Robbie Williams
Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams. Born on February 13, 1974 in Stoke-on-Trent (England). British singer, songwriter and actor.
Robert Williams was born on February 13, 1974 in Stoke-on-Trent to Peter and Janet Theresa Williams.
His mother and father, stand-up comedian Peter "Parp" Conway, divorced when his son was three years old. Robbie and his sister Sally grew up with their mother.
The singer studied first at Mill Hill Primary School, and then at St. Margaret Ward High School and often participated in school plays. After graduating from school, the singer’s mother brought home an advertisement that said that all over England they were recruiting for a boy group.
Group Manager Take That Nigel Martin-Smith planned to promote the group following the example of New Kids on the Block. At first, the group gave concerts in clubs and schools, where they performed covers of famous pop songs. They also managed to release their first video for the single from the debut album Take That And Party - “Do What You Like”, where the musicians appeared half naked.
The video did not become popular, and in general this approach at an early stage seemed to have been chosen incorrectly - this had a negative impact on the sales of their first singles and the young artists did not have the best reputation at that moment, which can be attributed to an absolute mistake by the manager.
Two years later, the group signed a contract with the BMG record company. With the signing of the contract, the group’s business went up and the singles “A Million Love Songs” and “I Found Heaven” entered the Top 20. But the song “Could It Be Magic” achieved the greatest success. The Take That And Party album itself was the second best-selling album in the UK at that time.
The band's second album, Everything Changes, spent several weeks at the top of the charts and became one of the best-selling albums in England. And the singles “Pray”, “Relight My Fire”, “Everything Changes” and “Babe” became hits. The album played a huge role in the formation of the band as one of the most famous in the world.
After a lengthy Tour in support of their last album, the band announced the recording of their third LP. The main hit from the album was the single "Back For Good", especially in the United States, which made the release of the album possible in this country. But it was during the era of this album that conflicts began within the group. And it was Robbie who became their instigator. He didn't like the role " good boy", and he also needed to stand out from the group, which did not please the management and frontman Gary Barlow.
Williams decided to leave the group. After playing a concert tour, Take That found it difficult to continue working as a four-piece, so the team broke up in the spring of 1996.
They released a collection of the best songs, which also included new and last song"How Deep Is Your Love" Immediately after this news, the UK was swept by a wave of teenage hysteria, which allowed lead singers Gary Barlow and Mark Owen to release a couple of fairly successful solo hits. But quickly enough their solo career went downhill and there was no news about the team until 2005.
At the end of 1995, Robbie began to appear on the pages of reputable publishing houses not in the most sober state and became a regular at parties and drinking bouts.
He also appeared at Oasis' Glastonbury concerts.
After a huge row with the Gallagher Brothers, Noel Gallagher called Robbie "the fat dancer from Take That". The singer also spent six months suing BMG over a clause in his contract that prevented the release of any of his solo songs if he left Take That.
After lengthy legal proceedings, Williams announced that he was signed to Chrysalis Records. It was during that period that the singer’s debut single was released. Freedom, a cover of a George Michael song. The singer later noted that releasing a cover as the first single was not a very good idea. But the result was worth it: the single climbed the charts 26 positions higher than the original (No. 2).
In March 1996, recording of Robbie's first studio album began. It was during that period that the singer struggled with drug and alcohol addiction. Lead single from the album Old Before I Die became successful in the singer’s homeland, but was ignored internationally.
The next two singles, Lazy Days and South Of The Border, were not successful, and the label became concerned about the artist's future, and then the single "Angels" was released, which is one of the singer's most recognizable songs today. The single sold about 2 million copies and helped the debut long-play climb to number one on the British Albums Chart. Two videos were shot for this song: the original version and a version for the single as part of The Ego Has Landed compilation for American audiences.
In early 1998, the singer and co-writer Guy Chambers began working on a new studio album. The first single was the song Millennium, inspired by the James Bond films. The song became very successful in Europe, selling over 400,000 copies. The following singles from the album (No Regrets, etc.) became especially successful in Latin America. When the album itself was released in October 1998, it immediately topped the charts and collected a huge number of awards and nominations at prestigious ceremonies.
