ROBBIE WILLIAMS, HIS NEW CD AND HOW HE'S TAKING THE WORLD BY STORM ALL OVER AGAIN

 

 

Why would Robbie Williams give away his greatest hits to Mail on Sunday readers for free? Louise Gannon, who has known and worked with Robbie since he was 16, explains why he's ripping up the industry rule book yet again.Enlarge He's back: Robbie Williams' new album, Reality Killed The Video Star, is out next month. He is giving away his greatest hits to Mail on Sunday readers next week

http://i33.tinypic.com/2nc056x.jpg

 

The first time I met Robbie Williams was in the back of a second-hand Transit van parked outside a school playground in Rotherham. It was 1990. Williams was 16 years old and, with his as yet unknown band Take That, was touring round junior schools, performing in lunch breaks in school halls to slightly mystified pre-teens. It was hardly rock 'n' roll.

 

Robbie shooting the video for his new single, Bodies, at the aeroplane graveyard in the Mojave Desert

Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Jason Orange were a strange mix of shy, polite, awkward and over-eager boys waiting to be told what to do and say by their then manager, the mercurial Mancunian Nigel Martin-Smith. Gary was keen to talk about the music. Mark, the budding diplomat, did a lot of nodding and grinning. Howard and Jason struggled to think of anything to do or say, clearly unsure whether next week would bring a break-time performance in Hull or a trip down to the dole office.

But it was Robbie, the baby of the band, who instinctively understood how to handle the situation. Buzzing on the thrill of speaking into a tape recorder (he wanted it played back to hear his voice on tape), he swaggered, pulled faces, made jokes, came out with the (what then seemed) completely ridiculous statement that 'we're going to be the biggest band in Britain' - and effortlessly dominated the situation. When it came to photographs, the Stoke-on-Trent-born son of a pub entertainer insisted on climbing on top of a wall to jump into the path of the lens, screaming his head off as he fell.

In the bland suburban surroundings of a northern primary school, in a totally unknown band, Robbie was the showman, the natural born rock star.

And then it happened, as Robbie predicted. Take That became not just the biggest band in Britain, but the biggest in Europe, too.

Over another half decade of interviews in flash hotel rooms throughout Europe, I saw him go from being thrilled at his fame to being trapped by the constraints of it. The Robbie Williams from the playground in Rotherham was always too large a character for a boy band.

 

Initially he didn't bother trying to hide his pleasure in being famous. In 1992, taking refuge in a London hotel room, safe from the adoring mob in the street outside, he told me: 'I love it. I love the fans. I love the screaming. At concerts you can't even hear us singing for the screaming. It's wicked. There's absolutely nothing I don't like about it. I'm never going to complain about any of it. It's all great.'

 

http://i34.tinypic.com/15qvpfa.jpg

'I'm at a turning point in my career. This next record decides my path,' said Robbie

Two-and-a-half years later in Frankfurt, it was a different story.

 

'I want to do my own thing, my own music, hear my own voice,' he said.

 

'I want this (fame) but I don't want it like this. I don't want to be a pop star. I want to be a rock star. No one takes pop stars seriously.'

It was that realisation that brought about some of the British music scene's most brilliant, memorable tracks - the ones, indeed, that every the British music scene's most brilliant, memorable tracks - the ones, indeed, that every Mail On Sunday reader will be getting on a free CD in each copy of next week's issue.

 

Robbie decided the surefire way to gatecrash his way into rock credibility was to turn the whole squeaky-clean boy-band image on its head. He announced his departure from Take That by appearing alongside the rock nemesis of all boy bands, Oasis, at Glastonbury in 1995.

