According to today's Sunday People, Robbie Williams is hoping to play the part of an East End gangster from the book called "Till Death Us Do Part":

SLANG WHEN YOU'RE WINNIN'

By Garry Johnson
ROBBIE Williams is learning Cockney rhyming slang - because he wants to play an East End gangster in a film.

He is studying old TV tapes of Minder and Only Fools And Horses in preparation.

The pop superstar wants to ditch his Stoke-on-Trent accent to play an ex-boxer turned East London "Mr Big". A source said: "Robbie read about the character in a book called Till Death Us Do Part and it blew him away.

"But he knows he has got to sound like a Cockney if he wants the part." Robbie, 32, whose hit albums include Swing When You're Winning, hopes Madonna's husband Guy "Lock, Stock" Ritchie will direct and has sent him the book. Here are some useful phrases for Robbie:

"You think you're a La Di Dah but you'll end up brown bread." ("You think you're a star but you'll end up dead").

"I've got lots of Bugs Bunny." ("I've got loads of money.")

Source: The People

Not sure about this one, as he said he didn't want to be an actor, although he has also said everytime he sees a camera he begins to act a part, anyway he wouldn't be the first to change his mind. One to watch in 2007?

Robbie Williams' much criticised album "Rudebox" was the second most downloaded album of 2006 by iTunes Germany, although it was only released in September.

Top 10 Albums 2006 in the iTunes Store:

1. Rosenstolz - "Das grosse Leben"
2. Robbie Williams – "Rudebox"
3. Roger Cicero – "Männersachen"
4. Katie Melua - "Piece By Piece"
5. Rosenstolz - "Ich bin ich (Wir sind wir)" – EP
6. Jack Johnson - "Sing-a-Longs and Lullabies for the Film Curious George"
7. Silbermond - "Laut gedacht"
8. Xavier Naidoo - "Telegramm Für X"
9. Nelly Furtado - "Loose (International Deluxe)"
10. Corinne Bailey Rae - "Corinne Bailey Rae"

Source: iTunes via call magazin

Well in Germany anyway

Robbie Williams was the most searched for man in 2006 in Germany according to Google, although even he didn't stand a chance against Paris Hilton, who not only was the most sought after woman, but landed in 5th place over all.

The Top 5 most searched for Men

1. Robbie Williams
2. Ronaldo
3. Bushido
4. Justin Timberlake
5. Xavier Naidoo

The Top 5 most searched for Women

1. Paris Hilton
2. Christina Aguilera
3. Britney Spears
4. Jessica Alba
5. Angelina Jolie

Source: Google Deutschland via Die Welt

As reported back at the beginning of September in Robbie plans new swing album , the German magazine, "Kulturspiegel", now says the long awaited album wil be released in the Summer of 2007.

The album will contain a collection of American evergreens and will be the last album of his EMI contract.

Source: FS

LONDON, December 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Madonna was the most popular celebrity in 2006.

Madonna Posing with Awards by Giclee Print

Buy at AllPosters.com

The singer attracted great controversy over the much publicised adoption of her son David from Malawi and has also reportedly faced marriage difficulties with her husband Guy Ritchie.

It has not been a good year for David Beckham who has slipped from No 4 ranking as the most requested name in 2005 to his current number 11 spot.

Beckham relinquished his captaincy of the England soccer team following their poor showing in the World Cup, has been dropped from the squad by new manager Steve McLaren and has struggled to hold a regular place in the first team at Real Madrid.

But some consolation - Becks still finishes five places higher this year than his publicity hungry wife Victoria

Little Britain TV star Matt Lucas in 10th position proves a bigger hit than his co-star David Walliams who trails four places behind Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne, star judges on the hit TV series "X Factor" battle it out at 31st and 32nd spot respectively. One time showbiz outcast Noel Edmonds has catapulted back into the reckoning through the success of his TV show "Deal or No Deal"

Celebrities Worldwide is accepted as a benchmark of celebrity status and popularity and its website attracts more than 4 million visitors per year.

TOP 10 NAMES of 2006

1. Madonna
2. Charlotte Church
3. Jamie Oliver MBE
4. Robbie Williams
5. Jonathan Ross OBE
6. Billie Piper
7. Ricky Gervais
8. Jeremy Clarkson
9. Stephen Fry
10. Matt Lucas

Full Top 100 can be see here

Distributed by PR Newswire on behalf of www.celebritiesworldwide.com

Marianna Partasides from the Daily Star writes in her article:

POP god Robbie Williams has issued his own Christmas message-he reckons he is mates with the Almighty.

Robbie has stunned fans after posting the religious video rant on website YouTube.

I won't bore you with the rest of the article (you can read it here), basically she repeats Robbies comments, from what is blatantly a very tongue in cheek interview, and then adds some of her own bits from previous stories just to spice it up a bit. (Video can be seen here.)

Don't know which fans she knows, as all the ones I know and from what I've read on the web, nobody has mentioned the religious side of the video.

Most find it humourous, with one or two (especially here in Germany) a bit upset that he has decided to go with the drag idea. Their idea of what Robbie should be aiming for can be seen in the latest photo at Robstuff.

The video has certainly creating a wave of publicity for his new single ("She's Madonna?), as the popular German television channel RTL, has also shown the video.

Me? I'm looking forward to seeing the complete video.

The Rumour is that Robbie Williams will be releasing "She's Madonna" in the UK and Ireland in January as his third single from the album Rudebox.

As we reported in the article Robbie Williams as Drag Queen, the accompanying video should see Robbie in Drag.

This seems to be borne out by the fact that a video teaser has turned up on You Tube, showing an interview with Robbie dressed as a woman. The video was seemingly shot in Brazil and is in Portuguese (Robbie obviously speaking in English).

Judge for youselves:

In France it seems "Bongo Bong" will be released, the single being originally a hit for the French artist Manu Chao. The rest of Europe also getting "She's Madonna", although some reports suggest "Bongo Bong".

What will be released to the rest of the world? Probably "She's Madonna."

