williams spoke of his happiness and relief at having completed three nights at Knebworth (August 1, 2 and 3rd 2003), entertaining over 375,000 people in the process. He also declared that the concerts marked the end of the current chapter of his career and he is ready to start the next with new material, which he sees as a departure from his usual musical style.
The star also took time out to speak to the assembled audience within the Odeon Cinema, introducing a film that documents all three nights of the landmark event, as well as some very special extras including the documentary Moments of Mass Destruction.
Rounding off the package are unseen and behind-the-scenes footage shot throughout the weekend and a Gallery - the ultimate picture collection of Robbie Williams at Knebworth, both onstage, and candid backstage and private shots.
The CD of the event, Robbie Williams Live At Knebworth sold 118,000 in its first week; the biggest ever debut for a live album in the UK. By the end of his nine-week Escapology tour, Robbie had performed to a staggering 1,222,000 people.
Robbie Williams What We Did Last Summer: Robbie Williams Live At Knebworth will be released on November 24.
19/11/03 Robbie royals 'dog' jibe -The Sun
CHEEKY Robbie Williams poked fun at British Royals at a concert in Norway — dubbing them “like bulldogs”.
He told fans: “Your Royals look so good. Ours look like bulldogs.”
The singer had earlier fallen for the charms of Norwegian princess Martha Louise, 32.
He said: “I met Princess Martha yesterday. She is very beautiful. Pity she’s married.”
And the notorious charmer added: “But I guess that marriage won’t last long. I want to be Prince of Norway.”
Stunning Princess Martha is said to be a huge fan of Robbie, 30.
She attended his concert on Friday night and even went along to the after-show party.
But Robbie ended his tour with another Norwegian, blonde heiress Celina Midelfart, 30.
He took her back to his hotel after Saturday’s show in Oslo and the pair were spotted leaving via the kitchen in the early hours of Sunday.
Celina has dated Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon, Wimbledon FC’s co-owner Kjell Inge Rokke and banking heir Nathaniel Rothschild. She also had a relationship with US tycoon Donald Trump.
19/11/03 Bad taste to a T, Robbie? -The Sun
IT looks like ROBBIE WILLIAMS can still pull the laydeez. The singer swaggered into London’s Leicester Square for the premiere of his new Live DVD with a bunch of saucy girls around either arm. After greeting screaming fans and signing autographs, Robbie said: “What makes me happy now? — 270 grams of Effexor every day.” Robbie admitted he takes the drug to deal with his depression. He also hinted at the launch of his live Knebworth CD: “I’ve given up the playboy lifestyle. I’d rather drink coffee and walk my dogs now.” I don’t know about his playboy lifestyle, but Robbie seems to have given up on his music taste. Not only did he commit the fashion crime of wearing a GENESIS T-shirt — but it was one with their dodgiest album, Then There Were Three, emblazoned on his chest. Sort it out, Rob, The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway was a much better album.
19/11/03 I considered quitting -Robbie -Ireland Online
Chart star Robbie Williams said tonight his gruelling tour regime made him consider quitting pop “every day”.
And the singer revealed he would be taking a break “to regroup” when his current Escapology tour ends in Sydney, Australia, on December 14.
Williams, 29, tonight attended the premiere of his new DVD What We Did Last Summer in London which was attended by 2,000 fans.
The film is a visual record of his record-breaking dates at Knebworth in the summer which were seen by 375,000 fans over three days.
The star has been on the road since June and will have been seen by 1.2 million when the tour ends.
But he admitted the pressure takes its toll.
“I think about quitting every day,” Williams said.
But he added: “I’m schizophrenic. There was one night on tour and I thought I never wanted to play again, but then another night on the tour I wanted to put three more tours in.”
The singer admitted he had few memories of the actual Knebworth shows.
“I can’t remember much of it to tell the truth because it was so scary and I haven’t watched the DVD so I should watch it and hopefully I will remember more.
“The more cocky I appear to be on stage I can guarantee that at that moment in time I’m petrified in my head. My confidence comes from fear.”
He added: “I just wanted to prove that I was the best, that I am the best at what I do. I’ve competed all year, so I need to go away and regroup before I can compete again.”
Williams has battled drink and drugs in the past and said tonight that “at one point” he did not think he would make his 30th birthday which he will celebrate in February.
