29/9/03 Live At Knebworth CD OUT TODAY!!! -www.robbiewilliams.com 'Good evening everybody my name is Robbie Williams, this is my band and you are about to witness the best show in the world right now!'
Yes, it's finally here... Robbie rocked Europe this summer and this, his first ever LIVE album, is the ultimate souvenir! 'Robbie Williams Live At Knebworth', or 'Robbie Williams Live Summer 2003' (for those of you outside the UK), highlights from the unprecedented 3 Knebworth shows this August, truly captures the incredible event witnessed by more than 375,000 fans. The album will carry you from the awesome opening of Let Me Entertain You, (which saw Robbie in a Houdini-esque re-enactment of his Escapology cover), through to the emotional mass sing-a-long of Angels, and everywhere in between. The album offers a brilliant package of recent smash singles (Feel and Come Undone), live favourites (Monsoon and Me And My Monkey), classic hits (She's The One and Kids), an intimate acoustic moment (Better Man and Nan's Song) and even a touch of swing (Mr. Bojangles). What's more, the album features plenty of Robbie's banter in between tracks, ensuring when you listen to this, you feel like his biggest gig ever was his most personal to date.
A 'Live At Knebworth' album sampler, featuring a selection of audio delights to get you going, has now been added to our album feature. In addition to the highlights, guaranteed to send shivers down your spine, there's a brilliant gallery of incredible images from the tour. (Note that both CDs 'Live At Knebworth' and 'Live Summer 2003' feature exactly the same content).
Off you trot...CLICK HERE! and ROCK THE HELL OUT!
Where were you last summer? Tell us your experience of seeing Robbie live for the chance to see your words in print!
Following today's album release, the incredible DVD, entitled What We Did Last Summer, that is the entire Knebworth show is only 2 months away. What's more, we are offering you the chance to contribute to it and are collecting your reviews and experiences of how you felt when you saw Robbie this summer. If you failed to spot the chance to submit your thoughts on entering the site go straight back to the home page and enter now! A few of the best will be featured on the booklet accompanying the DVD and you can read a selection of entries online now!
29/9/03 Robbie's Nemo theme song may get him Oscar nods -ratethemusic.com
British pop sensation ROBBIE WILLIAMS' dream of cracking the American music market may finally come true - thanks to blockbuster animated film FINDING NEMO.
The FEEL singer's profile is already soaring in the US thanks to his performance of the movie's theme tune, BEYOND THE SEA.
And Hollywood insiders reckon the film stands a good chance of being nominated for a handful of OSCARs including Best Music and Best Song.
A source says, "The soundtrack is quite wonderful and Robbie had made quite an impression with the song.
"The film has made millions across the States and now a lot more people know who Robbie Williams is.
"It looks like Nemo has helped him achieve his dream. There's talk of him performing Beyond The Sea at next year's (04) ceremony."
28/9/03 Robbie wins 2 awards at last nights Capital Gold Legends Awards -thanks to So Sincere
Robbie won 2 awards at last night Capital Gold Legends awards:-
the roll call of legends are:
Group - Queen
Song - Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
Performance of the Year - Queen's - We Will Rock You - The Musical
Male - Rod Steward
Female - Diana Ross
Album - Rumours - Fleetwood Mac NEW LEGEND - ROBBIE WILLIAMS
ALBUM OF THE YEAR - ESCAPOLOGY - ROBBIE WILLIAMS
Sporting - Daley Thompson
Inspirations awards to Elvis Presley for contribution to music and Bob Geldof for Live Aid.
27/9/03 Live At Knebworth due out Monday plus feature and competition update -www.robbiewilliams.com
Not long now - the live album of 2003 will be spinning on your stereos very soon! Bring on Monday morning when 'Live At Knebworth' will be rocking your socks off big style!
A 'Live At Knebworth' album sampler, featuring a selection of audio delights to get you going, has now been added to our album feature. In addition to the highlights, guaranteed to send shivers down your spine, there's a brilliant gallery of incredible images from the tour.
Off you trot...CLICK HERE! and ROCK THE HELL OUT!
Where were you last summer? Tell us your experience of seeing Robbie live for the chance to see your words in print!
Following the album's imminent release, the incredible DVD that is the entire Knebworth show is only 2 months away. What's more, we are offering you the chance to contribute to it and are collecting your reviews and experiences of how you felt when you saw Robbie this summer. If you failed to spot the chance to submit your thoughts on entering the site go straight back to the home page and enter now! A few of the best will be featured on the booklet accompanying the DVD and you can read a selection of entries online now!
27/9/03 Wanna get Sexed Up? -www.robbiewilliams.com
'Sexed Up' is the fourth single to be taken from Robbie Williams' chart topping Escapology album.
The single, out on 3rd November, follows Monday's 'Live at Knebworth' and makes for a tasty snack before the launch of 'What We Did Last Summer' the DVD of Robbie Williams' history-making shows at Knebworth Park in August. Robbie, Britain's leading live entertainer (like you needed reminding!), performed in front of 375,000 fans over three days - and more than 3.5 million tuned in to watch live on Channel 4! – That’s a 'whole lotta love'!
The song in contrast to the upbeat and soulful ‘Something Beautiful’ is the tale of a relationship gone awry. Robbie Williams says of the track…
"I'm sure people will have their own ideas, but the point is that it could be anybody," he says. "It's the story of a relationship that's gone sour – and everyone knows about that."