If the British tabloids are to be believed Robbie Williams is history. Although their steady flow of articles telling us this and the many put downs he's recently had in the press, seem to me to contradict this statement some what.

But Robbie can rest assured that the British public don't always believe what they read, with recent polls in the UK revealing he is still a much loved and admired performer.

Here's what the polls say:

Poll 1 - BRITS’ WISH LIST THIS CHRISTMAS
When it comes to Christmas day, the best most of us can hope for is a no-stress day with our families. However new research carried out by Disney Store in celebration of their Christmas Wishes campaign has uncovered that rather than a sweater knitted by Gran, most of us would wish for a celebrity or two to make the big day more eventful.

Robbie Williams tops the nation’s wish list as revealed by the YouGov poll of 2,571 adults to discover which celebrity we’d most like to spend the festive period with.

Results were as follows:

1. Robbie Williams – 14%
2. Peter Kay and Kylie joint – 11.5%
3. Paul O’Grady and Jonathan Ross joint – 10%
4. Gordon Ramsey – 7.5%
5. Jamie Oliver – 7%
6. Johnny Depp and George Clooney joint - 5%
7. Kelly Brook, Daniel Craig, David Beckham and Cliff Richard joint – 3%
8. Ant& Dec and Brad Pitt joint - 2%
9. Angelina Jolie and Carole Vordeman joint - 1%
10. The Queen – 0.5%

Poll 2 - WHO DO YOU WANT TO SING A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Chocolatier Thorntons asked 2,000 Britons which celebrities they would like to see perform a Christmas carol especially for them.

Although second to Charlotte Church, Robbie was top male by a mile, as the results below show:

1. Charlotte Church (27.9%)
2. Robbie Williams (26.3%)
3. Kylie Minogue (24.3%)
4. Gary Barlow (6%)
5. Katie Price and Peter Andre (3.4%)
6. Cheryl Cole (3.3%))

Poll 3 - BEST OF BRITISH
More than 1,000 people took part in the survey to find the Best of British by website www.thebestof.co.uk , which recommends shops, restaurants and businesses in British towns and cities.

And who came second in the category Best British male band/pop star, of course Robbie Williams, beaten only by the iconic Beatles. Here the list:

1. The Beatles
2. Robbie Williams
3. Queen
4. Take That
5. Coldplay

So who's past his sell by date??

Could this be the very first video featuring Robbie Williams?

And appropriately enough for the time of year he's appearing here in Charles Dickens 'Oliver Twist'.

We are now able to embed videos in our posts, so watch out for more to come!

Well seems to be working after a few teething problems.

I’ll get the fine tuning done in the next couple of days and hopefully everything will work out!!!

We will be shortly going offline to update the our blog software, which will allow us to add more features among other things.

This will hopefully not take too long.

So fingers crossed.

OH yes he did...Robbie Williams popped up as a genie during a Christmas panto.

Pal Jonathan Wilkes was performing in Aladdin at Stoke's Regent Theatre when he got Robbie to participate.

Robbie said: "I've always wanted to be a genie."
by Liz & Beverley Lyons

Source: Daily Record

Just what have the girls from 3am at the Mirror got against Robbie at the moment? Earlier this week they presented the following article:

WHAT has Robbie Williams and the England cricket team have in common? Neither have impressed the Aussies.

Hundreds of fans walked out of Robbie's Melbourne gig disappointed by the 32-year-old singer. The last leg of his world tour was also savaged by Australian critics.

One spat: "He failed to deliver or even resemble the energy and vibrance of past visits.

"He should hold true to his promise to retire." Ouch.

Where they got this from I don't know as the Australian press were generally upbeat about his tour and his performances, with no mention of any walk outs. I've not seen anything about this in any blog either and our Melbourne sources knew nothing of this. Usual tabloid rubbish?

Furthermore on the subject of Kylie Minogue, our sources in Melbourne have said that she was in rehearsals but cancelled at the last minute to rush back to Europe for a showdown with wayward lover Olivier Martinez. She was seemingly furious after he was photographed walking by the River Seine with model Sarai Givati, 24. (Full story The Sun)

You can send your own unique Robbie William's Christmas card as an email, print it out or even make gift tags. Choose your background, add Christmas objects, a speech bubble, a frame perhaps or even your own picture.

All no problem with the Robbie Card Maker.

Not to be outdone by Kylie and as something special for his female fans, Robbie Williams had a couple of raunchy male dancers accompany him during his rendition of 'Let Me Entertain' you in Brisbane.

Watch here

Actually the boys with the poms poms are Jez Webb and Mickey Winder, two of Robbie's background crew and play in his tour football team.

Compared with Kylie Minogue's dancers, seen here in Sydney, I don't think there is any contest!

Source: robbiewilliams.com

Watch Robbie Williams live from the 17th & 18th December 2006 at the Docklands, Melbourne, Australia.

Click here to watch the videos

Robbie Williams. Live at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne 17th & 18th December 2006.

The last concerts of the 2006 Close Encounters Tour. Click here to view

A Bonde had prime position – and Robbie Williams' eye – at the singer's gig at the Telstra Dome on Sunday night.

According to Eye spy Callum, a tall, blonde woman and her two friends were escorted to the front row by one of Robbie's "people", much to the displeasure of fans who'd been waiting practically all day for the plum spot.

Callum said Robbie "looked, winked and licked his lips" at the woman, and pointed at her during the lyric "I've had more blondes than brunettes" in Monsoon.

Lucky blonde.

Source: Herald Sun

Robbie Williams has been partying with the pop duo the Pet Shop Boys, acording to techstickle.com, despite playing down rumours he is homosexual.

The singer has flirted with homosexuality in the past but insists he only has eyes for women, despite constant speculation to the contrary. Williams loves visiting London’s top gay nightspots with the Go West hitmakers, because the gay community is totally accepting of him.

He says, “We go to Heaven nightclub and I f**kin’ love it - it’s great. They enjoy seeing it through my eyes, I think, and I enjoy being with them and being accepted.”