“Reaching 29 is the first time I’ve realised I’m not immortal,” he said.
“When you’re 17, 18, 19 you go through the debauched period – and some of us are still there.
“I’m well aware that I smoke too much, but life is amazing for me and I want to go on as long as I can – that’s how I’m feeling as I reach 30.”
Around 1,000 fans gathered outside the Odeon, Leicester Square in central London to cheer on the singer as he arrived for tonight’s screening.
The DVD is released next Monday.
18/11/03 Robbie Williams performs in Berlin -NDTV
Berlin swung to the sound of Robbie Williams on Sunday as the pop star treated guests at the premiere of Finding Nemo to a one-off concert.
Dropping his usual raucous rock star image for his big band jazz persona, Williams performed tracks from his swing repertoire, including the song he contributed to the Finding Nemo soundtrack, Beyond the Sea.
The location of the premiere was kept secret until the last minute.
Nevertheless, crowds of star-spotters gathered at Berlin's Sony Centre, following speculation in the Berlin papers that the premiere would be held at the hi-tech entertainment complex.
Finding Nemo is already one of the highest-ever grossing animated features.
The underwater adventure, about a father fish on an epic journey to find his lost son, has been nominated for the forthcoming European Film Awards, opens in Germany on Thursday.
While he's been glad to be part of such a successful film, Williams admitted the delights of the underwater world are not necessarily for him.
His first experience of scuba diving, he says, was a bitter disappointment.
With four singles released from his Escapology album, Robbie is thinking about new projects - and says he'd love to do more work on film soundtracks.
17/11/03 Robbie Williams LIVE on ROVE -EMI
Robbie Williams APPEARING LIVE ON ‘ROVE’ NOVEMBER 18!
Tickets are almost sold out for Robbie Williams’ forthcoming Australian tour in December, and now fans are being given another chance to see this superstar up close and personal before he hits our shores. The one and only Robbie Williams has just been confirmed as a special guest on Channel 10’s ROVE programme, next Tuesday November 18.
Robbie will be interviewed live via satellite, spilling the beans behind the release of his new DVD, “What We Did Last Summer – Live At Knebworth”, as well as his upcoming Australian shows.
“What We Did Last Summer – Live At Knebworth” is set for an Australian release on December 1, with the English launch sure to be a celebrity studded event. Robbie will be making a special guest appearance at the official UK screening on November 18 at Leicester Square, walking the red carpet or perhaps making another Houdini-like appearance similar to the one he pulled off in front of 375,000 fans (not to mention the 1.24 million TV viewers!) at Knebworth this August!
‘Sexed Up’ is the new single from Robbie’s chart-topping album, ‘Escapology’, and this week it flew to the top of the airplay charts, climbing up to secure the #4 Most Added Track at Radio; hardly surprising considering his massive fan base in Australia. The “What We Did Last Summer – Live At Knebworth” DVD has already shipped in Triple Platinum sales – EMI Australia’s biggest ever shipping of a DVD, confirming what we all know and can’t wait for… it’s going to be a Robbie Williams Christmas for all!
Robbie Williams – let him entertain you!
The ‘What We Did Last Summer - Live At Knebworth’ DVD is instores on 24 November.
’Sexed Up’, the new single from’Escapology’, is released on 1 December.
17/11/03 Quick Bits
'What We Did Last Summer' DVD has already shipped in Triple Platinum Sales in Oz EMI'S biggest ever shipping of a DVD.
'Sexed Up' now due for release December 1st in Oz.
15/11/03 Williams drops Outside for Taylor Herring -MediaGuardian
Robbie Williams has followed David and Victoria Beckham and Sir Elton John by ditching publicity firm the Outside Organisation.
It is a significant blow for the PR company, coming just weeks after the Beckhams' defection.
Williams' record label, EMI, and his management company, IE Music, have appointed Taylor Herring, which has hitherto specialised in TV rather than music, counting Richard Madeley and Judy Finnegan, John Leslie and Fame Academy among its clients.
In September Taylor Herring hired Bryony Watts as an account director from Outside, where Williams was one of her clients.
Williams is gearing up to launch his Knebworth Park concerts on DVD, to be called What We Did Last Summer.
Taylor Herring is also promoting the singer's new single, Sexed Up, the fourth track to be taken his Escapology album.
Outside is believed to have retained promotional duties for the popstar's website.