Download Sexed Up as a Ringtone Now!
Oh yeah, before all that Robbie action you can grab the track as wonderfully cool ringtone. Visit the Mobile shop (accessed from the home page), to listen to a preview. The polyphonic is available for all Vodafone Live! fans, while the monophonic is available to users of all networks.
27/9/03 The Lycra Britisg Style Awards 2003 Winners -PR Newswire
DESIGNER OF THE YEAR - Alexander McQueen: "I'm shocked, honoured and over the moon."
MOST STYLISH FEMALE MUSIC ARTIST - Victoria Beckham: "David won't be getting an award for dressing me. Maybe just for undressing me. I love you, David."
MOST STYLISH MALE ON TELEVISION - Ant & Dec
PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR - Mario Testino: "I want to thank this country because it has made me what I am."
MENSWEAR DESIGNER OF THE YEAR - Paul Smith
MOST STYLISH MOVIE ACTOR - Ewan McGregor
NEW GENERATION DESIGNER OF THE YEAR - Sophia Kokosalaki: "It's my worst nightmare to be standing in front of the whole British fashion industry. Thank you very much. This means a lot."
MODEL OF THE YEAR - Erin O'Connor: "It's more like getting an award for narcissist of the year but it's a great honour."
STYLIST OF THE YEAR - Katie Grand
MOST STYLISH MALE MUSIC ARTIST - Robbie Williams: "I've always wanted this award but David Beckham always seems to get it. So now, there you go David. I wear the pants now. The trendy pants."
BEST BRITISH HIGH STREET RETAILER - Reiss
MOST STYLISH SPORTSPERSON - David Beckham
JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR - Hilary Alexander: "Fashion is like my family."
GLAMOUR DESIGNER - Julien Macdonald: "I've never thanked my mum and dad so this is for them."
MOST STYLISH FEMALE ON TELEVISION - Kim Cattrall - "Working on Sex And The City has changed my life and my wardrobe. And that's all thanks to Patricia Field. I grew up looking at pictures of Christian Dior and Balenciaga and now I'm wearing them. It's a great honour."
ACCESSORY DESIGNER OF THE YEAR - Manolo Blahnik
CONTEMPORARY DESIGNER - Paul Smith
MOST STYLISH HOLLYWOOD STAR - Minnie Driver: "I've never won anything before so this is amazing. It will go in my mum's kitchen alongside all my primary school pictures."
27/9/03 Robbie appears naked at awards -Telegraph
Robbie Williams continued the bare theme. In a satellite link up from Los Angeles, the singer appeared naked in bed, white sheets covering his intimates, and got the biggest cheer of the night.
Read full srticle here.
27/9/03 Robbie Williams set to rock Mipcom -thanks to Robbie Williams Info
Perhaps the greatest-ever Mipcom party is set to rock Cannes on Saturday October 11 to celebrate the launch of Robbie Williams - Live At Knebworth.
3DD, C21 Media and The In Good Company, in association with IE Music, will host the Robbie Williams - A Night of Mass Distraction party, which set to run until the early hours of Sunday morning. The party is sponsored by Smart.
22/9/03 Rob's going to rock you -thanks to Carole and Robette
King of pop Robbie Williams is set to play Queen legend Freddie mercury in a TV series. The Rock DJ star has been approached by Sir Elton John to take the part of the late, great singer in the tribute. Sir Elton is a huge fan of Robbie and was a close friend of flamboyant Freddie until he died in 1991. And heart-throb Robbie has made no secret of his ambition to join Queen as Freddie's replacement.
The singer once confessed during a radio interview: "Do you know what I would really like? To front Queen. I should do, shouldn't I?"
Two years ago Robbie recorded a version of the Quen anthem We Are The Champions, for the film A Knight's Tale.
At the time he admitted that being Freddie's stand-in was far from easy. But Queen guitarist Brian May is enthusiastic about Sir Elton's plan. He said: "It's a great idea."
Sir Elton wants his own production company Rocket Films to make the series.
Talks are at an advanced stage and Robbie is said to be "extremely keen" as it could help him finally crack the American market.
The multi-millionaire recently paid tribute to Britain's greatest rock band when he belted out a cover of Queen's We Will Rock You at his sell-out Knebworth gigs.
A pal of the star said: "Sir Elton John reckons Robbie would be great. He has the same stage presence and personality as Freddie and there is an awful lot of Freddie in the way Robbie performs as well. Robbie is a showman who likes to be centre-stage and interact with the crowd. Freddie was the same."
Sir Elton has dreamed of making a film about Mercury's promiscuous life ever since the singer died of an AIDS-related illness. But bosses at Rocket Productions have persuaded him that a TV series is a more viable option.
Sir Elton earmarked Robbie for the role months ago but waited until the Knebworth gigs were out of the way before putting it to him. The pop legends have since met several times to iron out the format of the series.
Robbie, who pocketed £12 million from Knebworth, is expected to agree to a "nominal fee" as a favour to Sir Elton - and because he is so keen to play the part.
This will not be Robbie's first TV job. He was an extra in Eastenders in 1995 when he was seen on the phone in the Queen Vic boozer.
21/9/03 Robbie tops the list as ladies favorite fantasy -Sunday People
OOH, what a saucy lot you are. A new survey of the nation's sex fantasies has revealed that the UK is turning into the United KINKYdom.