British pop star Robbie Williams has vowed to quit smoking for good on New Year's Day (01JAN07), despite currently inhaling 60 cigarettes daily.

The Rudebox singer has always refused to ditch his unhealthy habit in the past because he fears he will pile on the pounds as a result.

But he now says, "I smoke loads and I really don't want to any more.

"I want to give them up for good in 2007 but I'm a fat bloke inside this body and the minute I stop smoking, I'll get even bigger."

Source: Contact Music

Despite the eagerly awaited duet with Kylie in Melbourne, Robbie’s last concert of his Close Encounters Tour 2006 came and went without the Australian Superstar. So much for the well informed rumours.

Although as we reported, Robbie was a no show at Kylie's concert on Saturday, preferring to play football with his mates and the Melbourne Victory team, followed by a quiet drink at the Langham Hotel bar.

This didn't affect the atmosphere in the Telstra Dome with one fan declaring: "It was one big happy sing-a-long with some 63000 people. The love in that room was palpable."

And here a review from Higgo:

So.. I went to Robbie Williams twice. Second night, in all honesty, wasn't as good as far as I'm concerned. Sure attributing factors could have been that last night was his last concert on his world tour, so he's a little tired, the fact that everyone was so amped that it was his last concert and expected shennanigans, and there were none, the rumour that Kylie would come out and sing 'Kids' with him, didn't eventuate either.

He didn't drop from the top of his set like he did on Sunday night.. what's up with that? OH&S issue perhaps?

Or could I feel that way about the concert because the shine had been taken off after seeing it the night before from the floor section, and then being seated last night?

At any rate, the guy is incredible live, a true entertainer. thoroughly enjoyed both nights, just Sunday, for mine, was better. Eat shit those that could only make Monday nights 'inferior' gig, you missed out.

Source Higgo's myspace

Looks like Robbie Williams has no plans for little Angels in the future.

The Rudebox singer, who has achieved massive success in the charts, admits he can’t see mini Robbies fitting into his immediate life plan.

The cocky star - who has been linked to Geri Halliwell and Nicole Appleton in the past - told The Big Issue: "I don’t know if I want to be in a relationship.

"I don’t believe that to be fulfilled you have to have kids.

"What’s the point? I can’t guarantee my child won’t suffer pain - because that kid’s going to be in pain at some point in their life.

"I don’t want to see that."

Just make sure you don't grow old and lonely, Rob.

Source: The Sun

BRITISH pop star Robbie Williams wowed a record 64,000 fans at Telstra Dome last night in one of the last, but most eagerly anticipated, concert tours of the year.

The ever-entertaining Williams gave fans a hi-tech production filled with pyrotechnics and a string of hits.

Unfortunately, there were no added bonuses on offer at the first of Williams' two Melbourne gigs. However tonight's could offer some special treats, as it is the last of his world tour.

The seasoned entertainer arrived on stage amid plumes of smoke and fireballs, opening the show with Radio.

Williams was soon up to his old stage tricks, prancing about and preening, his arsenal of slightly deranged facial expressions displayed on giant screens.

However looking tired and drained from months of touring, Williams appeared all too aware he was nearing an indefinite hiatus from performing.

Williams's powerful voice shone in the falsetto-ridden Trippin' and the Take That song Back for Good.

Let Me Entertain You rocked the Dome, and the show ended on a spine-tingling note with Angels and Kids.

Source: Herald Sun with Photos of Robbie playing football in Melbourne here

Robbie Williams obsessively searches for bad reviews about himself because he thinks he deserves to be slammed.

The ex-Take That star is suffering from depression, and finds the pressure of fame causes him to seek out any negativity.

He says, "Being an addictive personality or having a mental problem of sorts - you search for the stuff that's going to tell you that what you think about yourself is true.

"And when you do, it's heart-breaking because you validate your own insecurities."

Source: Contact Music

Robbie Williams is fleeing England because he no longer feels welcome by his British fans.

The hitmaker has enjoyed a decade of success as a solo singer, but now feels it is time to leave his homeland as he believes Britain is sick at the sight of him.

He plans to relocate to Los Angeles. The former Take That member says, "Back home, I feel like I've overstayed my welcome a little bit.

"I've enjoyed tremendous success for over ten years now - far more than I should have or I ever would have dreamed I'd have. And now it's the time for Robbie to go away in people's minds. I think it's time to not be in Britain for a bit."

Source: Contact Music

Melbourne: According to news.com.au, while Kylie Minogue and her sister Dannii performed the Kylie-Robbie Williams hit, Kids, at the Rod Laver Arena, Robbie was across the road playing football.

Robbie has played football throughout his tour, as a way of keeping fit and yesterday he turned out at the Olympic Park in Melbourne.

Fans and press had little chance to watch, what was reportedly a robust game, though as all vantage points from the road were blacked out and Robbie's security were seen patrolling the perimeter.

Of course the question, everyone is waiting impatiently for an answer to, is will Robbie and Kylie get together on stage at the Docklands in Melbourne?

Full story and how Kylie met with young cancer sufferers here

Watch Robbie Williams live from the 13th & 14th December 2006 at the Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia.

Click here to watch the videos

Sir Elton John and Robbie Williams have been playing schoolboy pranks on each other.

Photo ©Frank Roche
The 'Rudebox' singer got the games started by telling fans at his concert in Sydney, Australia, exactly what hotel and room the flamboyant musician was staying in.Elton - who was also in Sydney to perform and staying at the same hotel as Robbie - retaliated by taunting Robbie about the success of his reformed former band Take That. Robbie quit the group in 1995 and the band officially split later that year.

The legendary songwriter wrote a note congratulating Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Howard Donald on topping the single charts with their song 'Patience' and the album charts with their LP 'Beautiful World', and slipped it under the 'Let Me Entertain You' singer's door.

The note read: "Dear Robbie Take That - Number 1 Single and Album. Great result! Love Elton."

Elton's partner David Furnish confirmed: "In a moment of irresponsible juvenile delinquency Robbie stupidly announced Elton's room number to a concert audience.

