Robbie Williams has admitted he is seen by many as "a joke" and says he would be working in a Pontin's holiday camp by now if it hadn't been for his song Angels.

The former Take That performer says he is a cabaret artist and "end-of the- pier" entertainer who has somehow managed to convince millions of people to buy his records.

His amazing confession comes ahead of this weekend's huge shows in Scotland.

Robbie, who will headline at Hampden Park, in Glasgow, tomorrow and Saturday, admitted: "I'm well aware of how many different things people perceive me as. To some, to the six million people that keep buying the records, I'm the best thing out there.

"Then there's the whole group of people who think I am a joke - which I am."

He added: "I was brought up on holiday camps. My father is a cabaret artist. That's where I learnt my craft.

"Some people like to pretend they never went to Blackpool on holiday, that they never spent a week in their caravan in Great Yarmouth.

"You know, I did. I'm a bluecoat. I'd be the entertainment manager in Carnarvon Bay if I hadn't written Angels."

He also confessed that his latest album, Rudebox, started off as a joke with his bass player during the recording of his last long player, Intensive Care, with producer Stephen Duffy.

Robbie, who releases the new album on October 23, told Music Week magazine: "To be honest, I made it by mistake.

"I was recording the last album and, while Stephen Duffy was doing overdubs, I started messing about on an Apple Mac. It was just me and JerryMeehan, who is my bass player, and we sort of share the same sense of humour.

"At the time, I was really into a song by The Mitchell Brothers called Routine Check.

"I played it to death and said to Jerry, for a laugh, 'We should do a song like this'. So we made a song called D***head, which is a hidden track on the album."

The workaholic singer has also started work on another record, which he claims has been influenced by the Nineties ecstasy generation.

He said: "The next album's on its way and it's a return to acid house."

But he said he is still trying to win over his critics after selling his "soul to Santa" while in Take That.

Robbie admitted: "I'm ultra competitive.

"When I'm writing there's a whole group of people that hate me and I'm like, 'Right, I want them'.

"It's a battle that, unfortunately, I don't think I can win.

"Being in Take That was more of a blessing than a curse.

"Coming out of Take That, I could hardly turn around and say, 'Well, now I'm going to be Radiohead'.

"I'm not Thom Yorke. I don't know where he went on holiday.

He probably went to museums and burlesque theatre or something, but I went to Tenby."
John Dingwall

Source: dailyrecord.co.uk

Robbie Williams has stunned the music industry by vowing to stop singing, according to newspaper reports.

The former Take That singer apparently wants to quit the industry in 18 months because singing turned him into a "monster".

Williams has carved out a hugely successful solo career since leaving the boy band.

In 2002 he signed an £80m deal with record label EMI.

This development comes as the Let Me Entertain You crooner is filling stadiums around the world with his Close Encounters tour.

Robbie, 32, says: "I don't see me singing again. It's a question of what I want and where I want to be.

"Can I live without radio picking my song and putting it on the playlist? Or is this fame thing something I'm addicted to?"

But, PR guru Mark Borkowski says that Robbie's new single is out on Monday and the star knows how to hit the headlines.

Source: ITV.com

RANDY Robbie Williams got a major boost to his ego after we heard TEN groupies entertained him in just two days.

Our source reported that the 32-year-old Rock DJ romped with a string of gorgeous fans on his Close Encounters tour in Vienna.

The Robster, right, arranged half-hour stints in his hotel room with the more-than-willing babes.

It was even said that he took just two minutes to bed one teen. An 18-year-old named only as Kathrin revealed she’d been in the lobby of the Trieste Hotel in the Austrian capital with a female pal.

When the Robster caught sight of her friend she was invited to his suite.

But she was told she had to wait until the next day because he had so many other “visitors”.

Kathrin said: “My friend came back the next day and was taken to his room by his manager.

“Robbie was sitting on the bed fully clothed, asked her how she was and even offered her a glass of water.

“Then he kissed her and her clothes were on the floor two minutes later as they were making love. He then took a shower and asked her to leave.”

During his concert in the city Robbie chatted to a female fan with a banner saying: “I’ll teach you to yodel for a kiss.”