The favourite fantasy is a threesome with 72 per cent of men fancying a romp with two women and 35 per cent of women lusting after sex with two men.
And 33 per cent of blokes would like to take part in an orgy with 15 per cent of females keen on the idea.
Celebrities play their part in our kinky thoughts too.
More than half of men dream about bonking a celeb compared to half of women.
Rock star Robbie Williams tops the poll as ladies' favourite and Kylie Minogue is the male top fantasy babe.
Bizarrely, two per cent of women and three per cent of men incorporate HOOVERS and MOPS in their fantasies. Is this what they call clean sex?
And vegetables can be useful too. A surprising 7 per cent of women and 12 per cent of men admitted they would love to use veg in a sex act.
And couples are putting the buzz into their sex lives. Half of men and women fancy a vibrator in their bonking sessions, according to the poll for a two-part TV series The Big Fantasy. One in five girls confessed they'd love to star in a porn film.
And your top fantasy can also depend on where you live.
Scots fancy bedding someone from a different ethnic background while Midlanders would like to be Peeping Toms.
People in the North East dream about sex with whips while Southerners fantasise about hopping into their car for a quickie. And East Anglians think the most about porn.
Londoners are the most likely to fantasise during sex but down-to-earth Northerners fantasise the least.
20/9/03 And he was only 24 hrs from Tunstall -thanks to So Sincere on the forum
Hannah Crush traces the journey into the soul of Potteries' pop icon Robbie Williams, and discovers it all started with a dash up the M6When author Sean Smith decided to write a book about Potteries superstar Robbie Williams, he knew he had to start at the beginning. The London-based writer realised he could only get to the bottom of his subject's psyche by venturing north up the M6 to where it all started - Tunstall.His book Robbie: The Biography, published today by Simon and Schuster, is the result of scores of interviews with people from the star's past - from school mates and amateur dramatics co-stars to golfing partners and family friends - that Sean met in Robbie's home town."I chose Robbie essentially because he is an interesting person," said Sean. "He seemed to have hit pretty much rock bottom but came back to the top."I was very conscious that image is a big part of Robbie Williams and I thought we weren't getting past the tabloid headlines. There had to be more to this man than his struggle with the demons of drink and drugs."He had been described as a working class hero which I thought was such a clich?? - and I decided to get back to Tunstall to see what he was really like."An appeal for help in the Sentinel in February yielded some of the tales, while a mixture of bravado and sheer luck during four visits to North Staffordshire brought in the rest."The people who got in touch were people who had never really spoken about Rob before and I got some brilliant interviews," said Sean. "I knew as much as I wanted to know about the Robbie Williams facade but by speaking to the people who really knew him I found out about Rob."A lot of it was done by word of mouth. I knew he had been into amateur dramatics so I started with that. I stayed at the Sneyd Arms in Tunstall and got talking to people. At one point I just went into the local library and asked if anyone had known him - and found he had been a friend of the receptionist's daughter."The openness of the people he met made the author's job very easy, and the book was finished in six months. "Nothing happens overnight and Robbie Williams was not an overnight success," said Sean. "I built up a picture of someone who felt this was his destiny. He didn't have any other plans."I loved the school stories. I think that is my favourite part, especially as they have never been written before. Rob's friends Lee Hancock, Phil Lindsay, Giuseppe Romano and I sat down and had a few pints and a laugh together."Not one of them had an axe to grind. They all like him and their memories help make him a more rounded person. I think he's well on the way to straightening himself out, if people let him - but he lives in such a goldfish bowl."
20/9/03 You can take the boy out of Stoke-thanks to So Sincere on the forum
See the word 'unauthorised' on a biography cover and you automatically assume it will be just the place to find out salacious bits of tittle-tattle about your favourite star, but that's not really the case here. After finishing Robbie: The Biography I was left with a sense of the warmth the author felt for his subject, as well as the irresistible urge to play all my Robbie CDs one after another.This is not the book for you if you want to read chapter after chapter of sordid one-night stands and humiliating drunken binges.But if you want to know that Robbie's nickname at school was Willwogs, that he had sweating competitions with his friends and wore a "hideous" sweatshirt with a skiing scene on it as a junior golf club captain, this could be right up your street.Taking as its starting point the star's quote "Rob is not Robbie", Sean Smith's book sets out to answer the question "Who, in that case, is Rob?" by speaking to blasts from the singer's past as well as current acquaintances.And I would say this comes closer than anything else I have read - and believe me, I've read quite a bit - to uncovering the man behind the Robbie mask he has taken to wearing. Splitting Robbie's life into three sections - Tunstall, Take That and Robbie Williams - Sean Smith approaches his subject with respect. While he does address the darker side of Mr Williams - Robbie's taste for
bitter revenge, for example - he always gets back to the loveable Tunstall chap whose cheeky good humour and heart of gold tend to win the day. The book begins with an astrological birth chart, which seemed a little too accurate for the sceptic in me, and ends with a comprehensive discography and chronology, putting it all into
context.It's a very enjoyable book to read - each chapter begins with an entertaining anecdote and ends with a one-line quote.
19/9/03 Robbie in Live Album first -EMI
Following his record breaking concerts last month at Knebworth where he played to 375,000 people over three nights, Robbie Williams is releasing a live CD and a DVD video of the concerts for those wishing to re-live the event, or who weren't able to go in the first place.