The Beckhams quit Outside in July, taking their spokeswoman, Caroline McAteer, with them to 19 Entertainment.
19 is owned by Simon Fuller, a former manager of the Spice Girls.
However, Ms McAteer has a poor relationship with vital showbusiness editors on the tabloids and last week the News of the World accused her of repeatedly denying stories that were true.
She is believed to have been moved away from working with Victoria Beckham in favour of one of 19's publicists, Charlotte Hickson.
Sir Elton dropped Outside - one of the country's most well-known PR companies and one that dominates the music industry - and hired Madonna's publicist, Barbara Charone.
Charone is representing him for newspapers and magazine publicity while 21st Artists is handling Sir Elton's TV and radio PR.
13/11/03 Robbie Rocks! -The Budapest Sun Online
ALMOST a year after the release of his fifth solo album Escapology - becoming part of the musical collection of more than 12,000 Hungarians - Robbie Williams visited Budapest to thrill his fans for the first time in his career.
The British showman, singer and sex symbol enjoys massive popularity in Hungary, demonstrated by the fact that the tickets for his November 3 show had been sold out weeks in advance.
Some of the hardcore fans, who had been lining up at the gates of the Budapest Arena for several hours before the concert, were lucky enough to have a close look at their idol and enjoy the show from a cordoned-off area in front of the stage.
Being close to the fire eventually bore fruit for Hungarian television celebrity Hajnalka Bodnár who was invited onstage by Robbie to become partner in performing his "traditional" kissing sequence.
After supporting artist, Skin, former lead singer of Skunk Anansie, created a pleasant level of adrenaline and testosterone among the audience with her powerful music and erotic performance, the RW monogrammed
curtains finally fell to reveal a fatigued but highly professional Robbie, who, as per usual, started with Let Me Entertain You from his first album, Life Thru A Lens.
Although Robbie admitted to the audience he was not in a particularly good mood, he was well able to "connect and talk to" his people, which he had earlier described in an interview as 30% of his show.
Between and even during some of the songs, he was the irreverent, funny, honest and sentimental guy who is not afraid of making cheeky statements to the audience.
Some of Robbie's gags included inviting on an extremely tall and beefy guy who was apparently not very difficult to spot in the female dominated first rows, and asking him to stand off-stage and make sure everything was in order.
In another effort to make everybody enjoy themselves, the star ordered all seated spectators to "stand the **** up", insisting that sitting is only acceptable at a Sting show.
Before singing She's The One, one of his hits from I've Been Expecting You, Robbie proved that not only is he an excellent showman but also a man of spirit when he picked a couple from the audience and set a date for their wedding after finding out they had been engaged.
Although the show was relatively short, it ended on a high note. Robbie did not disappoint the approximately 14,000 audience as he sang his most popular hits including Supreme, Come Undone, Kids as well as Rock DJ, his usual extra song.
After a professionally arranged and performed concert of some 90 minutes, made complete by his early song Angels, Robbie once again reiterated his praise of Hungarians and flew off-stage to head out to his next destination in his conquest of Europe.
12/11/03 Robbie Williams' show will go on -Aftenposten
Oslo officials came close to cancelling concerts at the Vallhall arena this weekend featuring singer Robbie Williams. They worried that safety measures and escape routes at the arena were inadequate, but improvements are being made and the shows can go on.
City officials huddled in an emergency session on Tuesday after a technical evaluation of the arena characterized safety precautions at Vallhall as substandard.
The multi-purpose arena is only two years old and can accommodate 14,000 people. Safety authorities, however, concluded that fire escape routes could only accommodate 8,000 to 10,000 people.
Moreover, some of the walls at Vallhall contain a potentially flammable material that fire safety experts caution against.
After discussing whether to cancel public events at the arena, officials decided to let Robbie Williams' concerts Friday and Saturday night go ahead as long as Vallhall's owners improve escape routes. Fire crews will also be standing by during both performances.
Arrangers have sold 26,000 tickets to the weekend's events, which are part of the singer's current tour.
11/11/03 Moscow Robbie brings hope to Sabrina,3 -Scotsman
Robbie Williams cuddles a little Russian girl on a visit to a shelter for street children in Moscow.
The big-hearted star and Unicef special representative took time out from the latest leg of his European tour to make the visit.