"As a means of expressing his appreciation, Elton informed me he has slipped a note under Robbie's hotel room door."

Elton's agent Gary Farrow insisted the late-night pranks were just a bit of harmless fun.

He said: "It was just a bit of fun. They were just bored at the hotel."

Source: Female First

British pop star Robbie Williams has scoffed at official warnings not to smoke cigarettes onstage in Australia, but his celebrity status will help him escape paying 150 Australian dollars (US$117, euro89) in fines.

The leader of Australia's state of Queensland, where Williams lit up onstage at a no-smoking venue on two consecutive nights, offered to pay the fines, saying the entertainer was a guest of the state.

Health groups criticized Williams in the media after he smoked Wednesday at the first of two Queensland concerts during his current Australian tour.

He lit up again the next night, telling the crowd of more than 50,000 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, the state capital, that he had heard about the controversy and promised not to smoke again _ as he puffed on a cigarette. After giving up drugs and alcohol, smoking was his only vice, Williams said. Stadium spokesman Greg Adermann said Williams had been reminded after the first concert that smoking was banned at the venue.

State Premier Peter Beattie said Williams was liable for fines totaling A$150 (US$117, euro89), but that the premier would pay on his behalf.

"He used it as part of his act and he is going to be treated like anybody else, but because of the circumstances, I am going to pay it,'' Beattie said.

Beattie said he did not want the issue "to turn into an opportunity to continue to promote that bad boy image.''

Williams' Australian tour will end with two concerts in the southern city of Melbourne next week - AP

Source: the star online

Photo © beetlechickster's photostream

Robbie Williams. Live in Brisbane 13th & 14th December 2006. The very first concerts at Suncorp Stadium. Click here to view

According to the spies of the Daily Mirror, residing at present in the ladies toilets of Robbie Williams' hotel in Brisbane, Robbie hid in there to avoid meeting Noel Gallagher from Oasis.

As seemingly he was "afraid" to confront Noel, who once called him "the fat dancer from Take That" :D

This is obviously a follow up from the interview with Noel in the Courier Mail which can be seen here:
Noel Gallagher & Robbie in Brisbane.

Health groups have dubbed rocker Robbie Williams a "very bad boy" for smoking onstage during one of his sell-out Brisbane concerts.

The British entertainer last night smoked a cigarette during banter with the 52,000-strong crowd at Suncorp Stadium, in the first of two Brisbane shows from his Close Encounters world tour.

Williams, 32, told the adoring crowd he was well aware of a smoking ban at the venue but had failed in his attempts to quit.

The Queensland Cancer Fund's prevention and early detection unit manager Susan Greenbank said: "Robbie's a very bad boy and there are a number of staff at the Queensland Cancer Fund who are more than willing to give him a stern talking to about this," Ms Greenbank said.

"It's disappointing he chose to break the law.

"(But) that's probably indicative of his attitude to most things ... he's very 'I'm Robbie Williams I can do what I like' - it's just consistent with the rest of his behaviours, so it's probably not that surprising."

A spokesman for Health Minister Stephen Robertson said authorities wouldn't pursue a $150 fine for Williams - the penalty imposed for breaking anti-smoking regulations at sporting venues.

"The (health) department has communicated with Ogden - Ogden operates Suncorp Stadium ... it is actually up to them to police these sorts of things and to make sure people abide by the laws," the spokesman said.

"It is illegal to smoke at public venues such as Suncorp Stadium."

But he urged Williams not to light up again.

"Robbie is obviously a visitor to this state and he may not be aware of the laws and how seriously we treat them and, while it was a great show last night, we hope there isn't a repeat performance tonight of that particular episode," he said.

"It sends the wrong message to kids."

But Premier Peter Beattie says it was all part of his act.

"Look anyone who knows anything about Robbie Williams - and I don't claim to be an expert but I do know this - his demeanour and his act, a part of that is defiance and breaking some of the rules and all the rest of it," he said.

"The reality is it was part of the act. I didn't see it as a big deal and nor did anyone else."

The noise from the concert at the venue in Brisbane's inner suburb of Milton attracted only seven complaints to a hotline specifically set up by the state government.

A Suncorp Stadium spokesman said there were two instances where the noise went "slightly" over the limit.

He said six troublemakers were evicted, but there were no arrests.

Source: The Age and Yahoo News

ROBBIE Williams has thrown down the gauntlet to all acts that dare follow in his Suncorp Stadium steps.

The world's most consummate performer pulled out all stops for the venue's first live music gig, beginning in the manner he planned to continue – with a bang.
The cheeky UK superstar emerged up through the floor, hands on hips, as flames and fireworks exploded from the top of the giant stage. Pyrotechnics snaked down the long catwalk and more than 52,000 screaming fans erupted in sheer joy at the sight.

But perhaps someone should have told Williams, decked out in a Lions jersey, that Suncorp is actually the Broncos' hallowed turf.

In traditional push-the-boundaries Williams style, during the second song, Rock DJ, the singer put his hands down his pants and said: "Brisbane, can you feel me?"

While the hordes – who paid up to $150 for a good seat – were there to see Williams, more discerning eyes were turned to Suncorp Stadium itself to see how it would cope with its baptism of pop fire.

The good news is there was barely a hitch.

Suncorp is already established as a prime sporting venue, but last night it more than scored a rock'n'roll try.

The well-oiled efficiency bred from countless league matches resulted in orderly entry and exit queues, with food and beverage line-ups also flowing freely.

Even the sound was good and as in-sync as it's possible to achieve in an outdoor venue.

The 32-year-old star had the audience in the palm of his hand from start to finish, personalising his witty banter to the crowd's obvious delight.

General admission ticket-holders began queueing as early as 7.30 on Tuesday night to guarantee a spot close to the stage – and their hero.

Eager beavers were catered for, with temporary shelters erected to protect them from the summer sun, with port-a-loos, food vendors, water stations and crowd controllers also on hand.

Suncorp Stadium general manager Alan Graham said that with the exception of a few people who parked illegally, the vast majority of fans had learned from past footy matches and taken buses and trains to beat the traffic.