And when he spotted a sign held by two big-chested blondes reading “threesome with 2 blondes” he reportedly told them: “I’m staying at the Trieste Hotel.”

Robbie has allegedly bedded dozens of beauties on the five-month tour.

His Viennese whirl smashed his previous record of four babes in a week last month.

Robbie admitted his sex life has improved during the tour.

He said: “My luck seems to have finally changed.” Just a bit mate, just a bit...

Quelle: dailystar.co.uk

Music mogul Louis Walsh has rubbished Robbie Williams' claims he wants to sleep with him, but has done little to quell enduring rumours about his sexuality.

The pair have been feuding since Walsh began criticising Williams' musical talent. He recently said, "Robbie Williams' voice isn't all that", prompting the former Take That star to hit back, "I just think Louis wants to manage me and sleep with me, so that must be a problem in his mind."

Bachelor Walsh insists he has no interest in the singer, sexually or otherwise, but doesn't deny he is homosexual. He says, "No. Not even if I was on a desert island. I wouldn't want to manage him and I certainly wouldn't want to sleep with him. Robbie has just made this stuff up to try and hurt me, and maybe a couple of years ago it would have done, but not anymore."

Source: contactmusic.com

HE has a massive gig at the National Stadium in Singapore on Nov 18. But there is nothing like a new album to get the masses up for it. That’s exactly what Robbie Williams has up his sleeves with his highly anticipated new album Rudebox due on Oct 23.

Rudebox, recorded during the early months of this year sees Williams collaborating with an array of musical mavericks. They include his heroes the Pet Shop Boys, king of ambient William Orbit, fellow Stoke natives Danny Spencer and Kelvin Andrews (aka Soul Mekanik), disco-house icon Joey Negro and NYC-based DJ/producer Mark Ronson, on both new original compositions and covers of some of his favourite tracks by artistes as diverse as Manu Chao, Human League, My Robot Friend, Lewis Taylor and old friend Stephen Duffy.

Through its 16 tracks, Rudebox marks out and charts his musical loves and life.

Led off by the title track and first single Rudebox, an electro-funk-pop monster, twisted around his own unique visceral lyrical stylings, the result is the sound of Williams’ jamming the electro-boogaloo on a bustling New York street corner in 1983.

There are highlights aplenty. Viva Life on Mars is the world’s country-space-funk-Technicolor-pop anthem. She’s Madonna sees Neil Tennant, Chris Lowe and Williams forming their super-group and paying lovelorn homage to the first lady of pop, they also cover their Pet Shop Boys cover of My Robot Friend’s We’re the Pet Shop Boys.

Elsewhere, Mark Ronson brings his trademark horn-infused modern soul revue to four tracks on the album. Lovelight, a spectacular cover of Lewis Taylor’s criminally unknown soul-anthem, is the one to warm the soul. King of the Bongo reinvents Manu Chao’s classic world-music original and it features the inimitable whirlwind that is Lily Allen.

Grit and reflection is also in the mix. Inspired by The Mitchell Brothers, Ian Dury and Mike Skinner and recorded into an I-book in Williams’s bedroom in Los Angeles, The 80s and The 90s, sees him documenting 15 years of his life in song.

As early press reports indicated, this record might be pre-conceived as a “Robbie’s gone dance” statement.

“They might say its dance or it’s electro but it’s just what I like! It started off as a busman’s holiday this time around, but it’s become something on which I’ve found myself. I was just doing my YTS up till now,” he noted in his press notes.

“It has become something on which I’ve found myself. This is the right direction for me personally, this is what it is. I saw the whole Robbie thing coming to a close as it was, I couldn’t make another album like the ones I’d made, and this has just opened up a thousand other doors. What I am excited about now is making more music.”

Rudebox the album is released on EMI on Oct 23. The single precedes it on Sept 4.

Source: star-ecentral.com

Kate Moss has been crowned Britain's best celebrity hat wearer. The supermodel regularly tops off her outfits with a trilby.

But her boyfriend Pete Doherty, another trilby fan, failed to win the male crown. Instead the accolade went to pop star Robbie Williams.

Philip Wright of milliners Walter Wright said: "A hat is the final statement in personal style and to be recognised as one of the nation's most stylish hat wearers is an accolade for individuality and distinction."

Last year's winners were royal Zara Phillips and Sir Elton John.

Moss and Williams were chosen by consortium Luton First, to promote the town's reputation as the centre of hat-making.

A spokesman said: "Kate manages to wear the most elaborate and extravagant millinery designs with great confidence and aplomb and, most importantly, without the hat seemingly wearing her.

"She has the face to launch a thousand hat collections and has done much to promote hat wearing in recent years."

As for Williams: "He doesn't take fashion too seriously and appears to treat clothes as a bit of fun."

Source: uk.news.yahoo.com

Superstar Robbie Williams got into the swing last night at a star-studded golf dinner in Wales.

Taking time out between tour dates in the UK, the singer landed at the Celtic Manor Resort by helicopter to meet up with pals Ant and Dec, who are hosting this weekend's All*Star Cup.

But contrary to previous reports Robbie will not be taking part himself. Nor his erstwhile rival Gary Barlow.

Source: IC Wales

Videos from 23 & 24.08.2006 in Stade de Suisse, Berne, Switzerland

Click here to watch the videos

Robbie Williams live on 23 & 24.08.2006 in Stade de Suisse, Berne, Switzerland

Click Here to view the photos.

For weeks on end, the whole of Switzerland has been looking forward to the Robbie Williams concerts in Berne. The radio station, "Energy Zurich" has been setting the mood with ticket draws and special events to do with Robbie. For the concert, "Energy Zurich" had planned something special, for the mostly female fans.

Ahead of the concerts from Robbie Williams, "Energy Zurich" in co-operation with the international fashion house Tally Weijl had provided the Robbie-Groupies with branded G-strings. Namely in double pack. One in black and one in white, the idea being one to wear and one to throw.

The much sought after give-away was highly popular with the fans and Robbie was thrilled by the idea. When, during the concert an "Energy Zurich" G-string landed by him on the stage, he snapped it up and quickly built it into his programme. Finally tossing it back into the cheering crowd. The photo from Robbie and the G-string was to be seen the following day in all the media.: in the TV news, on the front page of '20 Minuten', 'im Blick', 'im Bund', etc.

More Pictures

Translated from the German article in persoenlich.com

Louis Walsh today makes his peace with Robbie Williams – after the singer claimed in an exclusive Sun interview that Louis wants to sleep with him.

The pair have been at war ever since Louis claimed that Robbie’s voice “isn’t all that.”

The former Take That star hit back in style this week by declaring that Louis wants to be his manager — and lover.

Louis, 54, refuses to get into a new slanging match and insists he thinks Robbie HAS got true X Factor — but he stands by his comments about Rob’s voice.

The Irishman said: “I wish the contestants on the show had Robbie’s drive and intelligence.

“He’s not the best singer in the world but he has everything else. He’s a great entertainer.”

Louis also praised Robbie’s new single Rudebox — a hip-hop track dubbed “the worst record in history” by Bizarre’s Victoria Newton — which is out next month.

He admitted: “At least he’s not being safe — I have to give him a pat on the back for that.

“It would be easy for him to have another single like She’s The One or Angels, but that would be predictable and boring.”
By EMMA COX

Source: The Sun.co.uk

Pop superstar Robbie Williams has vowed to remain an Oasis fan, even though he represents "everything they detest". The singer forged a short-lived friendship with Oasis - fronted by brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher - in the mid-90s. However, he has since publicly fallen out with the band.

Williams says, "I'm not their kind of person. I'm the old-time musical, I'm the end of the pier, I'm Norman Wisdom, I'm big show tunes. I'm everything they detest.

"I'm a huge fan of Oasis - of what they were anyway - and what they meant to me. They were very important in my life."

Source: contactmusic.com

Robbie Concert in Stade de Suisse, Berne: The Photos

Quelle: 20min.ch

Rod Stewart's stepson accuses singer of stealing his song.. and calls in the lawyers.

ROBBIE Williams is set for a legal battle with Rod Stewart's stepson Ashley Hamilton over claims that The Robster nicked a song they'd worked on together for his forthcoming album.

Ashley - whose mum Alana was Rod's first wife - says he and Robbie came up with the idea for the track She's Madonna, which is on Robbie's new album, Rudebox.

The 31-year-old songwriter alleges that Robbie eventually took the track to charttoppers Pet Shop Boys to finish - although they won't have known of Ashley's claim to have been involved in the song.

But when he challenged Robbie about it, he claims he was told: "Go and f*** yourself!" Now Ashley has called in Dean & Dean Solicitors to fight the case.

He is demanding to get the credit, as well as the money he claims is owed to him - or he will take the pop star to court.

It's not the first time that Robbie has faced legal wrangling over songs.

In February 2002 he was found guilty of plagiarising a Loudon Wainwright version of Woody Guthrie's song I Am The Way for his own Jesus In A Camper Van track.

He was ordered to remove it from future copies of his album I've Been Expecting You and to pay £50,000 in royalties.

Ashley, who helped pen Robbie's hit Come Undone, told us angrily: "We came up with this idea over coffee one afternoon.

"Robbie said he had an idea for a song about some girl he used to date, Tania Strecker, and how she was dumped by Guy Ritchie for Madonna.

"That was a slimey thing to do, so I said, 'Why don't we make a joke song about it?' That's how it started. We worked on the lyrics together at home and at the studio. "The next thing I know, a producer's ringing me up to say congratulations for getting my song on Robbie's record. I just said: 'I don't know what you're talking about!'

"I was shocked. When you start working with someone, or you start an idea with someone, you're legally entitled to a share of the publishing.

"I have the demos of that tape and will see him in court if I have to. The money can all go to charity, I just want him to be a man and do the right thing."

Ashley, who lives in LA and is the halfbrother of Kimberly and Sean Stewart, says that when his manager tried to contact Robbie's people, the singer himself came to the phone and "went ballistic".

Robbie, 32, claims he wrote the track after seeing Madonna at the MTV Europe awards last year.

But Ashley says they came up with it about three years ago. He said: "He called me a c*** and told me that I should go and f*** myself.

"He said that he would pull the track off the album. If he wants to do that, then that's up to him."

Ashley, who befriended Robbie when he first moved to LA, added: "It's not like the guy's hurtin' for dough. Who knows, maybe he needs it for an extra bag of fish and chips."

A spokesperson for Robbie was unavailable for comment last night.
Eva Simpson & Caroline Hedley

Source: Mirror.co.uk

Robbie Williams has slammed arrogant Hollywood actors.

The Angels singer believes many movie stars have an exaggerated view of their role in society and should be more grounded.

He said in an interview with Britain's The Sun newspaper: "They talk about acting as if it's saving someone's life, but it's not rocket science - it's just pretending to be someone else."

Robbie also rubbished celebrity-endorsed religions such as Scientology, a sci-fi cult followed by Tom Cruise and John Travolta, and Kabbalah, a mystical offshoot of Judaism practised by Madonna.

He said: "I was raised a Catholic and still have the guilt, but I'm against organised religion.

"I had a look at Kabbalah on the Internet out of interest but I wouldn't go to a meeting," Robbie also confessed despite living in Los Angeles, the movie capital of the world, he won't watch depressing films because they bring him down.

He said: "I'm depressed enough so I don't watch any depressing films. Schindler's List, Brokeback Mountain, Saving Private Ryan - no thanks.

"Take Million Dollar Baby, she bites her own tongue off to kill herself at the end. If I'd have known that was going to happen, I wouldn't have watched it. You don't need that in you life."

Source: tonight.co.za

She is young and beautiful. And she is hot - hot for a night with superstar Robbie Williams (32): Evelyne Estée Lauber (23) wants to follow in the footsteps of Williams-Groupie Noëmi (22). The model is clearly decided: "I want sex with Robbie!"

Robbie Williams is the one to be. Not enough that the British singer is staying in the President Suite in the noble hotel Hyatt in Zurich, no the most beautful Swiss women are queueing up to sweeten his stay.

And not too few either, should one of Robbie's "Angels" tire then the next one is ready and waiting. Therefore the superstar won't be overly bothered that his previous favourite Swiss playmate Noëmi Bänninger(22) has suddenly lost interst in him. In a text message to the Blick yesterday she wrote that: "she doesn't want anything more to do with all the trouble."

Evelyne's big chance! The model from Basel packed yesterday and made her way to Zurich - to inherit the empty groupie throne from Neomi!?
The lovely single woman excitedly declared: "After I had read that Robbie doesn't want to marry, instead simply seeking to enjoy himself. It was clear that he ticks just like me!"

Estée Lauber knows which secret weapons she has at her disposal to seduce Robbie: "With my long hair and my 1,15m (45 inches) long legs. Above all with my bewitching look".

Will she pull it off? Well tomorrow we shall know more...
Original article from Flavia Schlittler und Lukas Rüttimann

Source: Blick Online

TV presenter Ant & Dec are set to appear in the new Robbie Williams video.

Robbie is said to be desperate for the Geordie boys to feature in the new video for his cover of the Human League song ‘Louise’.

He is hoping that Ant & Dec will appear as the schoolboys that were so popular in their SMTV sketches years ago.

A source said: “It’s Robbie’s idea that the video be set in a school – with him, Ant, Dec and also his mate Jonathan Wilkes dressed up as school boys.”

Robbie is big friends with the Geordie lads and admits that his new track ‘Rudebox’ was inspired by hits from PJ & Duncan - as Ant & Dec were previously known, and his rapping style on the new single attempts to emulate hit’s like ‘Let’s Get Ready To Rumble’.

He said: “I have always wanted to be a rapper. I’ve always been jealous of rappers because of how comfy they are and how cool they look. I want to be a rapper – but the world won’t let me.”

There’s a reason Robbie…stick to the singing pet.
Lowri Williams

Source: entertainmentwise.com

Robbie Williams has slammed critics of fellow British solo artist James Blunt, insisting that the newcomer deserves praise.

The singer revealed that he thinks Blunt is a great entertainer, and should be respected for achieving something Williams has not - cracking the notoriously unforgiving American music scene.

Williams says, "He broke America and as a nation we should be proud of that. "I've been to see his show three times and I'd go again and again. "He's a good chap and one of the nicest people I've met in the business."

Quelle: contactmusic.com

ROBBIE WILLIAMS is convinced he knows why X Factor judge Louis Walsh keeps slagging him off – because he wants to sleep with him!

The singer told me he was hurt by Louis’ criticism of his talent because the pair used to be drinking buddies in the days before Robbie quit booze.

Louis said in a recent interview: “Robbie Williams’ voice isn’t all that.”

When I chatted to Robbie in Vienna last week, he told me without a hint of irony: “I just think Louis wants to manage me and sleep with me, so that must be a problem in his mind.

“Louis has started slagging me off all the time. I didn’t have any history with him so I don’t know why he’s doing it.

“He should decide if he wants to be a manager or a celebrity — I don’t think you can be both.”
Victoria Newton

Source: The Sun.co.uk

British singer Robbie Williams is afraid he will remain single forever, because no girl can ever live up to his ideal woman - Madonna. The singer admits he is jealous of her film-maker husband Guy Ritchie.

He says, "I've been in bed with somebody that I'm having a very romantic mini-break with, a couple of weeks relationship with, and then I watch the late shows in America and there will be a girl on there I'd rather be with. "Madonna is the ultimate in our day and age of the grass being greenest. Guy Ritchie is a lucky man.

"I do happen to fancy Madonna. She rehearses her a**e off. Goes to the gym every day. She does all that stuff to get it spot-on and then she delivers. I'm in awe of her drive."

Source: contactmusic.com

I’M afraid I owe Take That fans a massive apology.

When I met up with Robbie Williams to discuss his new album, he told me he’d refused to go back on stage with his old band — because I’d written that he would.

When Take That announced their reunion tour of the UK earlier this year, tickets sold out in minutes.

Mark Owen, Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Jason Orange took a nostalgic trip down memory lane to sell-out crowds at arenas up and down the country.

Robbie met up with the boys beforehand and discussed performing with them. He re-recorded the lyrics to Could It Be Magic and even appeared as a hologram on stage.

But he changed his mind about performing live at the last minute.

By VICTORIA NEWTON

Source: The Sun.co.uk

Pop star Robbie Williams credits his love of football with saving him from a life of drug addiction.

Although the singer has been sober for more than five years after battling alcoholism, he admits he is heavily addicted to chocolate and coffee and occasionally takes recreational drugs.

But he insists he would spiral out of control if he didn't need to keep fit to play sport.

He says, "I'm addicted to everything. I drink far too much coffee. I'm never asleep before 4 or 5am - and ten o'clock in the morning is like the middle of the night for me.

"I straddle the line between f**king 'Sport Billy' who loves getting up in the morning and attacking my day with gusto, playing football and being fit, and then there's the half of me that just wants to be somewhere else in my head.

"I'm cut between a druggie and a professional athlete. I hate drugs. I love drugs.

"I can honestly say that I don't take too many prescription drugs. And you can easily get into the too many sleeping tablets thing. But I love football - and sleeping tablets don't mix with it."

Source: Yahoo Newa UK

Robbie Williams will be backed by a host of guest stars on his new album 'Rudebox'.

The record, out on October 23, sees the star collaborating with a host of his musical heroes, including the Pet Shop Boys and producers William Orbit and Joey Negro.

There are five cover versions featured - and on his version of Manu Chao's 'King Of The Bongo', current chart sensation Lily Allen provides backing vocals.

The title track of the album is released as a single on September 4.

The full tracklisting is:

'Rudebox'
'Viva Life On Mars'
'Lovelight' (Lewis Taylor cover)
'King Of The Bongo' (Manu Chao cover)
'She's Madonna'
'Keep On'
'Good Doctor'
'The Actor'
'Never Touch That Switch'
'Louise' (Human League cover)
'We're The Pet Shop Boys' (My Robot Friend cover)
'Burslem Normals'
'Kiss Me' (Stephen 'Tin Tin' Duffy - cover)
'The 80s'
'The 90s'
'Summertime'
'Dickhead'

Robbie Williams is currently on his 'Close Encounters' world tour, which hits the UK in September.

Source: NME.com

Superstar Robbie Williams has given up looking for a wife – because he can’t resist playing the field.

The 32-year-old singer dated a string of beauties including Nicole Appleton, Andrea Corr, Anna Friel and Rachel Hunter as he searched for a soulmate.

But now, he says, he is happy to remain single and reckons he won’t become “marriage material” for at least 10 years.

Sympathising with George Michael’s recent adventures on London’s Hampstead heath, Robbie reveals: "If there was a wood near my house full of women who wanted to have sex then I'd find it difficult not to go there.

"I won't be fit to marry for another 10 years - just look at my life.

"For the first two or three years of my sobriety I was desperate to be in a relationship because I thought it would fix me.

"But if you're in a relationship you have to keep your little Robbie in your pants - and I'd struggle with that. Now I don't want one. I look at every relationship and think 'What's in it for me?’"

Robbie, currently on tour and promoting his new album, also spoke of his ongoing battle to stay drug-free despite years of therapy.

"I hate drugs, I love drugs. They haven't invented a new one that's not bad for you or less depressing than Ecstasy, or one that makes you less paranoid than coke. As depressing as it is, as soul-destroying, relationship- destroying as it is, it makes life f***ing interesting," he admitted.

When not on stage, Robbie is obsessed by football and British reality TV shows. But he adds: “I’ll watch any old s*** but I refused to watch Big Brother this year because it’s like looking at mental patients.”

Source: mirror.co.uk

The preparations for the Robbie Williams' concerts; on the 23rd and 24th of August, in Berne, Switzerland, are in full swing. The parts for the elaborate stage were delivered by 50 lorries.

Here the pics.

Quelle: 20min.ch

Robbie Williams live on 18 & 19.08.2006 in Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna

Click Here to view the photos.

Click here for the first photos from Robbie's concert in the Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna on the 18th August 2006.