The CD, Live At Knebworth, his first ever live album, will be released on 29th September, followed by the DVD on 17th November. Tracks on the CD include Let Me Entertain You, Feel, Kids, Better Man, (We Will) Rock You and the anthemic Angels.
The DVD Video will follow on 17th November. The track listing and extras are still being finalised, but the DVD is likely to have backstage footage, interviews and other features. Robbie's previous DVD, Live At The Albert, is the biggest selling music DVD ever in the UK, selling over 200,000 copies.
17/9/03 Rebecca's dream date with Robbie -The Citizen
HARLOW music student Rebecca Durrant fulfilled a lifelong dream when she met her idol Robbie Williams after being selected to star in the video for his latest release, Something Beautiful.
The 20-year-old, who attends Hertford Regional College, and two other auditionees were chosen from thousands of fans from across Europe to appear in the video.
She spent a week filming at a secret location in London, enjoyed a VIP day touring Robbie's favourite bars and restaurants, and visited the London Eye before getting to meet the ex-Take That star.
Miss Durrant said: "I've been a huge Robbie fan from the start. I once bid £2,000 for a pair of his trousers in a charity auction but lost out to a higher bidder. To meet him was fantastic; when he walked towards me I saw it all in slow motion. He put his arm around me and left it there whilst he chatted with the other two lads."
Miss Durrant's experience has made her even more determined to enter the music industry, but she has now decided to change her direction slightly.
"I'm a drummer in a band but always longed to be the person up front before I filmed the video. Now I just don't think I could face the pressure, the secrecy, the non-stop filming and constant hair and make-up touch-ups."
She added: "I'm content being behind the scenes. Robbie's life appears enviable but it's not the one I would choose. You're cocooned from the outside world. I missed my family and friends."
16/9/03 Robbie goes online again
Robbie wrote:
robbie - hello everyone,cant stay long as im in my studio cooking up a new me.......just read the forums ...can you tell everyone ive not been scared off ive just been working hard...and allso if people dont know when im coming on then the tabloids wont catch on...know what i mean......ill be back ...just wanted to send my love and tell you my new stuff is rockin over 3o songs allready....tell everyone all is cool chat soon ....robxxxxxx
15/9/03 Robbie nominated for TMF Awards -thanks to So Sincere on the forum
Robbie is nominated in 2 sections for the next TMF Awards : "Best International Singer", and "Best International Videoclip" (for Come Undone). Here are the details : Best International Singer:
-Justin Timberlake
-Gareth Gates
-Robbie Williams Best International Videoclip:
-Evanescence / Bring Me To Life
-Christina Aguilera / Fighter
-Linkin Park / Somewhere I Belong
-Robbie Williams / Come Undone
The Show will take place on October 4th, in Antwerp, Belgium. You can vote for Robbie here nokiatmfawards.be
14/9/03 European tour next year? -thanks to Robbie Williams Info
ROBBIE Williams is already putting together his band for a European tour next year. His people deny any gigs are in the pipeline. But how come actor pal Max Beesley has signed to play bongos?
13/9/03 Robbie lined up for Brits -The Sun
ROBBIE WILLIAMS was being lined up as the saviour of the ailing Brit Awards last night.
Desperate bosses hope the biggest Brits winner will agree to host the show next February.
They are banking on the outspoken singer saving the ceremony from the stale atmosphere that blighted this year’s bash with his trademark onstage banter.
Robbie would pocket £500,000 for his 90 minutes as anchorman.
A Brit Awards insider said: “We’re pulling out all the stops. Robbie is huge and will be perfect as the frontman for the show. If he agrees it will be the biggest show ever.”
Rob has a record 14 prizes sitting on his mantelpiece and is the undisputed King Of The Brits.
Organisers will approach him at home in Los Angeles next week. They are keen to secure the star as MC after his record-breaking series of Knebworth gigs.
This year’s event, fronted by DAVINA McCALL, was panned for lacking atmosphere and failing to attract big stars.
Many acts don’t bother to turn up any more and the event was only rescued at the eleventh hour — by KYLIE MINOGUE’s bottom. Brits producer Lisa Anderson is fighting to save her contract — which runs out next spring — and next year’s event may be her last show.
Lisa is credited with making the ceremony big in the first place 12 years ago but many feel the show needs fresh blood.
The insider added: “Big changes are needed and fast. Other shows, particularly the MTV Video Music Awards with Madonna snogging Britney, were big news all around the world and we need those kind of headlines.
“Those events are increasingly making the Brits look like a local parish fete.
“There’s concern the MTV Europe Awards in Edinburgh this November will even overshadow it. That is unacceptable.
“This year’s awards looked OK on television — it was very slick — but the event itself lacked any atmosphere. There needs to be a drastic overhaul.”
Bosses also say they want to recreate the boozy, party atmosphere that has made the show so unpredictable.
Highlights of recent years include JARVIS COCKER hijacking the stage and mooning at MICHAEL JACKSON during Earth Song, CHUMBAWAMBA throwing a bucket of ice over Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and LIAM GALLAGHER, again, trying to drunkenly shove his award up his bottom.
12/9/03 Robbie's campaign friend in hospital -BBC News
A leukaemia sufferer and campaigner who befriended pop star Robbie Williams is seriously ill in hospital in Australia.