Robbie made friends with three-year-old Sabrina, who is living in the shelter because her alcoholic mother cannot look after her.
Robbie also met children living rough on Moscow’s streets during the freezing winter months and was shocked by what he saw.
“It’s a real eye-opener seeing how kids like this have to live – especially when it’s so cold during the winter,” he said.
“Luckily there are places like the Unicef-supported shelter where kids can come if they have nowhere else to go.
“It’s a place full of fun and and laughter and I feel really privileged to have spent some time with these kids.”
Robbie visited the shelter as part of Unicef UK’s End Child Exploitation campaign.
Watch the BBC clip here
11/11/03 Win tickets to see Robbie undie-cover -The Sun
HERE is a picture of ROBBIE WILLIAMS you never thought you’d see — in a bra and pair of knickers. The singer was caught with his pants down backstage at his historic Knebworth shows in August. This scene is part of What We Did Last Summer — a movie on DVD of Robbie at the gigs. The concerts, over three days, drew nearly 375,000 people to the Hertfordshire estate and was hailed the biggest open-air gigs ever in the UK. Now the DVD — to be released on November 24 — is set to become the biggest Christmas present of the year. Robbie, who signed an £80million deal with EMI last year, embarked on his 2003 tours on the back of seven million sales of his album Escapology. The record-breaking UK leg of his tour was at Knebworth where highlights included a duet with former TAKE THAT bandmate MARK OWEN. Robbie went on to conquer the rest of Europe and is now taking a well-deserved break before gigs in New Zealand and Australia next month. Contrary to reports, he never had planned to tour America. I’ve got a brilliant competition to go with Robbie’s DVD releasewith ten pairs of tickets up for grabs for its glitzy premiere in London next week. The winners will join Robbie at the Odeon Cinema, Leicester Square, on Tuesday, November 18. But even better, I’ve also got four pairs of tickets to see him perform the following night at an intimate Radio 2 gig at London’s Abbey Road studios. Only 300 others will attend the show, to be broadcast on December 20. To be in with a chance to win tickets to either event, just answer this easy-peasy question: What boy band did Robbie shoot to fame with? Call my hotline on 09063 660 408 with the answer. Calls are charged at 60p per minute. You will be asked to specify which event you want to attend. Winners will be drawn from all correct entries after lines close at midnight on Friday, November 14.
11/11/03 Rob's flower power -Daily Record
ROBBIE WILLIAMS has said it with flowers again. The singer, who once tried to woo Corrs stunner Andrea with roses has been doing the same with actress Jane Seymour. But this time it was just as a thank you. The handsome singer recently rented Jane's UK home, but hadto pay her a hefty deposit because his wild-boy reputation led her to fear he would trash the house. But when the Dr Quinn: Medicine Woman star returned home, as well as the house being spotless, Robbie had left brand new crystal vases filled with flowers in every room and his deposit was returned.
11/11/03 Quick Bits
Official Chat Room closes.
To all chat users: we're really sorry, but due to the increasing misuse of the chat room, we have decided to close it. We apologise to all of you who have enjoyed using it over the years, and please feel free to use the Bulletin Forums.
from www.robbiewilliams.com
8/11/03 Robbie to perform at Abbey Road -www.robbiewilliams.com
Robbie Williams is to perform one of his most intimate gigs at London's legendary Abbey Road studios! The studios are to play host to the exclusive BBC Radio 2 concert which will be broadcast on Saturday, December 20 at 9.00pm. Robbie broke all records at Knebworth in August of this year, playing to 375,000 fans over three days. His Radio 2 gig will be played before an audience of just 300. This unique, intimate event is one of the hottest tickets of the year… and we have two pairs of tickets up for grabs! Competition details will be emailed exclusively to all Inner Sanctum members – so any non-members reading this better sign up quick!!
7/11/03 Robbie's role is a Carry On -Daily Record
MTV EUROPE Music Awards nominee Robbie Williams could be swapping music for acting with a part in the new movie Carry On London. The hunky singer is reportedly preparing to star alongside Lady Isabella Hervey in the new film. She revealed: ``Nothing's been confirmed yet, but it will be great if it happens. He seems like a fun guy, so we'd certainly have a laugh. We start filming in March, so I'll know soon.'' Robbie's acting experience stopped at having a walk-on part in EastEnders. Robbie is nominated for best male as well as best pop and best album for Escapology. Isabella was approached for the role in Carry On London in which she plays Pippa Pink. She said: ``She's obsessed by the colour she dressed herself and her dog in pink and drives a pink sports car. My own little dog, Cleo, will be in the film.'' The Cheeky Girls have also been signed up.