For Brie Orwell, 20, from Scarborough, and Carly Bell, 20, from Ascot, it was all about attracting Robbie's attention from within the 17,000 in the mosh pit.

Decked out in strapless tops made from the British flag with the word Robbie stitched across the back, their one wish was to be picked out for a kiss.

"Robbie always picked a girl from the crowd for a pash, we want him to pick us," Ms Bell said before the show. Last night, however, they were doomed to disappointment.

Mr Graham said management had received only four noise complaints from locals.

Noise levels exceeded the stadium's volume restrictions once during the concert, but that was quickly rectified by a Queensland Government technician who sat on the sound engineer's desk, he said.
Mr Graham said there were also some complaints about limousines parked across driveways near the stadium.

None of those complaints were made to police, a QPS spokesman said last night.

Williams plays Suncorp Stadium for his second and final concert tonight.

Tickets are still available through www.ticketek.com.au

Source: The Courier Mail

Despite the hysteria and floods of emotion at the Robbie Williams' concerts in Europe this summer, Basement Jaxx found them to be soulless.

The band was upset with Williams' European tour, calling it a 'corporate money-making machine', according to the Daily Record.

Band member Felix Buxton said: 'I wouldn't want to repeat the experience. We didn't want to hang out with him. He tried to be down to earth, but I think sometimes he probably wonders what he's doing.

'It's a big moneymaking corporate machine. Fans pay a lot of money to get to the gig and then there's the Robbie ring-tones and Robbie everything. It's milking money at every point."

"The thing is he's doing very well, he's very popular, but it's mass entertainment and it just felt a bit soulless."
From Liz & Beverley Lyons

Source: Daily Record

At Monday nights AGM Chairman Bill Bratt announced that he would be entering in talks with a potential sponsor for Vale Park.

The deal would be worth approx. £3M over ten years.

The unnamed potential sponsor was put in touch with Vale by Robbie Williams .

Robbie is the major investor in Vale's shares, putting £249,000 into the club earlier this year.

The way Bill Bratt was talking about Williams last night you would think they were best mates. Bratt explained that they are often in touch with each other via Email, and that Robbie does alot of work behind the scenes for Vale.

Speculation about Williams bank-rolling Vale has been rife since he signed his deal with EMI for a reputed £80 million.

Even better news was that Vale will be buying a brand new scoreboard, and this should be installed in 3-4 months time. Director Stan Meigh has lent the club 70,000 quid (interest free!) to buy the scoreboard.
From David Griffiths

Source: Vitalfootball

Robbie Williams and Noel Gallagher are both in Brisbane and to cop it all staying at the same hotel.

Patrick Lion from The Courier Mail asked Noel his thoughts on the matter:

Patrick Lion: Robbie Williams is in town, staying at the same hotel as you. Any chance of a reconciliation beer after the gig to smooth over your past differences?

Noel: Unfortunately he is an alcoholic and doesn't drink. A mineral water? I wouldn't have thought so. There is a bit of history there. I don't like his music. No (I won't be going to the concert and) I shall be flying out tomorrow and going to Sydney.

Short and sweet answer without the usual 'F' words.

The whole interview can be read here:

The Courier Mail

According to PR-Inside.com Gary Barlow and Robbie still haven't made up with Gary still fuming at Robbie. Here's the full article:

The former Take That bandmates, who fell out before Robbie left the band in 1996, still haven’t made up and Gary says he is sick of Robbie’s childish attitude.
Gary fumed: "I think I was the only one who really had any problems with Robbie. We haven’t had any sort of friendship for so long now, me and Robbie. "But we all met up this year and I think that we have all grown up since we reformed and we are not interested in making fun of each other any more. Those days are over, everyone needs to realise that." Fellow bandmate Mark Owen, who was Robbie’s closest friend in the group, says he won’t be able to move on until Robbie returns to Take That.
He said: "When we got together a year ago, we were looking for closure on this whole thing, but seem to have got the complete opposite. We started on a new chapter. I think the ideal for us now would be, at some point, to have Rob back. Maybe that would be closure for us all then."

This seems to be a rehash of an old story with the latest news, being that the two had got together and sorted out their differences. Latest reports saying Gary had even asked Robbie, how to spend his money, as he has too much of it!!

According to Psychologist Dr Harry Witchel, working with Nokia, 'The Drugs Don’t Work' by The Verve is the saddest song of all time, with Robbie Williams' hit Angels - a popular funeral tune - runner-up in the list.

Dr Harry Witchel, an expert in physiology and music, at the University Of Bristol Medical School, analysed physical reactions to pop music.

Heart rate, respiratory response and skin temperature were used as indicators of how various songs made us feel.

Dr Witchel also came up with lists of tunes which made us feel happy or exhilarated.

He then took his results and set to answering the three most fundamental questions in pop – what are, officially, the saddest, happiest and most exhilarating songs of all time!

THE SADDEST 
1 The Verve - The Drugs Don't Work 
2 Robbie Williams - Angels 
3 Elton John - Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word 
4 Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You 
5 Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U 
6 Will Young - Leave Right Now 
7 Elvis Presley - Are You Lonesome Tonight? 
8 Christina Aguilera - Beautiful 
9 James Blunt - Goodbye My Lover 
10 Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees

THE HAPPIEST 
1 Lily Allen - LDN 
2 Abba - Dancing Queen 
3 REM - Shiny Happy People 
4 B52s - Love Shack 
5 The Beatles - She Loves You 
6 Beyonce - Crazy In Love 
7 Britney Spears - Baby One More Time 
8 Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes - I've Had The Time Of My Life 
9 The Spice Girls - Spice Up Your Life 
10 Kylie Minogue - Spinning Around 

MOST EXHILARATING 
1 Blur - Song 2 
2 Girls Aloud - Love Machine 
3 Killers - Somebody Told Me 
4 Prodigy - Firestarter 
5 Razorlight - Rip It Up 
6 Rolling Stones - Start Me Up 
7 Gnarls Barkley - Crazy 
8 U2 - Beautiful Day 
9 Oasis - Roll With It 
10 Take That - Relight My Fire 

Source: Daily Record

Watch Robbie Williams live from the 9th & 10th December 2006 at the Aussie Stadium, Sydney, Australia.

Click here to watch the videos

Following our article on Robbie Williams at the Victoria Secret's Fashion Show in the Kodak Theater, Hollywood, Jacky from Robstuff has sent us links to photos with Rob from WireImage:

Robbie with Adriana Lima from Kevin Mazur

Robbie with Kyle MacLachlan also from Kevin Mazur

Also a few newer photos of Rob from Rex Features:

Robbie Williams in West Hollywood, America

Crowds at this week's Robbie Williams concerts will be closely watched by police armed with new laws targeting scalpers(ticket touts) and dishonest fans, authorities warn.

Queensland Sports Minister Andrew Fraser said "eagle-eyed" promoters and organisers would back up efforts to enforce the new laws, which make it illegal to buy and sell tickets at inflated prices.

Mr Fraser said the British pop sensation's concerts on Wednesday and Thursday were the first major gigs since the new laws were introduced on December 7.

They include fines of up to $1,500 for scalpers and $375 for buyers and also target those who attempt to sell tickets online.

But the laws do not target those who buy tickets from friends who are unable to attend an event, applying only to tickets sold at more than 10 per cent of the original price.

Mr Fraser said the practice deprived the promoters, venues, sportsmen and women and artists of their rightful revenue and had to be stamped out.

"Today's scalpers are far more sophisticated, hiding behind a computer screen, but this new move takes important steps to seek them out and stop them cold," Mr Fraser said.

"Now, as soon as they place tickets for sale at exorbitant prices on internet sites, they can expect event organisers and promoters to be watching very closely and then be on the telephone to police."

He said those who bought from scalpers also risked finding their tickets had been made useless by organisers who could cancel tickets at any time.

Source: Yahoo News

HER pop career may still be in its early days but Erica Baxter put on an impressive show as a veteran party girl at the Sony Ericsson Robbie Williams post-concert booze-up at Sydney's Bennelong restaurant on Sunday night.

While the main man himself was a no-show at his own party - retiring to his luxury suite at the Park Hyatt instead - guests were kept entertained by James Packer's girlfriend, who proved a handy backup as a wild woman of wine and song.

Indulging at the free-flowing open bar, Baxter turned heads with a steamy dirty dancing session with her male model friend Tony "Millsy" Millard - literally at Confidential's feet.

But a discreet move by playboy Tim Holmes a Court, who left onlookers gobsmacked by shuffling Baxter away from her raunchy dance partner, broke up the sexy scene.

It would have made for interesting viewing for Packer's ex-wife Jodhi Meares, also at the party, but the fashion designer had secreted herself away in a corner lounge away from the dance floor and missed the spectacle.

Making a spectacle of herself at the door was Big Brother babe Krystal Forscutt, who turned on the water works to get herself and a gal pal into the 250-strong party.

Originally on the guest list, the poster girl for plastic surgery was bumped after she failed to respond to an invitation and her tickets were given away.

After being told by phone of her faux pas earlier in the day, Forscutt fronted up to the door at 11pm, making her teary case in the flesh.

It worked, with the tanorexic spotted in the wee hours dancing with five male companions.
by Sydney Confidential

Source: News.com.au

Another short and strange tale from The People

ROBBIE Williams is getting jealous at TAKE THAT's amazing comeback. His ex-band mates have had a No.1 album and single since re-forming without him. But Robbie, on tour in Oz, said: "You can't have Take without the That."

What can you say to that? Typical tabloid filler, where in the quote, does he say he's jealous? Robbie and Take That are both getting along just fine, without the papers trying to promote an artificial rivalry.

Source: The People

Robbie Williams live on the 9th & 10th December 2006 in Aussie Stadium, Sydney, Australia.

Bye, Robbie from the Pen

Click here to see more.

PROMOTER Michael Chugg is adamant there will be no massive queues, food and beverage shortages or transportation woes when Robbie Williams hits Suncorp Stadium this week.

He said the venue was close to the city and was used to handling huge football crowds, with the public transport system primed and raring to go.
"ANZ Stadium (which hosted the Irish supergroup) was always a hassle because of where it is and the limitations of transport," Chugg said.

He said while Williams might be Suncorp's first concert since its Lang Park days, he had no doubt about its ability to cope with the demands of 52,499 screaming fans.

"There's a lot of work going into it but it's not really a trial for us," Mr Chugg said.

"I would hope we'll be able to do more shows here because I'm tipping Brisbane will be the show of the tour."

Mr Chugg said the best management and production team had been employed to bring everything up to scratch at the stadium before Williams's arrival.

He said the star's travelling set, which was three years in the making, took 200 crew, 360 tonnes of equipment and a fleet of trucks and buses almost a week to assemble.

It includes two giant scorpion tails measuring 66m by 26m, eight giant tusks made from 6800 LED blocks and a 125m video wall.

Suncorp Stadium general manager Alan Graham said Williams's crew had begun transforming the venue yesterday, ahead of the singer's performances on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

"That will ramp up tomorrow and obviously over the next couple of days," he said.

"What we need to do is make the venue user-friendly for them so that their specific needs and requirements are met."

Mr Graham said stadium staff had been sent to several of Williams's other Australian performances to get a feel for the act, to make sure everything ran smoothly on the night.

He said Queensland law required Williams's show not exceed a 100-decibel limit inside the stadium and 70 decibels outside, with a Government-hired contractor sitting with the sound crew at all times to ensure those restrictions were not breached.

Mr Graham said extra staff had also been employed at the stadium's call centre to deal with all public complaints including noise.

Mr Chugg said, due to a rearrangement of the stadium setup, there were still good seats available in Gold and Silver Reserve.
By Alex Murdoch

Source: The Courier Mail

According to a report from Life Style Extra, Take That star Howard Donald has revealed he personally asked Robbie Williams to reunite with the group.