 

http://i33.tinypic.com/23mlv0h.jpg

Robbie with girlfriend Ayda Field, who appears alongside him in the video as the two cruise through the desert in a dune buggy

http://i36.tinypic.com/ve5hys.jpg

Robbie on the vintage Husqvarna trail bike he rides through the desert in the video - it's identical to the machine once raced by Steve McQueen

The reinvention of Robbie Williams was about to start. Drawing on an eclectic selection of idols ('Who do I like? Loads of people. Tom Jones. David Bowie. Frank Sinatra...') Robbie immersed himself in the business of becoming a solo artist. He moved to Los Angeles, hooked up with songwriter Guy Chambers and produced some of the biggest hits of the decade from Angels to Come Undone, Let Me Entertain You and Rock DJ (all of which are on the Mail On Sunday album).

http://i35.tinypic.com/jqqfih.jpg

Robbie laughing on the set of his latest video

As a live performer, he was untouchable, effortlessly able to play his audience.

 

'My best performances of songs are live,' he said in 1997. 'There's something about singing in front of thousands of people that just takes it to the next level.'

Two of the songs on our CD are from Robbie's spectacular 2003 Knebworth shows - he played to 365,000 people over three nights, which makes the event the biggest ever in UK live music history; no one has come close to this achievement before or since. He has consistently set new records for album and ticket sales, not least when he entered the Guinness Book of Records for selling 1.6 million tickets on one day for his 2006 tour.

But soon after Robbie began to withdraw from the limelight. And with time out of the spotlight he has clearly turned a corner. The Robbie I once knew as an eternal reckless teenager with something to prove has matured, mellowed and settled into himself. And even as he grew a beard, stayed home (with girlfriend Ayda Field) and retired from evenings out at bars and nightclubs ('those places never appealed to me - I was just looking for someone to stay in with'), he never stopped working on new songs.

With his new-found inner peace, old scores with Take That have been resolved, scars have healed and a deep affection for his past has grown.

 

His new album, Reality Killed The Video Star, out next month, is set to be a massive evolution. Already the industry buzz has suggested it is his greatest to date. It was written at Robbie's Los Angeles home studio and recorded in London. It's had major input from Chambers and is produced by the legendary British music guru Trevor Horn.

 

 

'Trevor's added something to the record that I haven't had on previous releases - his genius,' says Robbie. 'I just think it sounds big - track after track after track.

'Some of the new songs come from finally having the time to reflect on spending a few years on the planet, notching up a few records from the start of my career and thinking, "Where did all that time go? What happened?" I still feel 23. Nothing's changed. Everything's changed.

 

'I'm at a turning point in my career. This next record decides my path. There have been a few great songs here and there along the way, but that's all in the past. I'm a bit scared, because I haven't done anything for three years, but then again I'm always scared when an album comes out.'

 

But, ever the iconoclast, Robbie is continuing to be and do the unexpected. The CD he is giving away next week is unique: a one-off album of some of his biggest ever hits - including several rare live performances and images from his new album. It is also the gateway to exclusive clips of every track of his new CD. http://i38.tinypic.com/68elg8.jpg

 

In industry terms, it is the biggest nod to the power of the consumer since Prince gave away his CD in the Mail On Sunday two years ago. Like that - and like a performance from Robbie himself - it is not to be missed.

http://i35.tinypic.com/e5fvc2.jpg

 

The video is directed by Vaughan Arnell, who also made Rock DJ and Angels

 

 

ROBBIE'S SONGBOOK CD - IN HIS OWN WORDS

 

http://i38.tinypic.com/35b87dz.jpg

 

 

1. LET ME ENTERTAIN YOU...LIVE FROM KNEBWORTH

 

'I was beyond terrified. There was a sea of 135,000 people in front of me and I felt like anything but a rock god. They hadn't paid to see someone petrified from Stoke-on-Trent, so I had to override my feelings for the sake of entertainment.'

 

 

2. FEEL ...LIVE FROM KNEBWORTH 'By this point in the show, I had dusted away the self-doubt and just let the song do the talking.'

 

 

 

4. VIVA LIFE ON MARS 'The first song written for the Rudebox album, dictating where the album was to go.'

 

 

5. THE TROUBLE WITH ME 'This is me trying to be from "art school."'

 

 

6. MAN MACHINE 'A song about one drink before blackout.' :cheer:

 

 

 

7. ME AND MY MONKEY 'I had a conversation with a girl in a pool in Singapore. She said,"How do you write a song?" I said ,"You write about anything that comes to mind: give me two things and I will write a song for you this afternoon." She said, "Monkeys and rollerblades".'

 

 

8. NO REGRETS ...LIVE FROM SLANE CASTLE 'A bitter, younger me being a bit of a drama queen about the band I used to be in.'

 

 

9. PHOENIX FROM THE FLAMES 'It is my crew's favourite Robbie song, I think.' :wub:

 

 

10. NAN'S SONG 'A song dedicated to someone made of love, and the reason I have a B on my neck - Bertha Talbot.'

 

11. ROCK DJ ...LIVE FROM MUNGERSDORFER STADION, KOLN :dance:

'I don't want to Rock DJ - still don't!'

 

 

12. ANGELS 'It's a toss-up between the Irish and the Scots for the most mental audiences I have performed in front of. I haven't been fortunate enough to write another song as good as this - maybe one day.' ;)

 

 

Source ...The Mail on Sunday

 

Read more: http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/home/moslive...l#ixzz0Sx5aDoLO

 

 

WITH THAT NEWS...' TODAY HAS JUST GOT TO BE A VERY GOOD DAY INDEED'

Edited October 4, 200915 yr by staralliance

http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/celebrity/...entid=150047584

 

Sunday, 04 October 2009

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Robbie Williams makes live comeback

 

Robbie Williams is to tour the world with just one show.

 

His live comeback will be screened in cinemas globally, it has been announced.

 

The star, who has talked of his reluctance to head out on the road due to stage fright, will be seen live in almost 200 cinemas in 23 countries.

 

The concert - to be filmed later this month at the BBC's Electric Proms shows in London - will be seen simultaneously in locations such as Latvia and Spain, with later screenings in Australia and South Africa.

 

The sell-out gig - Robbie's first major show since 2006 - will see him previewing songs from his new album Reality Killed The Video Star on October 20. Tickets will go on sale on October 9 with details at www.robbiewilliams.com.

 

Williams's virtual tour is due to a deal between BBC Worldwide, the corporation's commercial wing, and BY Experience, which has pioneered such cinema events.

 

For his epic Close Encounters tour in 2006, the singer set a record by selling 1.6 million tickets in a single day.

 

Screenings of the show take place in Australia on November 6 and in South Africa on November 13.

 

The HD screening is expected to be the largest live music cinematic event of its kind in Europe.

 

Williams said: "It's very exciting to think that a one-off performance I play in London can now be seen simultaneously by people all across the world".

 

http://www.buzzjack.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=101019

 

That top article was already posted :P

http://www.buzzjack.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=101019

 

That top article was already posted :P

 

 

Aw !!! well ...nobody died Eh !!!! :lol: just wanted to make sure everyone got the message

 

 

 

 

WILLIAMS GIG TO BE SHOWN AROUND THE WORLD

 

DIGITAL SPY...

 

Robbie Williams's comeback show will be screened in cinemas around the world, it has been announced.

 

The concert - which will take place at the BBC's Electric Proms in London on October 20 - will be shown in almost 200 movie theatres in 23 countries.

 

Williams said: "It's very exciting to think that a one-off performance I play in London can now be seen simultaneously by people all across the world."

 

This will be the popstar's first major show since 2006 and will see him perform songs from his new album Reality Killed The Video Star.

 

Fans will be able to buy tickets from October 9.

 

 

 

;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.3am.co.uk/robbie-jokes-about-ta...-rumours/18233/

 

 

If only Robbie would say something useful rather than trying to be funny all the time

 

 

 

But then, we suppose he wouldn't be the Robbie Williams we know and... love? Tolerate? We're just not sure at the moment.

 

Robbie appeared on GMTV today, all the way from New York, to promote his shockingly good new material :angry:. .. but obviously what everyone really wanted to know was the inside story on him recording again with Take That. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

 

However, because he's Robbie, and because he fancies himself as a bit of a comedian, he was never going to give a straight answer, was he?

 

"I’ll tell you exactly what we’re doing here," he said, and there we were, poised over our morning cuppa (of wine), waiting to hear a bombshell exclusive... "The winter Olympics are coming up and we’re thinking of entering the first five man bobsleigh team for the UK."

 

OH FOR GOD'S SAKE.

 

Now, where's that Gary Barlow when we need him? He's not one for excessive humour, is he?

Is that not an old story ...what is wrong with the 3am laydees ...they are way behind with the news...cmon' girls ...'keep up'..... <_<

Edited October 4, 200915 yr by staralliance

http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2009/1...15875-21724408/

 

Robbie Williams gets a make-over at Madame Tussauds - plus our Top 10 terrible celeb waxworks By Rachael Wheeler, Mirror.co.uk 5/10/2009

 

http://i37.tinypic.com/23mwvgp.jpg

 

As Robbie Williams makes his long awaited comeback, Madame Tussauds has decided to smarten up his waxwork – even covering up his naked chest.

 

Robbie’s waxwork was unveiled in 2005 and invited fans to feel his chest, which has real hair embedded into it.

 

But four years on, the museum thinks it’s time to hide the 35-year-old’s bare torso with a white t-shirt and scarf.

 

Madame Tussauds also retouched the star’s face, ready for a hoped influx of fans following Robbie’s first live performance of new single Bodies on this weekend’s X Factor

 

 

http://i38.tinypic.com/qqweig.jpg

 

Still, at least the model vaguely looks like the former Take That star. Well, sort of. If you squint. :lol:

 

 

What an awful waxwork :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

 

If it was a bit oranger it would be a dead ringer for Dale Winton :P

http://i36.tinypic.com/2njcbbt.jpg

 

 

:cry:

Nice to see Robbie & Ayda out & about in London...

 

 

Getty images...via PR

 

 

http://i36.tinypic.com/22xieu.jpg

Edited October 6, 200915 yr by staralliance

http://i38.tinypic.com/25alw6x.jpg

 

 

 

ROBBIE'S CONTROVERSIAL STRATEGY

http://i36.tinypic.com/2hhkc9s.jpg

 

Robbie Williams is following in the mighty footsteps of Prince by giving away a free album of some of his greatest music. Prince famously gave away a complete album to mark his ground breaking series of shows at the O2 in 2007, causing massive controversy in the music business.

 

Now Robbie has decided to make his album, called Songbook, free with The Mail on Sunday – just as Prince did. The controversial strategy is part of Robbie’s comeback plan. Robbie’s new single, called ‘Bodies’, was Radio 2’s single of the week and has had thousands of pre-orders on Amazon. Robbie will also be making an exclusive appearance as a mentor on X Factor this Saturday.

 

Songbook features 12 of Robbie’s greatest hits including ‘Angels’, ‘Let Me Entertain You’, ‘Feel’, ‘Come Undone’ and ‘Me and My Monkey’. It will be given away inside every copy of The Mail on Sunday on 11th October – the day after Robbie’s X Factor appearance. The exclusive playlists feature the music Robbie listened to growing up, music that has inspired and influenced him during his career, and specific songs by the artists he most admires. Artists include Dean Martin, David Bowie, Elton John, Pet Shop Boys and the Rolling Stones.

 

Robbie says, “I’m at a turning point in my career. This next record decides my path. There have been a few great songs here and there along the way, but that’s all in the past. I’m a bit scared, because I haven’t done anything for three years, but then again I’m always scared when an album comes out.”

 

Source...Planet Radiocity

Edited October 7, 200915 yr by staralliance

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/132626...act-with-Robbie

 

 

WILLIAMS WANTS DOUBLE ACT WITH ROBBIE

 

Wednesday October 7,2009

 

Veteran crooner ANDY WILLIAMS is desperate to form a double act with pop star ROBBIE WILLIAMS - insisting he's one of the few singers with a long career ahead of him.

 

The Moon River legend has covered tracks performed by the former Take That star, and is eager to see him in concert.

 

And Williams would love to have the chance to appear onstage with the Angels hitmaker, predicting the star will be around for some time to come.

 

He says, "I'd love to do a duet with Robbie - I'd do it in a second. I've covered his She's The One and although I haven't seen Robbie perform, I hear he's very good.

 

"I'm not sure if it's possible to have a long career in the music business any more. I don't see anybody having one.

 

"Robbie is extremely talented and maybe one to break the mould."

 

I looked on youtube for Andy Williams singing She's the one, couldnt find it

 

trying to imagine them doing a duet, think I prefer Gary Barlow :lol:

 

 

I always think it's quite funny seeing 2 male stars duetting. They invariably end up staring into each others eyes :lol:

 

 

:wub: :wub: :wub:

Rob did an interview with Smartarse Gordon in the Sun. On the front page. You have to buy the paper to read the full interview. Alot of it here though now http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showb...-me-or-not.html

 

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t33/therobbiewilliamssite/15401732.jpg

 

TRWS

Team Williams explores life after EMI deal

 

Monday October 5, 2009

 

Robbie Williams' co-manager Tim Clark is reporting an improved relationship between IE and EMI as the major gears up for the launch of the singer’s new album Reality Killed The Video Star.

 

The album, which Virgin Records will release on November 9, is the final studio album under the terms of Williams’ landmark multi-rights deal with EMI that was inked in 2002.

 

IE Music co-founder Clark, who handles the singer with David Enthoven, says that IE’s relationship with EMI “wasn’t healthy and strong” around the release of Williams’ previous album Rudebox, but has since improved to the extent that there is now the possibility of EMI retaining some involvement in Williams’ future career.

 

“We could well be working with a major record company but the structure of the deal would certainly be different from the one with EMI,” reveals Clark. “We really like EMI Music Services. We like the whole notion of keeping finance separate from services.”

 

However, Clark says that the ongoing strategy for the singer is likely to focus more on digital delivery and less around shifting physical product.

 

“We do see the ultimate demise of the CD. It’s not far off, you can’t continue with physical when the drop in sales is 30%, as has happened in Europe this past year or so, and where record shops are closing all the time,” says Clark.

 

“We are reaching the end game for physical and the digital landscape is a whole new ball game. It is hard for us to influence how it pans out because the levers are in the major content owners’ hands, but the ISPs will eventually come to some kind of deal that I suspect will be some form of licensing.”

 

 

http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?storycode=1038827 thanks to Gata via TRWS

I read the Sun article today. Very scary actually. :cry:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culture...Ayda-Field.html

 

Robbie Williams ready for children with Ayda Field

Former Take That singer Robbie Williams has said he is ready to settle down and have children with his girlfriend Ayda Field.

 

By Tom Chivers

Published: 10:55AM BST 09 Oct 2009

 

 

 

Williams – who has in the past had a series of celebrity girlfriends, including Spice Girl Geri Halliwell and model Rachel Hunter – admitted that he had in the past struggled to be faithful.

 

But now he says he is “loved up” and looking forward to starting a family.

 

 

 

He told The Sun: “I was always thinking ‘how am I going to keep my old chap in my pants?’ :lol:

 

“But Ayda and me are very loved up – sprogs on the way and all that business.

 

“I don’t know what will go on down the road, but I don’t want to do anything to ---- it up or do anything to upset her.”

 

Williams, 35, has been seeing the 30-year-old American actress for three years. He says that her influence has been crucial in helping him end his hellraiser ways.

 

He said: “She’s got a lot to do with the way I am. She has made me a more centred person and I am better to myself.

 

“I don’t think I was ever a horrible or mean person, but I was disgusting to myself.

 

“She’s definitely taken the edges off. It is weird living such a normal existence, doing what we do, and then having to branch out to be a pop star on the X Factor again this weekend.”

 

He says that marriage and children will happen after the couple move back to Los Angeles.

 

“I am English through and through, but I can put up with American accents with our kids when they come. It’ll be something I get my head round.

 

“Ayda wants to get married. I believe that I want to make her happy. I am not that bothered, but it’s something she wants to do, so we will.

 

“I’ve been putting back the sprog thing, but it will happen in the next couple of years.”

 

William’s new single, Bodies, becomes available for download on Sunday.