5/11/03 Sexed Up out today on DVD and enhanced CD -www.robbiewilliams.com
Sexed Up, the fourth single from the chart topping Escapology album is OUT TODAY on DVD and ECD! The brilliant DVD format features the Sexed Up Video and a great trailer for the forthcoming DVD What We Did Last Summer, along with audio B-sides Appliance of Science and Big Beef and a photo gallery. The ECD format features B-sides Get A Little High (also featured on the US version of the Escapology album), and Appliance of Science, as well as the trailer and a different photo gallery. For those of you who haven't yet seen it, the video to Sexed Up can be seen RIGHT NOW playing on the Escapology microsite - along with ALL other Escapology videos! Simply Click here. If that's not enough, you can grab the ringtone to Sexed Up courtesy of Vodafone! Simply visit the mobile shop (accessed from the home page) to listen to a preview. The polyphonic is available to all Vodafone live! fans, while the monophonic is available to users of all UK networks!
5/11/03 Quick Bits
Czech Rob out -tickets for ROBBIE WILLIAMS’s Prague concert last night sold for ten times the face value. The Czech gig was a sell-out months ago with seats priced between £20 and £40. But touts were charging about £250 each. After the show, Robbie took over an entire floor of the five-star Four Seasons hotel. He insisted on staying in the £1,600-a-night presidential suite with river views.
4/11/03 Robbie Williams: top of the under-30 earners -This Is London
If you're young and fit with a hankering to earn millions, playing professional football is the surest way.
Six footballers are among the ten best-paid under 30-year-olds, a new study of Britain's top earners reveals.
Eye-popping wages and lucrative advertising deals have put David Beckham, Michael Owen, Sol Campbell, Thierry Henry, Rio Ferdinand and Robbie Fowler among the ranks of the young financial aristocracy.
But the top spot goes to singer Robbie Williams, with a £26million income. His £80million deal with EMI accounted for £15million, with the rest from his Escapology tour.
Beckham is the top-ranked footballer, hot on the heels of Williams with £20.5million. The England captain's move to Real Madrid took him to a new commercial level.
His £4.68million-a-year wages are dwarfed by his personal endorsements. His adidas deal alone is worth an annual £3million. At No.3, an unexpected entrant among under-30s in the Sunday Times Pay List is 'lottery lout' Michael Carroll, who won a £9.7million jackpot.
Liverpool striker Michael Owen, at No.4, can soon expect to earn £100,000 a week - he gets £ 1.8million a year for his Umbro deal.
Actor Orlando Bloom, who played the elf Legolas in The Lord Of The Rings films, is No.5. The only woman in the top ten, West Midlands supermodel Erin O'Connor, is said to earn £35,000 a day.
Russian Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea FC, topped the Pay List. He earns £564million a year.
3/11/03 Quick Bits
Escaplogy goes Platinum x 4 in Switzerland.
Robbie's tour schedule for 2004.
February 2004 : Tour in South America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile...)
March 2004 : Tour in Asia (Hong Kong, China...)
April 2004 : South Africa
Then, Rob will do a summer tour in Europe for the new album.
2/11/03 Review of Sexed Up -musicOMH.com
The latest Williams offering is a study in not judging by first impressions. The title suggests a lively stadium rocker, the overall sound murmurs love song, whilst the lyrics tell of a bitter, cynical relationship break-up. It seems like Robbie's legendary sense of humour is alive and well.
Sexed Up has an engaging melody coupled with an uplifting chorus of, "Why don't we break up? There's nothing left to say." It doesn't take too much imagination to see this could become a school disco classic.
The acoustic guitars and piano are reminiscent of Angels but with lyrics such as "Screw you!" and "I hope you blow away," it seems unlikely to have the same mass market appeal. Having said that, given the number of men who bought their girls You're Gorgeous by Baby Bird thinking it was a love song, anything is possible.
2/11/03 Robbie and Bryn vie for top spot -Ic Wales
THEY'RE both giants, but one is big in the pop world while the other is the king of opera. One sings of love and sex, the other of passion in a language most don't really understand. And although they're each on opposite ends of the music spectrum, Bryn Terfel and Robbie Williams will this week rub shoulders in the battle for the number one album in tomorrow's charts. If early sales indicators are to be believed, Bryn could knock the competition out of contention with his powerful bass baritone voice and leave the self-professed World's Most Handsome Man shaking in the sidelines with his album Live At Knebworth, which is currently just outside the top 10. The Welsh singer is outselling releases by Sophie Ellis Bextor and Robbie with his new release, simply called Bryn. Although tenors such as Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli have regularly performed well, the deeper registers of baritones have barely dented the charts. But Bryn, 37, is hovering in the top 10 according to midweek record sales. His album brings together popular classics from operas such as Carmen and The Pearlfishers, as well as recordings of Hoagy Carmichael's Lazy Bones. It also features a duet with Bocelli following their performance together at the Classical Brits earlier this year. Speaking from Vienna where he is performing at the famed Vienna State Opera, he said, "Everyone knows about tenors, but baritones go deeper. "I'm delighted about the chart success, and if Wales can win the Rugby World Cup, it'll make my year." Bill Holland, managing director of his record company Universal Classics, said, "This is thrilling news. Tenors have always been the stars - now for the first time a baritone has crossed into the mainstream." Terfel's success comes as other classical stars enjoy chart success. Teenager Hayley Westenra spent several weeks in the top 10 with her album Pure. And former Hear'Say singer Myleene Klass has made the top 40 with her release Moving On. Chart expert Gennaro Castaldo of retailer HMV said, "The appeal of classical music is broadening and we are now seeing far more crossover artists. "People like Russell Watson, Hayley Westenra and Myleene are pushing sales forward, but there haven't been that many artists from a purely classical background who you would regard in that way. "Bryn Terfel looks as though he is able to successfully straddle both worlds."
1/11/03 What We Did Last Summer Film Premiere Competition -www.robbiewilliams.com
On Tuesday, Novemeber 18 Knebworth returns to London for one very special night! The Odeon Cinema, Leicester Square will be hosting the much anticipated premiere of What We Did Last Summer – Robbie Williams Live At Knebworth!!
Robbie will be there in person to preside over the proceedings along with friends and special guests. Tickets for this event cannot be bought sold or bargained... but they can be won! We have 150 tickets to give away to Inner Sanctum members of this web site!!
Entering couldn’t be simpler, just answer the multiple choice questions in the pop-up that appears when you enter the Inner Sanctum, submit your details and cross your fingers! To access the Inner Sanctum click here - if you are not already a member just click ‘join’, enter your details and you’re away!
1/11/03 Robbie to play Abbey Road Studios, and you could win tickets!! -BBC
Robbie Williams is perform at the legendary Abbey Road studios.
The singer is to play at the studios, famously used by The Beatles for most of their greatest recordings, for a BBC Radio 2 concert.
He will sing to just 300 fans at the gig on November 19 - a huge contrast to the 375,000 who saw him perform at Knebworth over three days.
The show - which will be attended by mainly competition winners - will be broadcast on December 20.
It was announced by Radio 2 DJ Steve Wright this afternoon and is his only live concert before the New Year.
Radio 2 head of programmes Lesley Douglas said: "I'm delighted to have one of the great entertainers performing in one of the world's most famous music venues.
"This unique, intimate event should be one of the hottest tickets this year - and if you are not lucky enough to be in Abbey Road, we will give you the best seat in the house by broadcasting the concert on Radio 2.
"I can't think of a better way to kick-start our Christmas celebrations."
Click here to enter the competition. Sorry UK residents only!
1/11/03 Robbie third in a new rich list -Evening Times
POP IDOL judge Simon Cowell earned £33.5million in the past year thanks to the global success of the show, according to a new rich list.
In contrast, his protege Gareth Gates took home just £2m.
The list, set to be published in a national paper, proves that acid-tongued Cowell is the real winner of the ITV1 show.
He is second on the list of the music industry's top earners, behind Sir Paul McCartney, who made £40m.
Robbie Williams is third with £26m, followed by Sting on £25.1m.
Pop Idol supremo Simon Fuller, now guiding Victoria Beckham's career, tops a separate list of TV and media earners, with a £36m pay packet last year.