When they first reunited, the band - Howard, Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Jason Orange - invited Robbie, who quit the group 11 years ago to pursue a solo career, to join them on stage through the media.

Now, Howard has revealed he also telephoned Robbie to ask him if he wanted to rejoin the foursome.

He told Now magazine: "I personally phoned Rob and asked if he'd like to come on tour. He was genuinely touched that we asked him, but he said, 'No, but thanks for asking.'

"To be fair to him, he'd already signed up to do his own extensive world tour, so he didn't have time."

Source: Life Style Extra

Robbie Williams was spotted at the 2006 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Moderated by Heidi Klum(above left) and featuring Justin Timberlake, Robbie seemingly enjoyed watching the models present the newest underwear collection.

Source: Ohlala Paris, where you can also watch the complete show.

Created to support the release of Rudebox by Robbie Williams. This very funny short film tells the story of a small boy telling his parents he's off to America. Featuring the Robbie Williams' track "Burslem Normals" from Rudebox.

Watch it here

For more details visit the Goodbye to the Normals Website.......

Robbie Williams and Jonathan Wilkes sit outside their hotel in Adelaide and chat with the fans. Robbie looks really shatterd after being on the stage for two hours. But otherwise looks leaner and fitter than when he was in Europe.

Click here to see the pics.

Pity he didn't come and show himself in Europe, I'm well jealous.

Source: PureRobbie via Jacky's Robstuff

British rocker Robbie Williams burst onto the stage of Aussie Stadium in a blaze of pyrotechnics for the first of his two sell-out Sydney concerts last night.

The 32-year-old superstar told more than 50,000 roaring fans: "It feels great to be on stage. Are you ready to shake your behinds?"

He then explained why he was glad to be on stage. "I've been sitting in the dressing room and I realise I'd been watching swimming for an hour and 45 minutes and I turned it over and bowls was on," he said.

Hamming it up in his traditional cheeky campy style, Williams sang a string of classic hits including Rock DJ and Millennium before best friend Jonathan Wilkes joined him on stage for a duet.

Williams has already played concerts in Adelaide and Perth. He told the Sydney fans: "Let me give you a run down about how it's going since we've been here in Australia. "First we went to Perth - they don't have much humans down there, do they? It's a lovely place - but it's like, OK great we're in the 1970s."

But he added that he loved Australia.

"If I ever get kicked out of America, I'm coming to live here," he said.

Williams "retired" at the end of his last Australian tour three year ago.

He told fans at an earlier concert: "I retired in Australia three year ago. I've got to come back and keep retiring in Australia."

Williams has said that, after the final Sydney concert tonight, he is planning "a smashing after party", which will be attended by plenty of Sydney music industry types and socialites including Australian Idol judge Kyle Sandilands and hotelier Justin Hemmes.

After tonight's concert, Williams heads to Brisbane and then Melbourne where it is rumoured Kylie Minogue will join him on stage before his world tour ends on December 18.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

Robbie Williams is adored by millions of women around the world, yet the confirmed ladies man always has a special place for his mates.

Tonight he kicks off the Sydney leg of his Australian tour and no doubt he will be joined by his best mate, Jonathan Wilkes. Being a former member of British boy band Take That, Williams knows a thing or two about male bonding and brotherhood. However his relationship with Wilkes could best be described as a "bromance".

There is a third wheel in this mutual admiration society of lads - the Sydney actor Daniel MacPherson, who became close friends with Wilkes and Williams while he was living in England three years ago.

The trio will be hooking up again on Sunday night, along with a select group of mates and hand picked ladies, for Williams's top-secret after party - tipped to take place at fellow bachelor John Aussie Symonds's new $30million mansion. Guests have been told to expect a text message during Sunday night's concert for details.

Williams recently told the British press he had been close friends with Wilkes for 25 years.

"I cannot imagine not being with him. Life is so much easier with him. When I go on tour soon for five months, he'll be coming along. I simply don't want to be without him," Williams was quoted as saying.

Wilkes has already joined Williams on stage in Perth, where the pair chased each other around before managing a rendition of the Bee Gees' Stayin' Alive.

In 2003 MacPherson got in on the act when Williams stopped one concert in Europe and told his lighting crew to focus on MacPherson in the crowd, whom he introduced as "my mate Dan Mac".

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

Bono, Sir Paul McCartney and Robbie Williams added their support to thousands of other performers on Thursday in an appeal for an extension to UK copyright on their recordings beyond the existing 50-year ruling.

In a full-page advertisement in the Financial Times containing more than 4,500 names, they called for "fair play for musicians". The ad said it had been placed on behalf of more than 3,500 record companies and 40,000 performers.

Sir Cliff Richard, whose first hit "Move It!" from 1958 is close to the cut-off point for copyright protection, has led the way in highlighting the issue.

The advertisment was in response to a UK Treasury's intellectual property review for the government, which on Wednesday rejected extending copyright on sound recordings and performers' rights beyond the existing 50 years.

According to a report in the Financial Times, Andrew Gowers, the author of the Treasury's intellectual property review, was uncowed by the full-page advertisement in the paper he used to edit.

"The idea that we're being uncool or un-rock star is just wrong," he said yesterday.

In his report on intellectual property, Gowers argued that the consumer must be protected as well as the artist. He said there was no evidence bands moved to the US or elsewhere to extend their copyright protection.

The British Phonographic Industry plans to continue to lobby for a copyright extension to 95 years, the same as in the US, and noted the final decision lies with the European Commission.
By Lynn Wright

Source: Digit Mag

From the Scottish Sun:

Indie Stars The Fratellis were looking forward to playing Glasgow and Edinburgh on Hogmanay - until they heard Robbie Williams could turn up.

Robbie is expected to make an appearance with pals The Pet Shop Boys.

But Fratellis frontman Jon is now furious. He said 'I f*****g hope Robbie Williams doesn't turn up. There's so much better ways of spending your time than with that guy. I don't like his music and I'd probably take a swing at him.'

