TOUR NEWS

24/7/03
No-go fury over plans for Robbie -The Comet
BUSINESSMEN in Knebworth say the village will be turned into a no-go zone during the three-day Robbie Williams concert costing them thousands of pounds in lost trade.
Traders say parking measures have been taken without any consultation with them by police or the county council.
Williams is appearing at Knebworth Park on August 1, 2 and 3 with 360,000 attending the concerts.
But police will be setting up tough parking restrictions from 5.30am on Friday, August 1, to the same time on Monday, August 4.
There will be no parking the entire length of London Road in the village and Old Knebworth Lane will be closed along with the lane that cuts behind Knebworth Park from the B656 to Nup End.
The road 500 yards either side of the Lytton Arms in Park Lane will also be a no-parking zone.
Also there will be parking and unloading restrictions between Knebworth High Street and Station Road.
The plans are a clear attempt by police to try and prevent concert traffic going through Knebworth and to funnel all vehicles up the A1(M) to junction seven and directly into Knebworth Park.
Police will be using the hard shoulder and the slow lane from junction six at Welwyn for concert traffic.
“This was a chance for local businesses to make money but nobody will be stopping here now with all the parking restrictions,” said John Stevens, owner of Village News in Station Road.
Peter Lowe of builders’ merchants Chas. Lowe said: “It is going to cause a lot of inconvenience but we will just have to run the business as best we can.” One of the biggest losers will be Paul Elleston, owner of Trussells the butchers in the High Street.
This is the first time a weekday will be used for a Knebworth concert and Fridays and Saturdays are his busiest days.
“Sixty per cent of my weekly trade is during those two days. Nobody has asked traders here for their views,” said Mr Elleston.
“All this just for a pop star is ludicrous. We will be suffering but nobody will be compensating me for my losses.”
Knebworth Parish Council say they were notified of the orders of road closures and restrictions on July 9 but not consulted by either the police or county council.
“Being told it is going to happen is very dictatorial,” said Cllr Peter Hooker.

24/7/03
Stay away plea as chaos is expected -The Comet
MOTORISTS not heading for the Robbie Williams concert are being advised to stay clear of Stevenage and Knebworth during the three-day pop festival.
Over 30,000 cars and 400 coaches are expected to pour in and out of Comet country every day during the concerts.
“I would advise people to avoid travelling in the area unless you have to,” said County Councillor Derrick Ashley, executive member for environment. The biggest number of restrictions on car parking during the Robbie Williams concert will be in Stevenage itself.
There will be no parking in Broadhall Way, Monkswood Way, Gunnels Wood Road, Six Hills Way and Lytton Way.
There are four designated parking areas for fans. In Knebworth Park there is an east and west facility for those coming off the A1(M) at junction 7 and the B656 Hitchin road.
Those travelling on the A1(M) from the north are being advised to exit the motorway at junction 8 and follow the signs to Fairlands Valley for parking. There will also be parking in the Gunnels Wood Road industrial area.
Restrictions will be clearly signed and rigidly enforced in the interests of maintaining traffic flow and public safety, say the police.
All event car parks will be cleared nightly and no food or alcohol will be allowed on the concert site.
Hitchin will also be hit with concert traffic heading for Knebworth using the MI being directed through the town and around the Three Moorhens roundabout and down the B656.

23/7/03
Knebworth to be broadcast LIVE! -thanks to Jackie
One of Robbie Williams's sell-out shows at Knebworth House is to be screened live by Channel 4.
The chart star is playing a three-night stint to 375,000 fans at the outdoor venue, with the second night being aired on TV on August 2.
The show is a coup for the station after Williams worked closely with the BBC with TV specials to launch his last two albums.
The singer has picked up rave reviews for his lavish shows, his most ambitious live performances to date.
The former Take That member joins a select band of superstars who have headlined Knebworth, dubbed the stately home of rock. Acts such as the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Queen and Oasis have played the Hertfordshire venue.
Channel 4's head of music, Jo Wallace, said: "We're delighted that Robbie has chosen Channel 4 and are extremely excited to be making history by broadcasting his live concert in its entirety on a terrestrial channel for the first time.
"Having seen him play live, I can promise our viewers that Robbie is on fantastic form and will undoubtedly make it a night to remember."
The channel will screen the entire show lasting around two and a half hours.

23/7/03
Extra tickets for Knebworth -thanks to Angels on the forum
Robbie Williams will be appearing live at Knebworth next month, and Radio 1 can now exclusively announce that there are MORE TICKETS available for the dates!
He's playing at the legendary venue on Friday 1st, Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd August, and 375,000 tickets have already been sold for the dates.
6000 additional tickets are ON SALE NOW!
Just call 0871-2200260 or go online to www.gigsandtours.com/robbie to get your hands on 'em! Tickets cost £35 plus booking fee.
Chris Moyles will be broadcasting LIVE backstage, on Friday 1st August at Robbie's first ever date at Knebworth. Before that, tune into The Radio 1 Breakfast Show all this week to win some of Robbie's personal gear which Sara stole from him when she interviewed him last weekend! And then tune in all next week to hear what Sara got up to with Robbie on his private plane in Europe!
We'll also be giving away tickets to see Robbie's Knebworth gigs all next week on Radio 1.
And if that's not enough for you, then tune in to Radio 1 on Sunday 3rd August from 7pm-11pm to hear Robbie live in concert at Knebworth!

11/7/03
Robbie fans must pay price -The Comet
THOUSANDS of local people travelling to the Robbie Williams concert at Knebworth by train will be hit hard in the pocket even before they get there! Rail operator Wagn has this week launched a special £9 return ticket concertgoers MUST buy – no matter where you travel to Stevenage from – if you want to be guaranteed a return train home.
If you don’t buy a special ticket you could be stranded because only special ticket holders can enter Stevenage station and board a train after 10.30pm. “It’s a flat rate whether you travel 10 stations or just one. It’s so we can estimate from ticket sales how many people we will have to cope with,” said a Wagn spokesperson.
“The cost will cover the extra services we will be putting on and all the support staff needed including British Transport Police.
“If people are travelling before 10.30pm normal tickets will apply and people can travel as normal. But people without special tickets cannot be guaranteed a place on a train after that time.”
Wagn have introduced the special ticket to accommodate an estimated 20,000 fans travelling to and from the concert each day on August 1, 2 and 3.
Wagn is advising travellers not to use Knebworth Station.
A spokesperson said: “Tickets must be purchased in advance and numbers are strictly limited. Tickets are valid on Great Northern trains to Stevenage from any Great Northern station bounded by King’s Cross, Peterborough and Cambridge and return.
“In addition they are valid on GNER services from London King’s Cross and Stevenage only.”
There will be special services travelling north stopping at Hitchin, Letchworth, Baldock, Sandy and Biggleswade to take fans home until the early hours of the morning.
Trains will have eight coaches to move people more quickly.

1/7/03
Edinburgh rocks with Robbie Williams -The World in Music
Robbie Williams kicked off his European summer tour at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh in dramatic style. The stadium erupted when the popstar millionaire mimicked the cover of his latest album Escapology by being lowered on to the stage hanging upside down. The star, who signed an 80 million pound deal with EMI last year opened the gig with the crowd pleaser Let Me Entertain You. Saturday's Edinburgh gig is the first of 21 dates taking in 10 countries over the next six weeks. During the tour the singer will be flown from country to country on his own private jet. The scale of the concert is massive and it takes around 72 trucks and buses to move equipment from venue to venue. The singer performs in front of a massive 11-tonne screen suspended above the stage that moves between songs. Williams also appears with six dancers who cavort around him and two hydraulic poles. The show has been put together by both Williams and Mark Fisher the man famed for the Millennium Dome spectacular and Pink Floyd concerts. After Edinburgh the former Take That singer will head off to perform in cities such as Berlin, Amsterdam and Copenhagen. Williams will return to England to play the 125,000 capacity Knebworth Park in August.

Robbie Williams in Edinburgh -The Guradian
During the evening, Robbie Williams will allude to his dependence on anti-depressants and send up his inability to find a partner. There is a mania about the savagery of his self-satire, his compulsion to disclose. He is the archetypal sad clown, loved, perhaps, because we like to be reminded that success does not equal happiness. Williams's genius is his mix of vulnerability and arrogance. Sometimes he is the jealous lover, questioning the cheer that goes up when he mentions other artists: Justin Timberlake (whom he admires) or Ronan Keating (whom he sends up perfectly). Sometimes the endless braggadocio (he's got a very big tour, you know) palls, though he does deliver brilliantly contemporary pop music, including his best songs: No Regrets (very Pet Shop Boys), Me and My Monkey (gorgeous mariachi brass over a lacerating shaggy-dog story) and the manic attention seeking of Let Me Entertain You. Bizarrely, he is briefly joined on the piano by Max Beesley, well-appointed but little-known Brit actor and former Mr Scary Spice, who, even more bizarrely, doubles as tour percussionist. Apparently they spent time together in LA when, Williams says: "Max was out there carving out his career and I was just . . . out there." Williams hams through Mr Bojangles like he doesn't know the difference between Sammy Davis Jr and Andy Williams, but wrings a good deal of pathos from One More for My Baby. The band swing back in for She's the One, but it makes no difference how many people crowd the stage, we only have eyes for one person, and it isn't Beesley. During a monumental Kids, Williams deftly removes his trousers and two colossal video screens afford us a lingering crotch shot. Williams comes very near to dwarfing this enormous space. By the end and Angels (what else?), he is clearly high on the applause. But you can't help wondering what will happen when it stops.

1/7/03
NE fans swoon as Robbie rocks Murrayfiels -Evening Express
Thousands of North east Robbie Williams fans went wild for the ex- boyband megastar over two nights of sell-out Murrayfield magic. When Murrayfield vibrates under the stomping feet of 55,000 fans they're normally decked out in the regal blue of the Scottish rugby shirt. But the audience at Saturday night's concert by the teen heart-throb were more likely to be throwing underwear than shouting abuse at the ref. This was the first night of Robbie's Scottish double-header, two of only six UK gigs on his current Escapology world tour. The former Take That wildman appeared onstage from behind a vast screen, dangling upside-down and dressed in black like a crooning vampire bat. His army of mostly female fans went bananas as Robbie did a quick Houdini impression before launching into Let Me Entertain You. What followed was a two-hour rollercoaster through Robbie's back catalogue. He immediately charmed the Scottish audience by telling them they and the Irish are always the best crowds. The man is a born entertainer and he brilliantly played to the crowd, using his tortured artist schtick knowingly throughout the show. During songs he danced about the stage, aping chart stars like Justin Timberlake and R Kelly and even whipped his trousers off to reveal a posing pouch. All the while his fans - girls and women from five to 55 and a scattering of men, some of whom looked wholly bemused - went bonkers. Highlights included Rock DJ and Angels - an emotional lighters-in-the-air finale to a half-hour encore. Aberdeen Robbie fan Caroline Bruce, 23, was delighted with what she had seen. She said: "I've never seen Robbie before but that was the best concert I've ever been to." Robbie came, he rapped, he wore a ludicrous camouflage kilt, and he conquered ... and left just about everyone in the vast bowl of Murrayfield with a smile on their face.

30/6/03
Robbie Williams Live -The Sun
TAKE a teaspoon of FREDDIE MERCURY, a sprinkling of cabaret genius and a pinch of pop god.
Mix them all together and you have something approaching the wonder that is ROBBIE WILLIAMS.
From the moment he appeared, dangling upside down from a rope, the 65,000 strong crowd were in no doubt — Robbie is our biggest star.
And yes, I’ve been converted. Robbie knocks the stuffing out of Justin Timberlake.
Dapper in black shirt, trousers and white tie, he kicked off a 17-song set with Let Me Entertain You - and that’s just what he did for the next two hours. With a frenzy of pelvic thrusts, he repeatedly shouted “Come on” as he clutched his microphone stand — in the shape of a naked woman.
Yes, the Robster had landed at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield stadium.
Robbie had something for everyone on the first night of his European Tour.
Escapology hits such as Me And My Monkey, as well as classics like Angels kept the Scots entertained on Saturday night.
Rob made sure fans came along on his ride from the start, sharing jokes with them between songs. Admitting he was “s****ing himself” only made them warm to him more.
He even made eight-year-old Brogan Walker’s year when he plucked her from the crowd for a chat.
The pace was started fast then dipped for some slower tunes, accompanied by best mate MAX BEESLEY on piano and percussion.
During this quieter period Robbie dedicated Mr Bojangles to his mum who was in the audience and Max’s mother “up there in heaven”.
She’s The One stood out in a faultless set as the massive stage screen showed couples in the crowd cuddling and singing along.
Then the pace raced back to a raunchy feel as Rob’s backing singers filled KYLIE MINOGUE’s pixie boots for the duet Kids.
This was another crowd-pleaser with Rob at his sexy best.
Oh, and he ripped his trousers off to reveal tight black boxers — always a bonus.
Feel and Millennium were also highlights before he closed with Angels.
Whipping up his combat- patterned kilt to give a peek of his peach-like bum he was gone — but the crowd were in no doubt they had got their money’s worth. For two hours he was everyone’s best friend and to a 14-year-old Robbette that is something the £33 ticket price cannot buy.
Three cheers for King Williams — the ultimate entertainer.
Most importantly, Rob’s fans left certain they knew a little of the real Robbie. Robbie's set list:
1. Let Me Entertain You 2. Let Love Be Your Energy 3. Monsoon 4. Come Undone 5. Strong 6. Me And My Monkey 7. Hot Fudge 8. Mr Bojangles 9. One For My Baby 10. She’s the One 11. Supreme 12. No Regrets 13. Kids 14. Ecstasy/Rock DJ 15. Feel 16. Millennium 17. Angels
Robbie Quotes during performance:
"Justins a great guy, but I've still got it" -on rival Trousersnake.
"I'm feeling very horny" -toying with the crowd.
"I'm not just a celebrity, I can sing and everything" -modest as ever.
"I am absolutley shitting myself" -Robbie on performing.

30/6/03
Robbie's Scot the lot -Sky News
Robbie Williams has kicked off his UK tour with a steamy stage show in Edinburgh. The flamboyant ex-Take That star took to the stage before a packed Murrayfield Stadium and told 55,000 people: "Let me entertain you." Dressed in black with a white tie, Williams gave an energetic performance with the crowd of screaming fans enthusiastically joining in. Williams, sporting a huge grin, lapped up the rapturous applause and embraced the crowd with a vigorous rendition of his current hit single, Come Undone. Giant video Later, he shared the giant video screen with a chimpanzee for the song Me and my Monkey. The concert started with a dramatic entrance by the popstar. Mimicking the cover of his Escapology album, he was lowered onto the stage hanging upside down by a wire. The entertainer continued to thrill Murrayfield with a little help from his friend, British actor and musician Max Beesley, on piano. Crowd The duo performed the classic Mr Bojangles and hit song, She's the One. A smaller platform then led Williams further into the crowd. At this point he picked up one young girl from the crowd below and danced with her in his arms before wrapping himself in a Saltire and shouting, "Scotland I love you". Later, as the pace got more heated, he took his trousers off during a provocative performance of Kids, before he again took the stage wearing a camouflage kilt.

Review from Jackie in the UK
WOW - He was sensational, so good looking we were only a few feet away from him you could see the colour of his eyes..well he wore all black with a white tie, and I thought he looked fab in it. First off his entrance was true showman style, he came onto the stage hanging upside down, like the cover of Escapology, you could see his tats on his tum because his shirt fell down....(oh) He opened with Let me Entertain you, (the sound could have been better on this, the band nearly overwhelmed him as they were louder than him, but it was sorted out) but this was a shame because that first hearing of Rob's voice is always amazing. The set was the same as the Paris gig, but he added "Hot Fudge" so 5 songs from Escapology, "Feel" is another Angels, as he said this song is a RW moment, he was stunned how the audience in France responded when he sang it, and Scotland were the same...He was overwhelmed with his reception, it was amazing, 55,000 in the stadium, which was a huge place, and hundreds more sitting on the grass outside the Stadium just listening. His performance was slick and professional, his backing and dancers were good, and the staging was fabulous...with panels moving/vids/and the theme of what was to come...You could see he was nervous at first, he was sweating and because he said so, he forgot to introduce his band and apologised to them, but you could see by his face that he was reaching his audience, and I detected a near welling up to the applause, and the adulation he was receiving...the love, we didn't want him to go. The press reviews in Scotland this morning, and here is some comments. "Robbie rocks Murrayfield" "Robs Still Scot It" Robbie Williams made a dramatic entry onto stage yesterday, lowered head first by a rope tied to his legs, Robbie struggled valiantly to free himself, surround by female dancers, the roars went into overdive as he launched into his 1st number. Swiftly followed by crowd pleasers, as Come Undone, Supreme, and Monsoon, their was an enthusiastic reception for want Robbie called his karaoke section, for Strong, with a big screen at the back to followed the lyric, (he said he will have to review this bit as everyone was looking at the screen instead of him) and it went onto his unfamilar stuff from Escapology, saying you are going to get your money's worth, and the fans bellowed their approval. This was the biggest shows ever staged in Scotland. Robbie has called it the Weekend of Mass Distraction, but if you are looking for a WEAPON of Mass Distraction you need look no further than the ex Take That star.. This was one review out of several here today, with lots of pictures of him hanging upside down, Brilliant.. ROBBIE YOU ARE A SHOWMAN, A PURE ENTERTAINER, LOVE YOU TO BITS, and WE ARE PROUD OF YOU. he deserved the love he had last night...

29/6/03
Robbie entertains screaming fans -Examiner
Robbie Williams has thrilled hordes of screaming fans in Edinburgh with a steamy stage show. The flamboyant ex-Take That star took to the stage before a packed Murrayfield Stadium and told 55,000 people: “Let me entertain you.” Dressed in black with a white tie, Williams gave an energetic performance with the crowd enthusiastically joining in. Not all lasted the pace, however – a number of fans collapsed and had to be taken to the front of the stage. One fan, obviously feeling the heat, made an impromptu appearance when footage of her flashed up on three giant screens on the stage. The half-naked woman seemed oblivious to the thousands who cheered her. Williams, sporting a giant grin, lapped up the rapturous applause and embraced the crowd with a vigorous rendition of his current hit single, Come Undone. Later, he shared the giant video screen with a chimpanzee for the song Me and my Monkey. The concert started with a dramatic entrance by the star. Mimicking the cover of his Escapology album, he was lowered onto the stage hanging upside down by a wire. As Williams neared the ground he grabbed hold of one of his female dancers and, as the pair lay flat on the stage, he pretended to have sex with her. The entertainer continued to thrill Murrayfield with a little help from his friend, British actor and musician Max Beesley, on piano. Williams admitted that he and Beesley had fled to Las Vegas over Christmas when both their love-lives hit the skids. The duo performed the classic Mr Bojangles and hit song, She’s the One. A smaller platform led Williams further into the crowd. At this point he picked up one young girl from the crowd below and danced with her in his arms before wrapping himself in a Saltire and shouting, “Scotland I love you”. Later, as the pace got more frenetic, he took his trousers off during a provocative performance of Kids, before he again took the stage wearing a camouflage kilt. He then performed fans’ favourites, Feel, Millennium and Angels, as darkness crept over the stadium. Kathleen Dowds, from Hamilton, was in tears for most of the performance. “This has just been fantastic,” the 40-year-old housewife said. “I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. “This has been a dream come true.” Another fan Angela Smith, a 21-year-old secretary from Leith in Edinburgh said: “It was spectacular to watch a man being lowered to the stage by his ankles, especially when that man was Robbie. “I’ve seen him before, but he was giving it everything up there and he kept saying that he loved Scotland.
Setlist:
Let Me Entertain You
Let Love Be Your Energy
Monsoon
Come Undone
Strong
Me and My Monkey
Mr Bojangles
One For My Baby
Hot Fudge
No Regerets
Supreme
Kids
Rock DJ
Feel
Millenium
Angels

29/6/03
Rob gives fans night to remember -Scotsman
ROBBIE Williams thrilled hordes of screaming fans in Edinburgh last night. The flamboyant ex-Take That star took to the stage before a packed Murrayfield Stadium and told 55,000 people: "Let me entertain you." Dressed in black with a white tie, Williams gave an energetic performance with the crowd enthusiastically joining in. However, not all lasted the pace. A number of fans collapsed and had to be taken to the front of the stage. After finishing his hit single ‘Let Me Entertain You’, Williams said: "The Irish and the Scots are the best f****** audiences in the world. You haven’t let me down." Robbie, sporting a giant grin, lapped up the rapturous applause and embraced the crowd with a vigorous rendition of his current hit single ‘Come Undone’. Later, the star shared the giant video screen with a chimpanzee for the song ‘Me and My Monkey’.

29/6/03
Flying visit to stadium revealed -Edinburgh News
A SCAFFOLDER today told how he had a sneak preview of Scotland’s fastest-selling concert. Jim Wilson, from Granton, couldn’t believe his eyes when Robbie Williams bounded on to the Murrayfield Stadium stage, while he was building it, before belting out hit track Millennium. The 37-year-old revealed Robbie is due to fly on to the stage on a special harness at the start of show. He also saw the star practise hit song Kids, which will see him running down on to a stage which sticks out into the crowd. Robbie is due to perform in the Capital tonight and tomorrow for two eagerly awaited sell-out shows. Mr Wilson, who has been helping build the stage since Tuesday, said he was "amazed" when Robbie turned up at the stadium on Thursday. "I was coming back from the canteen at around 3.45pm when I saw some people carriers turn up. Some guys with saxophones and horns got out along with some dancing girls. "Then Robbie got out of a black people carrier and went on to the stage with three bodyguards and what looked like his personal manager. "He went up to the microphone and clapped into it, he was really pleased with the sound quality and I heard him say ‘We’ll definitely be coming back here’." He added: "After he had done two songs he lay on the grass with some of the dancers. One of the girls had slipped and fallen during the routine so he was telling her that he had once fallen and then he whipped down his trousers and showed her where he had grazed his bum, all the girls were laughing. "He was just like a normal guy. He walked past me and his bouncers didn’t push me out the way or anything. He seemed really nice. It was amazing to see part of the show." The Murrayfield soundchecks haven’t been appreciated by everyone, though. A handful of local residents have complained about the noise even before Robbie takes to the stage tonight. Environmental officers were called to Murrayfield Stadium ahead of the pop stars first concert in the Capital during rehearsals on Thursday night after 9pm. Eric Robinson, city council head of regulatory services, said the Edinburgh concert was the very first leg of the Robbie Williams tour, and this means that there have been more soundchecks than normal. A spokesman for the Scottish Rugby Union at Murrayfield Stadium said it sent a letter to neighbouring resident warning them of soundcheck and rehearsal times. "We have done our best to notify residents of when the soundchecks and rehearsals are happening. "We are trying our best to be as good a neighbour as we can and hope that nobody is too inconvenienced by the noise from the stadium." Police today warned motorists travelling to the shows today and tomorrow to allow extra time for their journeys. A spokeswoman said a limited number of car parking spaces would be available adjacent to the stadium from noon each day, and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

29/6/03
3 million pounds for 2 days work -Glasgow Sunday Mail
SUPERSTAR Robbie Williams will earn £3million from the biggest money- spinning pop concerts ever staged in Scotland. Robbie is being paid £1.25million for each of his two performances at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh. He'll rake in a further £500,000 from merchandising sales of T-shirts, programmes and badges. He played at Murrayfield last night and appears at the venue again tonight. His mammoth pay packet all adds up to a staggering £33,333 for every MINUTE he's on stage in the capital. The former Take That singer is already a multi-millionaire after signing a deal worth £80million with EMI Records earlier this year. He said at the time that the contract had made him "rich beyond my wildest dreams". All 100,000 tickets for the Murrayfield gigs - priced at £30 plus booking fee - were snapped up just 40 minutes after going on sale. An insider said yesterday: "The gross revenue generated by Robbie's concerts will be in the region of £3.75million. "By the time you take VAT and costs such as the rental of Murrayfield - around £500,000 - you're left with £2.75million. "The singer will get £2.5million for appearing and what he makes from merchandising sales. "It's nice work ... if you can get it." Robbie's bank balance will get a further boost when he plays three more sell- out gigs at the 100,000 capacity Knebworth Park in Hertfordshire next week. He'll be quids-in too when his warts-and-all autobiography - planned for the Christmas market - is published. Robbie is writing the book with mate Chris Heath, an ex-Smash Hits journalist to set the record straight over his life. He claims previous unauthorised biographies are inaccurate and says he wants to tell all about his romance with Rod Stewart's model ex- wife Rachel Hunter and his battles with depression, drugs and booze. The singer has been taking pictures on a digital camera everywhere he goes all over the world to illustrate the book. Now, top US business magazine Forbes has placed Robbie at No. 37 in their Top 100 Celebrity List - calculated by earning power and media clout. The singer is one of only three new UK entries on the high-earners' chart. He beats fellow British celebs such as the Beckhams and Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell hands- down. His arrival in Scotland was filmed by a BBC Television crew who are making a fly-on-the-wall documentary called There's Only One Robbie Williams. The superstar has taken over an entire floor of the Marriot Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club on the outskirts of the capital - which charges up to £400 per night for a luxury suite - for the duration of his stay. And the rock idol was so nervous about kicking off the UK leg of his tour in Scotland he didn't go out clubbing on Friday night. Instead, Robbie spent hours at a rain-lashed Murrayfield rehearsing for his concerts. The insider said: "He was very uptight about opening in Edinburgh. The Scots fans are very special to him and he wanted to give them a show they'd never forget." Robbie's special guests in the capital were punk singer Kelly Osbourne, daughter of wild rocker Ozzy, and respected Irish band Ash.

29/6/03
Reviews of Edinburgh gig
Reviews of last nights Edinburgh gig have already started appearing on the forum at Robbie's official site. Click here.

28/6/03
Robbie plays hard to get -Daily Record
ROBBIE WILLIAMS played an elaborate game of hide and seek yesterday as he prepared to kick off his world tour at Murrayfield tonight. The pop superstar went to extraordinary lengths to keep his whereabouts secret, booking rooms at several different hotels before finally arriving at the four-star Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club outside Edinburgh on Thursday night. Security staff from Robbie's entourage were still inspecting hotels in the city two days before his arrival as the star made a determined effort to keep a low profile. Yesterday, the Daily Record caught up with Robbie as he returned from rehearsals to the exclusive Dalmahoy hotel, but the singer kept his face hidden. And fans will face the toughest security regulations yet at the sell- out gig. For the first time at a concert in Scotland, all tickets will pass through a special scanner at the turnstiles. And organisers have warned anyone with a fake ticket will not get through security. Each genuine ticket carries a special imprint invisible to the naked eye, which can only been seen under the specialist scanner. The move comes amid fears ticket touts could have conned hundreds of fans. Guests at the Country Club were stunned when the star arrived on Thursday and shunned his party animal reputation. Instead Williams chose to prepare for his Scottish concerts by working out in the hotel gym. Full houses of 55,000 are guaranteed for the two shows tonight and tomorrow, which became the fastest- selling gigs in Scottish concert history when all the tickets were snapped up within hours of going on sale in November. This morning there will have been delight for despairing Robbie fans when organisers DF Concerts released 200 extra tickets. Initially, there was a 55,000 ticket limit on Murrayfield which was upped by 5000 after the organisers checked out the stadium and had talks with safety experts and Scottish Rugby Union officials. The DF Concerts spokeswoman said: "After we checked out sightlines we realised we could have another 200 people in." Lothian and Borders police are warning drivers heading for the concerts to allow extra time for their journeys. A police spokeswoman warned that vehicles parked illegally can be removed, with a recovery cost of £105

28/6/03
Williams charms the ladies before taking time to rehearse -Scotsman
ROBBIE Williams is not due to kick-off his Murrayfield double-header until tonight but staff at the stadium have already had a sneak preview of the singer’s charms. Workers were surprised when Williams himself came over to ask them to leave the stadium so he could rehearse for the start of his world tour in private. The pop superstar bounded across the temporary stage installed at the stadium and smiled at the young women, before politely asking if they would mind leaving. The stadium workers were left thrilled after their close encounter with the ex-Take That star - despite missing out on hearing him run through part of his set. One employee said: "He was absolutely lovely in the way he did it. The girls were obviously disappointed, but nobody can take offence when one of the world’s biggest superstars asks you, ‘please, would you mind?’" Security has been beefed up at the venue ahead of two of the biggest concerts Scotland has ever seen. After Robbie Williams asked them to leave the stadium yesterday afternoon, Murrayfield staff were told to expect him back for another rehearsal before the opening show. Full houses of 55,000 are guaranteed for the two shows today and tomorrow. All of the tickets were snapped up within hours of going on sale in November. The star has been in Edinburgh since arriving in a private jet on Thursday and has been seen spotted touring the city in a limousine. At the weekend’s concerts, trading standards chiefs will be carrying out a major crackdown on illegal street traders selling unofficial merchandise en route to the stadium. Fans who drive to the gigs have been warned illegally parked vehicles will be towed away with teams of traffic enforcers patrolling the area.

28/6/03
Robbie to tour with chimp-Sky News
Robbie Williams is taking a leaf out of Michael Jackson's book - by touring with a chimpanzee. The animal features in his European tour which hits the UK on Saturday. But animal lovers need not worry - it will only be appearing on screen during one of the singer's tracks. The production team took footage of the chimp to accompany the track Me And My Monkey. Jackson was famed for his pet Bubbles who accompanied him everywhere. Williams plays in Edinburgh before heading off to Berlin, Amsterdam and Copenhagen, among other venues. He is calling the tour Weekends of Mass Destruction. It is said to be his most ambitious series of shows yet. Some 72 trucks and buses are needed to ferry all the equipment and props between venues. On stage Williams will be accompanied by six dancers who will cavort around two hydraulic poles. The singer has had a huge creative input into the show, which a spokesman described as "mind-blowing".

28/6/03
Robbie fans warned to set off early -Evening News
RAIL bosses are urging thousands of Robbie Williams fans to leave Murrayfield stadium promptly this weekend. More than 110,000 fans will see the Rock DJ star perform in Edinburgh on Saturday and Sunday. But commuters face long queues for night services back to Glasgow after the sell-out shows. Fans will have to queue in Haymarket station's car park before boarding trains. Today Andy Thomas, ScotRail divisional manager, said: "A huge crowd will all be trying to get home at the same time so we are warning them not to leave it to the last minute." The last two services leave Haymarket station at 11pm and 11.30pm. RAIL bosses are urging thousands of Robbie Williams fans to leave Murrayfield stadium promptly this weekend. More than 110,000 fans will see the Rock DJ star perform in Edinburgh on Saturday and Sunday. But commuters face long queues for night services back to Glasgow after the sell-out shows. Fans will have to queue in Haymarket station's car park before boarding trains. Today Andy Thomas, ScotRail divisional manager, said: "A huge crowd will all be trying to get home at the same time so we are warning them not to leave it to the last minute." The last two services leave Haymarket station at 11pm and 11.30pm. RAIL bosses are urging thousands of Robbie Williams fans to leave Murrayfield stadium promptly this weekend. More than 110,000 fans will see the Rock DJ star perform in Edinburgh on Saturday and Sunday. But commuters face long queues for night services back to Glasgow after the sell-out shows. Fans will have to queue in Haymarket station's car park before boarding trains. Today Andy Thomas, ScotRail divisional manager, said: "A huge crowd will all be trying to get home at the same time so we are warning them not to leave it to the last minute." The last two services leave Haymarket station at 11pm and 11.30pm.