In 1999, the singer began his tour in support of his second album and simultaneously released his first DVD, Where Egos Dare, which included a live performance at Slane Castle and the “making of” album Sing When You’re Winning. The first single from the third album was the song “Rock DJ”, the video clip for this song was rejected by critics because of its bloody content (Williams dances a striptease and tears off his skin and muscles, trying to attract the attention of a girl), but the song itself has become successful even now takes 22nd place in the list of best-selling singles in the singer’s homeland.
"Rock DJ" was nominated for awards such as "Best Song 2000" from the MTV Europe Music Awards, "Best Single of the Year" from the BRIT Awards and the MTV Video Music Award for Best Special Effects. The second single Kids, a duet with Kylie Minogue, was included in the singer's album Light Years.
Williams also wrote another song for this album - Your Disco Needs You. Future singles such as "Supreme"(which Williams also recorded in French) and “Better Man” became very popular and entered the top 10 most popular songs in many countries around the world.
Robbie Williams - Supreme
"Eternity", a track that did not appear on the album, was introduced in the summer of 2001 as a B-side to the single "The Road to Mandalay". It was his fourth single to reach number one in the UK and sold 70,000 copies in its first week of sale in England alone and topped the charts in many countries including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and many others.
In the summer of 2001, Robbie Williams conducted a European tour. The album spent 91 weeks in the British charts, sold 2.4 million copies, was certified 8 times platinum and was recognized as the 51 best-selling album in the history of British music. The album sold more than 4 million copies in Europe.
In the summer of 2001, Williams interrupted his tour to record his fourth studio album. The album was recorded in the quality that the performer himself had always dreamed of. The album contains recordings in the swing genre. The first single to be released was a duet with "Somethin" Stupid." The remake of the Frank and Nancy Sinatra song became Robbie Williams' fifth hit, topping the UK charts and also reaching the top five in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Holland, Belgium and New Zealand In addition, the song became one of the best songs of 2001 and, having sold more than 200,000 copies, became silver.
Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman - Somethin" Stupid
When Sing When You're Winning was released in late 2001, it became an immediate hit in Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, etc., and sold over 7 million copies worldwide.
Also, the song “Beyond the Sea” from it was on the soundtrack to the cartoon Finding Nemo.
In support of the album, the singer performed at the Albert Hall and in December 2001 a film was released called Robbie Williams Live at the Albert Hall. It soon became the top seller in Europe and was certified 6 times platinum in Britain and 2 times in Germany.
In 2002, the singer signed an £80 million contract with record company EMI. It was the most successful deal in British music history. Due to a dispute with his frequent collaborator Guy Chambers over the writing rights of "Angels" and "Let Me Entertain You", "Nan's Song" and "Come Undone" were recorded without his participation. Most of the tracks were recorded in Los Angeles, where the singer moved in 2002.
First single from the album Feel was written as trial version. When they tried to re-record the vocals during the album's production, Williams didn't like it, so he decided to keep the test cut and released it. When the single was released at the end of 2002, it immediately became very popular all over the world.
The album itself, released in November 2002, immediately became successful in more than 10 countries around the world. In the US, the album only took 43rd place on the Billboard Albums Chart.
Second single from the album Come Undone became a hit worldwide and was a top ten song. But the song was the subject of a controversial video where the singer (fully clothed) has sex with two women, prompting condemnation from MTV Networks Europe.
The third single, "Something Beautiful", was written in Barbados. The song was originally offered to Tom Jones, but was then remade for Robbie Williams' album. The single was released in the summer of 2003, but was not particularly successful, although it entered the top ten songs in Britain, New Zealand and Denmark. The video for this song showed a casting call among people who wanted to meet Robbie Williams in person. 3 versions of the video were released, each featuring 3 winners from different regions of the world.
In the summer of 2003, he went on a tour, during which he visited Russia. In October 2003, Williams released his first live album. Live at Knebworth. The album sold very quickly in the UK, selling over 120,000 copies in its first week. It was a top ten album throughout Europe, Australia and Latin America. This album went platinum twice and sold over 2,000,000 copies in Europe alone.
Having won his next award as “best foreign performer” at the German Echo Awards, Robbie took part in the filming of the Hollywood film “De-Lovely” - a biopic about the great American composer Cole Porter - playing cameo role performer of the song during the main characters' ball. A cover of It’s De-Lovely topped the soundtrack to the film, which also featured Sheryl Crow, Elvis Costello, Alanis Morrisette and others. The film was shown at the Cannes Film Festival that year, and six months later it was released in Russia.
The album featured two new songs, Radio and Misunderstood, which became singles. And the second of them became the soundtrack to the film “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.” Both compositions were recorded in collaboration with a new author, Stephen Duffy, leader of the band The Lilac Time. Together they will continue to work on Rob's next studio album.
Almost simultaneously with Greatest Hits, a new official biography, Feel, was released, written by journalist and Robbie's friend Chris Heath, in conversations during the 2003 tour. Fans and critics highly value this book for its hero's frankness, and it has rightfully become a national bestseller.
Rob also joined the cast of stars to record the charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas”, dedicated to the Live 8 world forum, which took place in July 2005. In February 2005, eight years after the release of "Angels", it won Best Single of the Last 25 Years at the 2005 BRIT Awards.
In July 2005, after the Tour in support of the Greatest Hits album, the singer performed at the Live 8 charity concert, where he performed 4 songs: “We Will Rock You”, “Let Me Entertain You”, “Feel” and “Angels”.
Soon he announced the completion of work on his sixth studio album. The album was recorded with new collaborator Stefan Duffy. The Intensive Care album era saw the release of three successful singles, Tripping (which was very successful on radio stations in Europe), Advertising Space and Make Pure. In November 2005, the singer received an award at the EMA, "Best Male Artist". At the ceremony, the singer performed the song Tripping.
In 2005, the singer was included in the Guinness Book of Records for selling out 1.6 million tickets on just one day after the singer's world tour was announced. After a long break in the summer of 2006, the third single of the album was presented. "Sin Sin Sin" was the first song Williams and Duffy wrote together; the video for the song was shown in Cape Town. South Africa, just before the start of his tour. It was Robbie Williams's first single to miss the top 20. greatest hits Britain, but took only 22nd place. In the end, the album sold 5 million copies in Europe alone, allowing it to go 5 times platinum (and has now sold 8 million copies). But at the same time, it was Robbie Williams's worst-selling studio album in the UK at that time, with 1.6 million copies.
At this time, Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Jason Orange decided to rehabilitate the Take That group and released a fairly successful record, Beautiful World, but Robbie refused to reunite with his former comrades.
The single "Rudebox" was first heard on BBC Radio 1 on The Scott Mills Show. The single was aired, despite the not entirely censored text, but Rob himself insisted on this, which immediately caused public indignation, and controversy also began among fans about a radical change in his performance style. No one was ready for such a change after the lyrically and musically soulful Intensive Care (2005). The British newspaper "The Sun" even called "Rudebox" the worst song in history. However, Victoria Newton, a correspondent for the same newspaper, insisted that it was a 100% hit. The song was officially released in September 2006 and eventually reached number 4 in the UK charts, but was a number one hit in Germany, Switzerland and Italy.
Williams unveils his most unexpected album yet Rudebox October 23, 2006. It received mixed reviews: Allmusic gave it a 4, the NME gave it an 8 out of 10, and Music Week and MOJO gave it equally positive reviews, but some members of the British press gave it very weak reviews. Despite topping the charts, sales left much to be desired, with overall UK sales being lower than sales of the band's comeback album, Take That Beautiful World. By the way, Rob categorically refused to return to his former comrades, and even a documentary film dedicated to the group and released around that time showed Rob in isolation from all the other guys.
Rudebox sold around 520,000 copies in Britain and became Rob's worst-selling album in the country, but even so it received double platinum status and reached number one in the UK chart. But in other countries, such as Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Australia, Finland, it took first place in the charts and was received more warmly. Two weeks after its release on November 8, 2006, the album received double platinum status in Europe, which equates to a circulation of 2 million copies and thus became the best-selling album of 2006. It ranked 18th on the list of best-selling albums of 2006 worldwide.
Promotion of the album was virtually impossible due to the fact that Williams faced personal problems during the final part of the international Tour, which even caused a number of concerts to be cancelled. But at some performances he performed the single “Rudebox”, and in December in Australia there was a place for the next single - “Lovelight”.
The second single was released after the album's release on November 13. It topped the charts (its highest position in Britain was No. 8), but not for long.
But the third single “She’s Madonna”, including interesting remixes from world DJs, was presented on European radio at the end of the next year, in January 2007, ahead of the physical release, which was scheduled for March 5, 2007.
It peaked at number 16 in the UK singles chart, but peaked at number 2 on the European Airplay Chart for 4 weeks and reached the top ten in many European countries. This single was not released in Latin America and Australia, but it appeared on the radio in these two countries. Despite this, it was released separately in Mexico in 4 different formats. In August 2007, he took 12th place on the American Billboard dance music chart.
Robbie Williams - She's Madonna
A curious moment was the story with the track “The 90’s”. The fact is that it is biographical in nature and it initially contained text that strongly damaged the reputation of former Take That manager Nigel Martin-Smith, with whom Robbie had disagreements. The text had to be changed to a more decent one because Nigel's lawyers were already ready to sue Williams. The changes were made a couple of weeks before the album's release, otherwise there would have been a high probability that we would have seen Rob in prison - he himself admitted this in his blog in 2011. Despite this, at one of the concerts of the 2006 Tour, he “made happy” the fans and read them the original text.
The single "Bongo Bong and Je Ne T'Aime Plus" was local in nature and was released as the third single in Latin America and some other European countries instead of "She's Madonna", and was popular on the radio.
To promote his album, Williams released a series of short films, setting up a competition between fans. The result was an interesting selection of songs that were not released as separate singles. These short videos were later released on the 2011 re-release of the Rudebox album.
The commercial failure of the album allowed the singer to go on a 2.5-year sabbatical. After a long rest, during which the singer met his future wife Ida Field, recording of a new album began. The return turned out well and experiments with sound continued, and he was helped in this by the distinguished producer Trevor Horn, whose legendary song, “Video Killed the Radio Star,” was played in the title of the album, although Robbie said that this was a coincidence.
Despite the fact that the album does not contain obvious hits, except for the first single “Bodies”, the instrumental surprises with its variety and especially the violin. The album returned the singer's popularity, despite the abundance of digital sales and the presence of younger competitors.
In June 2010, the second international greatest hits collection was officially announced In and Out of Consciousness: The Greatest Hits 1990-2010, bringing to a close a 20-year musical career.
The album was released on October 11 in various versions: from standard to gift, which included a concert in Berlin 2005, which had not previously been released on DVD, as well as a disc of b-sides and rare songs. The new album, despite its mixed nature, sold well, climbing to first position in Britain, Germany, Europe, the World and a number of other countries.
With this achievement Rob became the most successful British solo artist leaving behind. Only The Beatles, U2 and .
In Germany, Greatest Hits was his ninth consecutive No. 1 album, cementing the fact that Robbie is Germany's best-selling artist of the 21st century, as well as the UK, Italy and Europe. The release was preceded by the first and only single from the album - Shame (October 4), the song was written and performed together with Take That leader Gary Barlow, with whom relations were officially established. Headlining the Heroes Concert in support of British soldiers in the autumn, Robbie and Gary performed the song live for the first time, while Williams also sang some of his best songs, ending the evening with the finale, Angels.
On July 15, news was announced on the Take That and Robbie websites that Robbie was returning to the group. With the original lineup they recorded the album Progress. The album became the fastest-selling album of the 21st century and was second only to Oasis' Be Here Now (1997) in the historical chart.
Having held the first position for 6 weeks in a row, the album also became the best in the Christmas chart, as well as at the end of the year (about 1,800,000 copies). Take That became the best-selling artists of 2010, and Robbie took 13th position, adding to his album achievements by 800,000+ album copies over the past year.
Shortly before the album's release, the European tour "Progress Live" was announced. Over 1 million tickets were sold on the first day, and this is another historical record.
In January, it was announced that the album's second single would be "Kidz", released on February 21, 2011. Due to the fighting in North Africa there was a delay in the release of the video, which was associated with the military. The song was first performed at the BRIT Awards 2011 on February 15 at the opening ceremony, and later Take That received the “Best Group” award, which became the first of its kind for the group.
As part of the traditional British campaign “Comic Relief”, a new single was released for the song “Happy Now”, and along with it a video in which the guys “met” with their doubles from the contrived group Fake That (they were played by famous British comedians), however The single never appeared on sale on physical media, but was only available for download, like the video.
Three new songs at once became the themes of new Hollywood films: “Love Love” (OST “X-Men: First Class”), “When We Were Young” (OST “The Musketeers”), “Collision Of Worlds” (OST “Cars 2” ), and if the first two tracks were recorded by Robbie as part of Take That and released not only as singles, but also as part of the re-release of the album “Progress - Progressed” (8 new songs), which brought them back to the 1st line of the British chart, then the last - a duet between Robbie himself and country singer Brad Paisley.
On October 21, 2011, the biggest news of the year was announced: Robbie signed a solo contract with Universal. According to its terms new album comes out in autumn 2012.
On May 17, 2012, at the prestigious Ivor Novello Awards, Take That won the Music Outstanding Contribution to British Music award for their contribution to the development of British music. Despite the fact that Rob himself did not come to the presentation, technically he also received the award. It was received from the group by Gary, Howard and Mark.
On 4 June, Robbie performed at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee concert, performing two songs, "Let Me Entertain You" and "Mack The Knife". On October 6, 2011, Rob's new project, Rudebox Radio, was released. This is a radio show, led by him as the host, recorded in his home studio, with the invitation of his friends and family. 2 hours of jokes, jokes, favorite music and hidden details of your plans. By the end of the year, 3 issues of RR were published, including a special Christmas one. Rob also shared two demo songs: “Cocaine” and “Ice Cream Headache.”
Debut single “Candy” from the new album Take the Crown, released in the UK on October 28, debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, and on November 11, the album reached number one on the Albums Chart, just a week after release. The last time this happened to the artist was only in 2001, during the era of the Swing When You’re Winning album, when both the album and the lead single “Somethin" Stupid” (in a duet with Nicole Kidman) were in leading positions.
At Christmas 2012, another single by Robbie (as part of the charity group Justice Collective), “He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother,” went to number one on the British Singles Chart, and in June 2013, a collaboration with Dizzee Rascal, “Goin' Crazy” reached number five on the same chart.
A new album was released on November 18, 2013 Swings Both Ways, consisting of covers and new songs in the swing genre.
On April 9, 2015, Robbie Williams performed for the first time in St. Petersburg as part of the “Let Me Entertain You” tour.
In September 2016, Robbie Williams released a resonant video “Party Like A Russian”. In the video, the musician dances in the interiors of a luxurious mansion along with ballerinas. The performer sings about a rich Russian who undercuts the entire nation's money, builds his own space station "because he can," and never smiles.
Robbie Williams - Party Like A Russian
According to survey results, he is considered the most popular British singer performing songs in genres such as pop, pop rock, and soft rock.
Despite poor record sales in the United States, worldwide album sales exceed 59 million, and singles have already sold more than 18 million. In the UK alone, about 16.2 million discs were sold. These data raise the level of global sales of Robbie Williams's discs above the 80 million mark.
As of 2016, Williams' net worth is $200 million.
Robbie Williams has sold the most albums in the UK and also received the most BRIT Awards in the history of the award (12 solo awards and 5 with Take That). The singer has sold 70 million records worldwide and is the best-selling foreign artist in Latin America. Williams was included in the Guinness Book of World Records after he announced his Intensive Care Tour: 1.6 million tickets were sold in one day.
The singer was inducted into the British Music Hall of Fame after being selected " best singer 90s".
Six of his albums are in the Top 100 best-selling albums in the United Kingdom. In addition, he is currently the best-selling non-Latin singer in Latin America with 3 million albums sold. And the most successful performer in Europe in the 21st century, and third in the world after Eminem and.
Robbie Williams height: 185 centimeters.
Personal life of Robbie Williams:
In 2006, Robbie met American actress Ida Field, with whom he began dating in 2007.
On September 17, 2012, Robbie Williams and Ayda Field had a daughter, Theodora Rose (Teddy). On October 27, 2014, their second child was born - son Charlton Valentine.
Childhood
His parents, Teresa and Peter Williams, owned a pub near the Port Vale football ground. They divorced when Robbie was only 3 years old, he and his sister stayed to live with their mother.
At school, Robbie became famous as a clown and a lazy person, but had a natural talent for dancing and singing. The guy’s mother was able to discern talent in her son, and with her light hand, Robi embarked on the path to stardom. It was she who saw the announcement of a casting for a new boy band and invited her son to try himself.
Star Trek
At the age of 16, Robbie joined the group Take That. The project turned out to be very successful; for five years the group dominated the English charts. At the Smash Hits Awards ceremony, the team collected 7 prizes, including the award for best Brit single. In terms of polarity, the guys could rightfully compare with their compatriots The Beatles.
But soon disagreements began within the group. Robbie did not hide his reluctance to sing in a group. He behaved as he did during his hooligan childhood: he was lazy, changed his image without discussing with producers, fought and swore. In 1995, Robbie officially left Take That. However, this was one of the most difficult periods in his life. Unclear future prospects and a violation of the contract with Take That provoked depression. In addition, Robbie was hit by a wave of dislike from loyal Take That fans. He had to once again win the favor of the capricious public. In fact, start all over again.
The singer began to have problems with alcohol and drugs. The singer was in a depressive seclusion for about a year. However, in 1997, Robbie released the single Angeles, which instantly rose to the top of the charts. In 1998, the artist was recognized as the best-selling singer in Great Britain.
The triumph of his musical career was his performance at the British Nebworth festival in August 2003, where he attracted more than 375,000 spectators. In 2009, Robbie returned to Take That, and already in 2010 he released a record. And critics, listeners, and handsome young ladies all over the world are ready to once again admire the bully Robbie. In October 2011, he launched the Rudebox Radio project, in which Robbie himself became the host. In 2012, Williams announced that his new album would soon be released and would be called Take The Crown.
Personal life
Since the beginning of his music career, Robbie has always been in the spotlight due to his personal life. The lyrics of Take That's songs were ambiguous and constantly suggested the performers' non-traditional sexual orientation. Robbie often laughed off the accusations against him, but this further cemented the opinion of his homosexuality. It was rumored that the artist’s producers even told Robbie to get involved in a serious relationship (and especially marriage) so as not to weed out his loyal gay fans. Either Williams came to his senses and began to obey his superiors, or he himself liked to have affairs without obligations.
In 1998, the singer got tired of provocative articles in the press and started a wild affair with All Saints vocalist Nicole Appleton.
And in 2006, Robbie went on a blind date, where he met actress Aide Field. In 2009, the singer proposed to live on the radio. Oh, it wasn't easy for the poor girl when Robbie said it was a joke. Just for the show's ratings! The press laughed at the would-be bride. Trusting such a brawler and womanizer was truly stupid. But apparently, the offended girl managed to take the bull by the horns. It is unknown what kind of scandal she threw at Robbie for a bad joke, but the wedding did take place. In August 2010, the couple got married, the celebration cost the guilty Robbie $12 million. On September 3, 2012, they had a child - a girl named Theodora.
October 4, 2012, 11:54 pmGreetings to all, Gossip Girls and Gossips. I adore Robbie and think he is talented singer, slightly underrated in the US and native Britain. Not long ago, Mr. Williams released the single and video "Candy", courtesy of . I came across his interview with the CapitalFm radio station, where he shared previously unknown facts about his biography. There are 20 of them in total. Let's go! 
1. After school, I worked as a plastic window salesman. Before joining Take That, Robbie got a job in a vinyl window shop in Stoke-On-Trent. But he didn’t stay in this position for long, because... auditioned and got into Take That. According to his admission, he would not have stayed there long anyway, because he was a disgusting worker. 
2. Robbie's debut single, a cover of J. Michael's song "Freedom", did not reach 1st place. Sad but true. Although Robbie's high-profile departure from Take That was widely reported, his first solo single failed to reach number one. Williams had to settle for a respectable second place. All because the new Spice Girls group was in first place. 
3. Robbie was 16 when he joined Take That As Robbie says, he looked like an absolute child compared to others. This is because he was practically a child. The group formed in 1989 in Manchester and Robbie was the youngest of them all. 
4. His father is comedian Pete Conway Robbie's father was a singer and comedian for 4 seasons. He practiced this as an entertainment manager at Carmarthen Bay Holiday Village in Kidwelly. It is not surprising that the son followed in his father's footsteps! 
5. Robbie's height is 183 cm Third in the Take That ladder, after Howard Donald and James Orange. 
6. Music "Rock DJ" remade version by Barry White. One of Robbie's most popular singles, "Rock DJ", was released in 2000 and became a huge success. Despite the fact that this song became a hit, almost no one noticed that the music was borrowed from Barry White's 1977 "It"s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me", albeit heavily transformed and modernized. 
7. Signed a £80 million solo deal in 2002. In 2002, Robbie signed one of the most lucrative contracts in recording history. The contract was awarded to EMI for £80 million. He famously celebrated the signing of the deal, declaring at a press conference in London: “I am richer than I could have ever imagined in my wildest dreams!” 
8. The concert at Knebworth was seen by 125,000 people in one evening. The 2003 Knebworth concert was marked as one of the biggest concerts in history. Over the course of three evenings, Robbie performed in front of an audience of 125 thousand people in one evening. Almost 3.5 million people watched this concert on TV and online, and a live album and DVD were also released. Thus, Robbie has the opportunity to stand on the same level with such music legends as Queen, Oasis and Led Zeppelin, who also performed at this famous venue. 
9. Dated Cam Diaz, Anna Friel, Nicole Appleton and Tara Palmer Tompkins. We all know that Robbie is now an exemplary family man and a happy father, but no one doubts that he is a womanizer and a breaker of women’s hearts, hopefully in the past. The list of his ex-girlfriends and lovers will probably take several pages, but the most famous are Cameron Diaz, Anna Friel, Nicole Appleton, who is now the wife of Oasis leader Noel Gallagher, and Tara Palmer Tompkins. 
10. He holds a record number of BRIT Awards. Over the past 20 years, Robbie has accumulated 17 BRIT Awards, five of which he received as part of the group Take That, and another 12 solo performances. 
11. Obsessed with UFOs. Robbie never hid his interest in flying saucers. He spoke on radio and TV in support of studying these phenomena at the state level. By his own admission, Robbie saw a UFO three times. 
12. Best friend is TV star Jonathan Wilkes. This couple shares not only musical interests, but also a passion for sports, in particular football, which they play together. Jonathan also shares Robbie's fascination with UFOs. In 2007, when Williams took a break from his music career, they immersed themselves in studying this phenomenon together. 13. Middle name and name given at confirmation. Middle name Robbie Peter, after his father. Maximilian was the name given to him at his confirmation in the Catholic Church as a child. 
14. Only one single reached the top of the British chart. Surprising but true! Robbie's only single that conquered Britain and became a number one was "Millennium". The famous "Angels" only managed to reach number 4 on the charts in December 1997. 
15. Voiced an animated character. In 2005, the cartoon "Magic Adventure" was released, where Robbie voiced a character named Dougal. In addition to Robbie, Judi Dench, Kylie Minogue, Vanessa Paradis, Bill Nighy and others took part in the joint project between France and Great Britain. 
16. In 1995, he starred in a cameo role. Robbie is a big fan of Eastenders and did a small role in the episode which became very popular. 
Not tattooed yet...
17. Met my wife in 2007. Robbie met Aida in 2007 on a blind date. Aida came to the party at the singer's house wearing a baggy dress, which made Robbie think she was pregnant. 
18. He doesn't know how to drive! In 2011, the singer admitted that he does not know how to drive a car. He never learned to do this and, of course, still does not have a driver's license. He admits that he doesn’t regret it much, because the traffic in London is disgusting. 
19. Port Vale fan. As already mentioned, Robbie is a big football fan. His favorite team is Port Vale, for whom he supports and never misses the opportunity to train with them. In 2006, he bought part of the shares and is a co-owner of the club. 
20. I have my own clothing line. In 2011, Williams released his own clothing line called "Farrell". The line specializes in military-style clothing, the latest collection was presented by Robbie's close friend Olly Murs. 
Ollie and Robbie for Farrell
Thanks everyone! Sorry that it turned out so clumsily, computer, radish. FOR SWEET!!))) P.S. My translation is also a little clumsy, in general, everything is messed up. ((
Singer Robbie Williams is a British and rather eccentric performer. His very appearance on the stage is unusual and provocative for England. Robbie Williams' musical style is to shock the public with clips, songs and, most importantly, various antics that he constantly throws out for public viewing. Robert Peter Maximilian Williams himself, or simply Robbie Williamson, was born in 1974; Robbie Williams spent his childhood in the city of Stoke-on-Trent. Already at school, he showed what his not simple character was capable of; Robbie was not a rebel or a hooligan, but he had the ability to sing and play the piano. Musician Robbie Williams has been ahead of his peers since school, studying in a theater troupe; he more often than others got the main roles in musicals.
The guy began his path to fame at the age of 16. It was then that Robbie Williams' musical career began to take off. A young performer who came to audition for the famous group Take That brilliantly performed Jason Donovan's composition Nothing Can Divide Us. Having performed the song in one word good, the group instantly realized that this guy was what they needed. From that moment on, she became the most extraordinary member of the group.
Performer Robbie Williams with a stunning smile, a sense of “sharp” humor and sparkling eyes has become the dream of all British teenagers. He never tried to tame his wild temper and always flaunted it. For example, there is information about Robbie Williams that in Italy he decided to swim not on the Cote d'Azur, but in a fountain. True, the young rebel, having drunk too much, did not pay attention to the fact that there was no water in the fountain. As the life story of Robbie Williams tells, it was after that incident that he got a scar on his head and left eyebrow, which does not confuse fans at all, and makes its owner even more charming.
The extravagant biography of Robbie Williams does not end with a series of piquant incidents. In London, having received one of the many awards, the singer stole a box of champagne from a bar and went on to have fun at the Glastonbury festival. The star's idols, Oasis, performed at the festival, and here Robbie distinguished himself. Opening the trunk of a car that was filled with strong drinks, he told Gallagher that they should play football and sing a couple of songs, and then drink to their heart's content. And, of course, the performance created a colossal sensation, and the group agreed to its terms.
One of important fact from the life of Robbie Williams is his departure from the group, when the next tour was supposed to take place. The singer was confident in his abilities and decided to start a solo career rather than depend on everyone. Unfortunately, his persistence did not last long; the condemnation of former friends, problems with the contract and manager, as well as the right to perform solo, still broke the young star.
Stress was followed by depression, then a destructive passion for alcoholic beverages and dangerous drugs. And, of course, it couldn’t have happened without help; Elton John supported the singer, and he managed to give up bad habits and return to normal life. Everything was going towards success, he managed to win the lawsuit, solve the financial side of the problems, and return to creative songwriting. For short term luck returned to Robbie, he signed a contract with Chrysalis to record a successful single - a cover of Freedom 96.
The singer worked with many authors, but the most successful was his work with Desmond Child; as a result of their collaboration, the first solo single “Old before I die” appeared, the style was very reminiscent of his idols. This was followed by the album Life thru a lens and positive reviews from critics and fans.
Naturally, all this contributed to the artist’s fame and good performance. In 2001, