Robbie’s Smart move - 23/04/03
Robbie Williams will be featuring in a new commercial for Daimler Chrysler Geostar Smart cars.
In the advert he comes across a man busking for money to put in his parking meter.
The busker is singing Robbie’s hit Feel badly out of tune as a traffic warden closes in on him, Robbie comes to the rescue just in time giving the busker some dosh.
Geostar Smart cars are the official sponsors of Robbie’s European tour along with Microsoft Xbox.
The ad, which was filmed in Copenhagen, is only being aired at live venues where he is performing.
Robbie does it again - 21/02/03
The Brit Award for Best Male Solo Artist went to Robbie Williams for the fourth time running. Maybe they should re-name it the Robbie Award...
Since leaving Take That - Robbie has won nine Brit awards for his solo career. However, he was not at the award show in person to collect his award, as he is tryingt o break through in America.
He did record a funny acceptance video on the guise of a lonely hearts ad - : "29-year-old Aquarian, slightly chubby, chain-smoking, seeks boy or girl for fun nights of poker and AA meetings."
Happy Birthday - you’re dumped! - 18/02/03
The on / off relationship of Robbie Williams and Rachel Hunter is now off for good, as the blonde model apparently dumped Robbie the day before his 29th birthday.
Robbie allegedly has far too many mood swings, is very insecure and paranoid and Rachel has had enough. But you would have thought she would be used to pop stars mood swings by now - she was the wife of 70’s bad boy Rod Stewart after all.
Band boy - February Courtesy of Heat Magaine
Robbie Williams has revealed he nearly formed a band last year because he was tired of "being Robbie".
He says, "I thought I’d start a band and chase U2 all over the world for their crown." But he had a change of heart while recording Escapology. Lucky for us.
Man with a plan - 14/01/03 Courtesy of Heat Magazine
Robbie Williams has already planned his funeral and wants Angels to be played to his mourners. "It’s a beautiful song," he sad, "I’m so proud of it." He may only be in his 20s, but at least he’s prepared.
Sixth sense - 31/12/02 Courtesy of Heat Magazine
Robbie Williams can see ghosts. According to his father, Pete Conway, he’s been able to see spirits ever since he was a child. "When Robbie was young he used to walk into the bathroom and tell me ’the lady’ was in there again," he said.
Poker face - 29/10/02 Courtesy of Heat Magazine
Robbie Williams has found a way to get rid of the reputed ?80million he got from his latest record deal - poker. Tom Jones - who lives on the same street as Rob in Beverley Hills - says, "He’s started a poker circle in LA. He says he’s going to teach me to play."
Robbie buys LA home - 17/10/02
Robbie Williams has splashed out ?3.5 million on a mansion in LA, complete with its own pub. The Beverley Hills mansion also has six bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a recording studio, gym, swimming pool and a library.
His neighbours include on-off girlfriend Rachel Hunter, her ex-husband Rod Stewart, Christina Aguilera, Tom Jones, Will Smith, Sylvester Stallone and Madonna.
Robbie and Kylie to star in Magic Roundabout movie - 11/10/02
Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue are to head an all-star cast for a big screen version of children’s favourite The Magic Roundabout.
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Robbie joined Take That when he was only 16, he had only one job previous to that, as a double glazing salesman, but apparently he wasn’t very good - he would tell customers not to buy them because they were so bad! For five years, Robbie became the joker of the band, always smiling and playing gags on people as Take That rose to record-breaking stardom. However, in July 1995 Robbie announced he was to leave the band to concentrate on a solo career...a nation of teenage girls mourned.
After a stint eating pies, doing drugs and being friends with the Gallaghers, Robbie signed to Chrysalis Records. His first ever solo single on this label would be a cover of George Michael’s Freedom . It was released on July 29th 1996 exactly one year after his departure from Take That. It reached No 2 in the UK charts. Life began to get a bit rough for Robbie during the following months, he met Jacquie Hamilton-Smith at a New Years Eve Party of 1996, moved in with her the next day and partied (in more ways that one) for exactly one year before coming to his senses. In the middle of all this he released his second single Old Before I Die on April 14th 1997 which also reached No 2 in the charts.
At the beginning of June 1997 after many bad reports in the media, Robbie checked himself into a rehab centre to receive treatment for his addiction to alcohol and drugs. After 4 weeks at the centre Rob emerged 2 stones lighter, sporting a new haircut, and hopefully feeling much better. The release of Lazy Days followed soon after on July 14th, and made it’s first appearance in the UK charts at No 8, to be followed shortly by South Of The Border.
December 1997 was the real beginning for Robbie, he released ’Angels’ as his Christmas single, never knowing quite what an impact it would have on the market. Into the new year of 1998 it was still in the charts and ’Life Thru A Lens’ shot back into the album charts and has been there ever since. Robbie truly had arrived, signing up thousands of new fans daily. Millennium and accompanying album I’ve Been Expecting You followed up on this success, making Robbie the biggest selling artist of 1998.
He began trying to win over the US in 1999 touring The Ego Has Landed. His success continued in 2000 with the release of immediate hit, Rock DJ. Sing When You’re Winning, was as popular as his accompanying collection of lounge covers, Swing When You’re winning. In 2002, Robbie signed a record breaking contract with EMI for £50m, securing his place in pop history. Escapology duly topped the charts in the UK while Robbie spent time in LA being papped with new girlfriend Rachel Hunter.
The biggest outdoor concert ever was hosted by Robbie in 2003 at Knebworth Park attracting 375,000 fans over three days. He followed up this success with two album releases, a Greatest Hits and 2005’s Intensive Care which accompanied his appearance on stage at Live8. Around this time speculation was rife that Robbie was ready to patch things up with his former bandmates and take part in a Take That reunion tour. However Robbie disappointed fans and friends by failing to turn up at an ITV organised reunion and merely recording a video part for the tour which Gary and co embarked on a UK tour without him.
But Robbie wasn’t resting on his laurels. While Take That returned to the studio Robbie did the same, releasing his tenth album, Rudebox in 2006 which brought more controversy to the singer when he failed to credit a supposed co-writer.
It never seems to stop for Robbie.
updated Oct 2006
September 2007