Johanna MacVicar, from Bishopton, Renfrewshire, suffered a collapsed lung from a chest infection while on a dream round-the-world trip. Miss MacVicar was first diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia at the age of 16 and underwent a bone marrow transplant, which failed.
Despite her illness - during which her weight plummeted to six and a half stone - she vowed to live a normal life.
She first met Robbie Williams at a concert in Glasgow in 2000 when he offered to help the charity for which she campaigns, the Anthony Nolan Trust - which keeps the world's only register of bone marrow donors.
They formed a close friendship and the star helped launch a campaign at Loch Lomond in 2001 urging more donors to come forward.
Her mother Angela has flown to Perth, Western Australia, to maintain a vigil by the 25-year-old's bedside.
Doctors at Perth Royal Infirmary operated on Miss MacVicar after an attempt to inflate her damaged lung using a tube failed.
Speaking from Australia, her mother said: "Johanna has suffered a collapsed lung after a bad chest infection. The leukaemia weakened her lungs and she is always getting chest infections and colds. Thank God she didn't get on that plane. She could have had serious problems.
Angela MacVicar "But she didn't realise she was so ill - she just thought she had a bad cough. Jo, being Jo, didn't complain. She just gets on with it."
Hollywood star Dougray Scott is another who has expressed his admiration for Miss MacVicar.
When the actor was researching the film Ripley's Game, in which he plays an English picture framer dying of leukaemia, Miss MacVicar advised him how to portray the character.
Last December, she fulfilled a lifetime ambition to travel the world. She has already visited Thailand, New Zealand, Fiji and Australia, where she has been living in Sydney.
Her mother added: "She had been in Perth for a few weeks but she was about to fly back to Sydney and thankfully, a routine medical check, picked up the infection.
"Thank God she didn't get on that plane. She could have had serious problems."
10/9/03 Robbie helps net sales double to 10 billion -www.mirror.co.uk
HARRY Potter, Robbie Williams and easyJet helped double the amount of money Britain spent on the internet to £10billion in the past year.
The report comes a day after shoppers complained that it was quicker to go to a store than use the net.
But the average internet shopper spent £470 last year with CDs and DVDs the most popular items, bought by nearly four in 10 of all users.
A third bought books or magazines, and the latest Harry Potter became the biggest selling single item on the net in the UK.
A third of surfers have bought air tickets.
An estimated 21 million regularly shop in front of a screen, while more than 7.1 million bank online.
Colin Shaddick, of Continental Research, said: "Companies offering online services are starting to reap the rewards."
10/9/03 Robbie to play NZ. Tickets for Oz available to Inner Sanctum members -www.robbiewilliams.com
Further to the announcement of the 2 dates in Australia, Robbie has further confirmed he will be playing Western Springs in Aukland on Saturday 6th December! Tickets for Aukland will go ON SALE on Monday 22nd September. Details of Inner Sanctum ticket sales will be announced shortly...
Australia - Tickets Go On Sale to Inner Sanctum Members this Thursday!
An allocation of tickets will be made available to Inner Sanctum members from 9am this Thursday 11th September, in advance of general sales on 20th September! These tickets will only be available ONLINE and only by logging in to the Inner Sanctum! If you are not already a member, then click here to join! Otherwise, get ready with your username and password for Thursday morning!
10/9/03 Robbie Williams goes live in your CD player -Under Cover Music
Robbie Williams fans will have a sampler for the show later this month ready for this CD player. Williams is about to release his first live album.
Although he has a number of live DVDs, from September 29 you will also have a Robbie concert to play in your car. Live Summer 2003 was recorded just a few weeks back at the Knebworth Concert in England.
375,000 people watched the Williams shows at Knebworth over 3 nights. 1.2 million bought tickets to his European tour and a further 4 million watched the show on television.
Williams last live disc was the DVD 'Live At The Albert Hall' from 2001.
The tracklisting for Live Summer 2003 is:
Let Me Entertain You
Let Love Be Your Energy
(We Will) Rock You
Monsoon
Come Undone
Me & My Monkey
Hot Fudge
Mr Bojangles
She's The One
Kids
Better Man
Nan's Song
Feel
Angels
Meanwhile, Williams will tour Australia with Duran Duran in December. Presales go online for the Sydney and Melbourne shows at 9am tomorrow (September 11).
9/9/03 5 million copies in Europe for Escapolgy -www.robbiewilliams.com
After a hugely successful series of live shows and festival appearances across Europe, including an unprecedented three night run at the 125,000 capacity Knebworth Park venue in the UK, Robbie Williams is rewarded with a fifth Platinum Award for latest album Escapology.
The album, Willams’ first to break through the five million sales level, has also picked up national platinum or multi-platinum awards in 17 European countries, plus gold in two more. Along with the awards for his other four albums, this latest brings his running total to 20 IFPI Platinum Europe Awards.
8/9/03 Robbie plays the wedding singer at PA's wedding -The Sun
MEGASTAR Robbie Williams did a turn as a wedding singer — when his personal assistant got hitched.
Just weeks after performing in front of 450,000 ecstatic fans at Knebworth, Robbie sang for just 60 people at Josie Cliff’s big day.
He performed a medley of songs — including his hit Angels — as Josie wed Lee Lodge on a clifftop overlooking the Pacific in Malibu, California.
Robbie — whose albums include the hit Sing When You’re Winning — belted out songs throughout Saturday evening.
He was backed by only an acoustic guitar.
The performance was a thank-you to the woman who has been at Robbie’s side for years.
When Robbie is working in America, Josie stays in the guest house of his Hollywood Hills mansion.
She is at his beck and call 24 hours a day. But on Saturday it was Robbie’s turn to look after Josie as he helped arrange the rental of the Malibu home used for the sunset ceremony.
Robbie, 29, arrived for the wedding in the passenger seat of his Cadillac Escalade SUV.
He wore jeans, shirt and blazer and was greeted at the door by long-time friend Jonathan Wilkes — who is teaching Robbie to drive.
The ceremony was held on a wooden deck perched on stilts. Guests then made their way to the beach.
They took turns to have pictures taken with the bride and the singer.
Robbie stayed until late into the night, repeatedly taking to the mini-stage to perform for his pals.
Groom Lee also works with the star as producer on his live shows.
7/9/03 Robbie's Pash Pad in Paradise -thanks to Robbie Williams Info
ROBBIE WILLIAMS is paying well over the odds to be the Dubai holiday home neighbour of VICTORIA and DAVID BECKHAM.
The Robster is forking out £1.3million to buy a villa on the world's most exclusive resort The Palm.
Posh and Becks got in first with their reservation for a five-star pad on the man-made reef - in the shape of a palm - just off the coast of Jumeirah in the United Arab Emirates.
They are believed to have snapped up their hideaway for £1million.
But after reading that other celebrities - like BRAD PITT and JENNIFER ANISTON as well as Becks' England teammate MICHAEL OWEN - had bought plots, Robbie was not going to be put off joining them by a mere £300,000.
A source tells me: "Robbie called recently to place his order but was informed he was a bit late and all the plots were sold on Palm 1.
"He insisted he wanted to buy a villa on that resort - and was told that he needed to get a broker in the area.
"They put him in touch with a sheikh who bought up a couple of villas when they were first advertised. But Robbie was warned he'd pay an inflated price."
Compared with his total worth, the extra is just a drop in the Indian Ocean. And he doesn't seem to care that the England footballers saved cash by putting deposits on their properties after visiting the UAE on a training trip.
The Pitts and other star names also bought in when plots went on sale for £1million last year.
Which is still plenty considering the development won't be finished until 2005.
But though Robbie must wait another two years before he can enjoy his own private beach in the Gulf, it's another price he doesn't mind paying to get just what he wants.
5/9/03 Platinum Europe Awards: Robbie does brilliantly -thanks to So Sincere on the forum
Of August’s three Platinum Europe Awards, two are given to artists receiving their first ever Platinum Europe certifications; Busted and Daniel Bedingfield, with the other going to one of IFPI’s most successful PE artists - Robbie Williams.
Busted are three London-based lads who write boisterous, cheeky pop songs about teenage life, sprinkled with energetic guitar work and catchy choruses. Their eponymous debut album includes songs about fancying your teacher What I Go To School For (also a single), a love tribute to Ms Spears - Britney - and even a ballad in Losing You. Currently huge in the UK, Busted achieve their first Platinum Award for European sales of over one million.
Daniel Bedingfield started young, writing songs as a six year old, and playing in a band with his sisters. Born in New Zealand, brought up in England, he split his time between working as a successful web designer and following his musical dream. When he fell in love, he was inspired to write Gotta Get Thru This. Initially unable to get it released, he pressed up his own white labels and the song was picked up by UK garage supremo EZ. Suddenly the track was everywhere, leading to him signing a record deal, and this Platinum Europe Award-winning debut album.
After a hugely successful series of live shows and festival appearances across Europe, including an unprecedented three night run at the 125,000 capacity Knebworth Park venue in the UK, Robbie Williams is rewarded with a fifth Platinum Award for latest album Escapology. The album, Willams’ first to break through the five million sales level, has also picked up national platinum or multi-platinum awards in 17 European countries, plus gold in two more. Along with the PE awards for his other four albums, this latest brings his running total to 20 IFPI Platinum Europe Awards.
BUSTED, BUSTED, UNIVERSAL MUSIC, 1
DANIEL BEDINGFIELD, GOTTA GET THRU THIS, UNIVERSAL MUSIC, 1
ROBBIE WILLIAMS, ESCAPOLOGY, EMI MUSIC, 5
5/9/03 Record breaking Robbie gets live release -RTE Interactive
If Robbie Williams did one thing for Brit pop over the years it was to knock Oasis off their Knebworth pedestal. In August he smashed their record and played three outdoor gigs to a total of 375,000 punters.
To mark that occasion, his record company has seen fit to cash in and is releasing a live album of the event.
'Robbie Williams - Live at Knebworth' will be released on 29 September. The CD promises to help you recapture some of the magic (should you have been there) or catch a glimpse of it (if you weren't).
5/9/03 Robbie's on a car-azy spree -The Sun
ROBBIE WILLIAMS can’t stop buying flash motors — even though he can’t drive.
My snapper caught up with the singer as he eyed a £200,000 yellow Lamborghini Diablo in a swanky Beverly Hills showroom.
Robbie, currently on holiday following his Knebworth gigs, already has a new Ferrari and a Jaguar parked at his LA home.
5/9/03 Robbie has the most squeezable bottom -Belfast Telegraph
Robbie Williams has the most squeezable bottom in showbusiness, according to the women of Ulster.
If the singer's £80m record deal hasn't made him happy, his popularity in the survey carried out by Hovis surely will.
In findings which revealed that a third of people admitted to squeezing a stranger's bottom, some 27% of those polled in Northern Ireland said they would like to pinch Robbie.
EastEnders actress Jessie Wallace was also popular with local respondents to the internet poll.
Nationally, Jessie had her butt kicked by pop star Kylie Minogue, who was the most popular in the UK-wide poll results.
A nether-loving 45% of those surveyed in the province found it flattering for someone to pinch their bottom, with men twice as likely to squeeze a stranger's cheeks than women.
Tony Blair might feel that he got a bum deal, as his behind appealed mostly to over 55s.
Hovis, who are marketing what they describe as their "squeeziest loaf of bread to date", say that these results highlight how UK people are taking after their more tactile European neighbours.
The bottom was identified as the most squeezable part of the body by 78%.
But if a cuddle's more your thing, actress and singer Claire Sweeney is the one for you.
The former Rear of the Year and British Forces Sweetheart has been voted the person we'd most like to snuggle up to.
4/9/03 Robbiemania 2003 starts right here -New Zealand Herald
Just as his Auckland early summer concert date is announced, Robbie Williams turns up on the telly tonight in Robbie Williams: Manufactured Miracles - Making Something Beautiful (TV2, 8pm).
The show follows open auditions for fans who "captured the essence of a Robbie Williams' performance" with the winner appearing in the video for single Something Beautiful .
But, of course, the entertainment factor comes from those whose Williams' impersonations aren't quite up to Stars In Their Eyes quality.
Williams is playing at Western Springs on Saturday December 6 with support from a revived Duran Duran and local pop heroes Nesian Mystik.
Williams returns after his late 2001 concerts, which became the biggest moneyspinner in New Zealand concert history.
The tour was estimated to have grossed $10 million, with about 100,000 fans attending on the four concert dates.
Williams' bigger 2003 stadium show requires 400 tonnes of gear carried on 20 trucks, and needs 60 crew to build it.
It seems Williams' appeal in Australia has finally caught up with his popularity in New Zealand.
Having played indoor arenas when he was last across the Tasman, this time Williams is performing at Melbourne's Telstra Dome on Wednesday December 10 and Sydney's Aussie Stadium on Saturday December 13.
Tickets for his Auckland show go on sale on via the internet on Friday September 12 (www.liveinconcert.co.nz) or over the counter at New Zealand Postshops on Monday September 22.
4/9/03 First ever Robbie LIVE album to be released -www.robbiewilliams.com
Robbie Williams – Live At Knebworth The Album Released: September 29th 2003
In a long hot summer of English embarrassment, one man matched the weather for record-breaking achievements on home turf…Step forward Robbie Williams. While our sweltering sportsmen struggled to win at football, cricket and tennis, and Prince William shared his 21st birthday with a prankster, the crown prince of pop made his own slice of history.
Over three days at Knebworth Park in August, Britain’s favourite entertainer performed in front of 375,000 fans, smashing the previous record set by Oasis. Now everyone can relive the experience on Robbie’s first live album, from his Houdini-like entrance, suspended above the stage in a recreation of his Escapology album cover, to the mass singalong of Angels that sent the crowds home with lifelong memories of a magical night. During his recent European tour, Robbie was seen by a staggering 1.2 million people – and more than 3.5 million tuned in to Channel Four to watch his Knebworth show on 2 August, that’s enough to fill the national Millennium Stadium over 50 times!
As well as the album, recorded over all three nights at Knebworth, further details of a live DVD are to be announced shortly. Robbie's previous DVD release in 2001 - Live At The Albert - is the biggest selling music DVD ever to be released in the UK with sales in excess of 200,000, but by all accounts this looks set to be EVEN bigger!
CD Tracklisting:
Let Me Entertain You
Let Love Be Your Energy
(We Will) Rock You
Monsoon
Me & My Monkey
Hot Fudge
Mr Bojangles
She’s The One
Kids
Better Man
Nan’s Song
Feel
Angels
4/9/03 Robbie Williams'live CD earner -soundbuzz
British pop star Robbie Williams hasn't finished earning money from his spectacular Knebworth, England concerts this summer - he's set to collect a staggering A$37.5 million by releasing a live CD and DVD recording of the gigs.
Robbie's record company EMI hopes to have the disc in shops in time for Christmas. The former boy band hunk, 29, drew in crowds of 360,000 for the two concerts in August, making them the biggest live performance ever seen in Britain, and adding a cool $25 million to Robbie's already impressive bank -he pocketed A$188 million to re-sign with EMI last year.
Now label bosses predict the live album will net him yet more millions - and help revive the concept of the live LP. A spokesperson for British record stores HMV says, "The real heyday of the live album was back in the Seventies when there were definitive releases from the likes of Bob Dylan, The Who and Peter Frampton. It has been a neglected format of late, but if anyone can revive the live album concept, it would have to be Robbie Williams. He has a huge and very dedicated following. I think we are already looking at the best-selling CD and music DVD in the run-up to Christmas.
4/9/03 Robbie Williams Live CD due out this month -chartattack.com
The Brits love him, the Americans don’t get him and we Canadians are somewhere in between. Robbie Williams may be an acquired taste, but those of us who like him like him very much, indeed. Which is why roughly 50 per cent of us here at ChartAttack are very excited to announce that Robbie will be releasing a live album at the end of this month.
Robbie Williams — Live At Knebworth will be released domestically on September 30. As the title would suggest, the disc is a document of Williams’ summer stint at Britian’s gigantic Knebworth Park. In August Robbie played to 375,000 fans over the course of three evenings, breaking U.K. attendance records (the record was previously set by Williams’ old nemeses, Oasis). The live album is compiled from all three evenings.
Since Robbie’s show is as exciting to watch as it is to listen to, television cameras also caught the August 2 performance, which was aired on British TV. The show — which begins with Robbie suspended on wires above the stage — will be released as a DVD shortly after the live CD.
3/9/03 Ker-ching when you're winning -The Sun
THE race for this year’s Christmas No1 album is already as good as over.
ROBBIE WILLIAMS is set to smash the UK record for live album sales when he releases his spectacular Knebworth concerts on CD and DVD later this year.
The star is expected to make at least £15million worldwide in his biggest pay day yet since signing his £80million deal with EMI last October.
Record experts predict Robbie Live At Knebworth will surpass any live album ever sold in the UK.
The gigs over three nights at the beginning of August were the biggest live performances ever seen in this country.
More than 360,000 people travelled from all over the country to see pop’s prodigal son celebrate his British homecoming after spending a year in Los Angeles.
But the £10million he pocketed for three nights’ work in the grounds of the Hertfordshire stately home will be dwarfed by his takings on CD and DVD sales.
Live albums are very much a phenomenon of the Seventies and recent efforts have failed to set the album charts alight.
But experts reckon Robbie can change that with the millions of fans who saw him on his Europe-wide tour wanting to relive the experience.
He already holds the British record for live music DVD sales with his performances at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 2001 on the back of his Swing When You’re Winning album.
The biggest-selling live album in the UK is by British Seventies star PETER FRAMPTON. Frampton Comes Alive from 1976 has sold more than three million copies in the UK and was said to capture the feeling of the time.
HMV spokesman Gennaro Castaldo told me last night: “The real heyday of the live album was back in the Seventies when there were definitive releases from the likes of BOB DYLAN, THE WHO and PETER FRAMPTON.
“It has been a neglected format of late but as we saw with the Swing album, if anybody can revive the live album concept, it would have to be Robbie Williams.
“He has a huge and very dedicated following.
“His Knebworth concerts have been the event of the year.
“A live recording on CD and DVD would have truly massive appeal and not just to the fans who attended but to the wider record- buying public.
“I think we are already looking at the best-selling CD and music DVD in the run up to Christmas.”
Tracks on Robbie Live At Knebworth will include Let Me Entertain You, Angels, She’s The One, Me And My Monkey, Come Undone and Feel.
It is also likely to include special backstage material and an appearance by his former TAKE THAT pal MARK OWEN on Back For Good. The artwork on the front cover of the CD and the DVD shows a fierce Robbie on a backdrop of flames. A similar image was used on the tickets for the tour.
2/9/03 Robbie adds European date -www.robbiewilliams.com
Robbie has announced one further date to his Autumn European tour! He will play Moscow's Olimpiisky on Sunday 9th November! Tickets go on sale today so make sure you check local press for details on where to get them!
2/9/03 Robbie writes song for Fame Academy Louise -thanks to Jackie
FAME ACADEMY loser LOUISE GRIFFITHS may still get her chance of stardom — after being given a track by ROBBIE WILLIAMS. Louise — girlfriend of Formula 1 ace JENSON BUTTON — will go into the studio in the next few weeks to record the song, penned by Robbie and his former pal and songwriting partner GUY CHAMBERS.
Louise was left in tears after she was voted out of BBC1’s Fame Academy on Saturday. But now it seems she will have the last laugh. The generous offer came after Louise and Jenson bumped into Robbie during a night out in London.
The trio got chatting about music and at the end of the night, Robbie offered her the as yet untitled song that hadn’t made it on to any of his albums. A source close to Louise said: “Jenson knows Robbie after they were introduced some time ago by a mutual friend.
“They all got chatting during a night out and, not surprisingly, the conversation soon came round to music.
“They all ended up back at Robbie’s place in Notting Hill. Louise told him she was about to go into the Fame Academy and jokingly asked if he had any spare tracks lying around. To her amazement he went out of the room and came back with a CD.
“He said it was written by him and Guy but it was so raw it didn’t even have a title.
“Now, after losing Fame Academy, Louise is very keen to get into the studio and record it.
“You don’t have to be an expert to know a track written by Robbie is going to do well. He seems to have the Midas touch.”
Louise was distraught at being kicked out of the academy. She had been tipped as a possible winner of the show, which has a prize of a recording contract with Polydor, a luxury London apartment, a car, a holiday and VIP tickets to a host of star-studded events. Her performance on the live show of DUSTY SPRINGFIELD’s I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself was slated by the judges and the voting public agreed she should go.
If Robbie’s track finally helps her hit the big time, it will be at the third time of asking for leggy Louise.
Before entering Fame Academy she was a member of a band called ORCHID. They recorded Sound Of The Underground, later a No1 hit for GIRLS ALOUD.