Looks like somebody in need of a bit publicity and if you're like me and never heard of the Fratellis before here's their website: The Fratellis

See Robbie Williams live on the 5th December 2006 in AAMI Stadium, Adelaide, Australia.

Click here to watch the videos

Robbie Williams videos Music

Robbie Williams live on the 5th December 2006 in AAMI Stadium, Adelaide, Australia.

Click here to view the photos.

Robbie Williams photos Music

According to 'The Guardian's Paul Kelso, yesterday, there are unconfirmed plans for a concert in the new Wembley Stadium,London, the week before Muse's gig (June 16, 2007), possibly by Robbie Williams .

So could Robbie be the artist to officially open the new arena , perhaps with a one off show? Possibilities abound with talk of the Diana Tribute Concert and of course Robbie is due to release two new albums next year. Now that would be be a really good bit of PR.

Source: Guardian Unlimited

Robbie Williams Music

POP superstar Robbie Williams was genuinely moved by the reception of the Adelaide crowd at his AAMI Stadium concert on his Close Encounters tour.

There were fireworks, jokes about the cricket and some of the biggest pop hits of the last 15 years but it was a personality bigger than Britain that most delighted the 60,000 strong crowd.

On one of the biggest stages ever constructed for a concert in Adelaide, Robbie sang and danced his way through a joyous celebration of his solo career.

He also took a moment to acknowledge his former life as a boy band member, singing a moving rendition of his old group Take That's biggest hit Back For Good.

Robbie had said this current year-long international tour would be his last for quite some time but clearly relishing the response of the Adelaide crowd, Robbie admitted it was nights like this that reinforced his reasons for performing.

"This is the most fun I've had onstage all year."

"Tonight's really blown me away and made me reconsider my career. Thanks for having me. You've really touched my heart."

The songs almost took a back seat to the singer's epic personality but hits Let Me Entertain You, Angels, Rock DJ and Feel got the entire crowd on their feet.

And the singer knew he couldn't get through the night without mentioning the cricket loss endured by his fellow countrymen earlier in the day. Robbie sang the line `We don't like cricket, oh no', dedicated a song to Shane Warne and with his trademark mischevious grin joked, "At least, there will be one Pommie winning in Adelaide tonight.'

Crowd favourite, the sing-along classic Angels was for the English team, with Robbie telling the boys to "Pull it back, lads. They've had enough stick today."

He also dedicated hit Kids, originally recorded as a duet with Kylie, to our very own pop superstar, saying, "God bless you Kylie. Welcome back. You're lovely."

During Come Undone Robbie sang the line `Australia I'm your son. Will you have me?'

The answer, Robbie, is a resounding yes.
By DANIELLE O'DONOHUE, MUSIC WRITER

Source: Adelaide Now

Robbie Williams' attempt to chat up British pop star Jamelia ended in humiliating failure after the female singer thought his approach was "embarrassing".

The singer was chatted up by Williams at the Brit Awards, but the Angel lothario, whose ex-girlfriends include All Saints member Nicole Appleton and model Rachel Hunter, failed to impress the pop star.

She says, "I met Robbie at the Brits and he thought he was so smooth. He was telling me how beautiful I was and it was rather embarrassing. "I reckon as soon as I walked away he was saying exactly the same thing to the next woman who came along."

Source: Contact Music

It all started with the People telling us:

Robbie Williams has got the hots for cricket WAGs (wives and girlfriends) such as Rachel Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen's fiancee Jessica Taylor.

Rob, on tour in Oz, said: "Some of them are well fit."

Well certainly short and sweet, can't fault his taste either. Photos of the girls at purerobbie.com, scroll down the page to see them.

It then gets better with Contact Music reporting:

British pop star Robbie Williams tried and failed to download his former band Take That's comeback single on the internet - because he couldn't spell Patience. The ROCK DJ hitmaker, who quit the band in 1995, wanted to show his support for his old bandmates by buying the track, but admits his bad spelling meant he couldn't find the song. He says, "I haven't heard the new single yet. The only way I can get it is by illegally downloading it. Hang on I will try and type it in. How do you spell Patience?"

Hang on a minute, don't they know he has dyslexia (see BBC article), talk about mocking the afflicted.

In the Daily Record it gets even better:

ROBBIE'S MAKING PEACE

by Beverley Lyons & Showbiz Liz

HE's at war with Alan McGee, but is Robbie Williams making peace with Take That?

He may have timed his V for victory sign to snappers to celebrate his old band topping the charts. Or could it be a feeble attempt to cash in on their big revival?

How are their readers to make sense of that, obviously relates to the Alan McGee story from last week (we reported), but how on earth did they manage to combine the photo of his arrival in Australia with Take That and especially that he's trying to cash in on their return as he certainly doesn't need to.

I take it there wasn't alot of news in Britain this week, as the stories are probably the shortest and wierdest I've seen.

Sources:
The People
Contact Music
Daily Record
BBC
PureRobbie

See Robbie Williams live on the 31st November & 1st December 2006 in 01.12.2006 Subiaco Oval, Perth, Australia.

Click here to watch the videos

Robbie Williams live on the 31st November & 1st December 2006 in Subiaco Oval, Perth, Australia

Click here to view.

In Mark Ronson's Myspace Blog, a new song can be heard called "The Only One I Know".

It's supposedly a track, on which Robbie Williams sings, from Mark's new Album "The Version" which is due to be released in Spring 2007.

To hear the song click on the blog entry EVR 11.24.06 and then Podcast. The track can be heard after about 1 hour and 12 minutes.

Here the Link: Mark Ronson

Record label boss and Oasis founder Alan McGee has joined in the attacks on Robbie Williams, claiming Robbie is a crime against music and that the pop star is single-handedly "destroying" the British record industry.

McGee is surprised by Williams' fame and how well he was doing against other singers like Elton John and George Michael.

He says: "These people are brilliant, world class musical talents. Robbie's just a showbiz chancer."

"It's people like him who are destroying British pop culture. He has one per cent of Mick Jagger's talent.

"He's the post 9/11 feel good factor. He doesn't mean anything. He's utterly vacant."

Source: Daily Record