 

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol...icle6868527.ece

 

Robbie Williams acts as X Factor mentor to relaunch his career

Adam Sherwin

 

*

A performance on The X-Factor tonight could be a comeback test for Robbie Williams

 

He could be just another hopeful singing his heart out to win X Factor votes. But this weekend it is Robbie Williams auditioning to reclaim his crown as Britain’s best-loved entertainer.

 

It’s been three years since Williams performed live on a British stage. Since then the star has released a career-threatening flop album, fought a prescription-drug addiction, investigated UFOs and disappeared behind a bushy beard.

 

Now the former Take That member, who has sold 55 million records, is back fighting fit and has chosen the most high-profile way possible to announce his return.

 

More than ten million viewers will see his appearance on The X Factor, as a mentor to the 12 finalists tonight, before a live performance of his comeback single, Bodies, in tomorrow evening’s results show.

 

The appearance has been compared to the 1968 US television special that revived Elvis Presley’s career.

 

If Bodies, released as a download tomorrow, proves a hit for Williams, the accompanying album, Reality Killed the Video Star, which follows next month, could lure millions of Christmas shoppers into record stores.

 

But Williams, 35, whose 15 Brit Awards have not helped him to conquer stage fright, says there is an “elephant in the room”.

 

It is Rudebox, his experimental 2006 album that sold so poorly that one million copies were sent to China to be recycled for road surfacing.

 

The album is a major test for EMI, which lost high-profile artists including Radiohead after the venture-capital firm Terra Firma took over the company and cut costs.

 

“The X Factor is very important,” Shabs Jobanputra, president of Virgin, the EMI label releasing the album, told The Times. “The retail market has changed significantly since he’s been away.

 

“There are very few top artists with Robbie’s longevity. He’s come back with a fantastic album full of quality songs so this is a ‘wow’ moment for the market, comparable to the release of a new Dan Brown book.”

 

Because of Williams’s potential to fill stadiums and boost a contracting CD market, the team around him — EMI, managers, publicists, radio and television pluggers — have plotted a campaign comparable to a party seeking election.

 

Talk of an inevitable reunion with Take That is being played down since it suggests that Williams may not be popular enough to win an “overall majority” on his own.

 

There will be no record-breaking run of shows at Knebworth, in front of 375,000 fans, to accompany the album release. Instead, Williams will jet around the world making promotional appearances on key television and radio shows.

 

A headline performance at the BBC Electric Proms this month will be beamed live to 200 cinemas across Europe, allowing Williams to connect with his loyal fans before critics dissect the album.

 

Mark Collen, a former EMI executive who worked with Williams and is now an industry consultant, said: “EMI has done a lot of consumer research and web analytics to find out what Robbie’s fans want and the best channels to reach them.” Mr Jobanputra said: “We will announce a unique deal with Spotify (the music-streaming website) to ‘monetise’ the album: there will be Robbie iPhone apps and a partnership with MySpace Music.”

 

Crucially, Williams was persuaded to shelve an album of what he called “Robbie-gone-mad ... career suicide” music that he had recorded.

 

Reality Killed the Video Star instead includes a contribution from Guy Chambers (who co-wrote the huge hit Angels), which was produced by Trevor Horn, the hitmaker who worked with Frankie Goes to Hollywood and the Pet Shop Boys.

 

Team Williams is aware that this is his last studio album under an £80 million deal with EMI signed in 2002, which granted the record company profits from his concert tours.

 

If Williams regains the public’s trust, the potential offered by digital means to reach his fans directly he may not sign a traditional deal with a record company again.

 

Tim Clark, Williams’s manager, told Music Week: “We do see the ultimate demise of the CD. We are reaching the end game for physical.”

 

Key retailers and radio programmers have already been given a hearing of the album to help create a “buzz”. Jeff Smith, head of music at Radio 2, the most listened-to station, said: “It’s great for the industry that Robbie is back with a strong offering. ”

 

:blink: :blink: :blink:

Relaunch his career? :lol: It was a 3 year break, not 10 ffs :lol:

 

Interesting that it says EMI did research on what the fans wanted :rofl: They wouldnt know what the word meant they are so useless :lol: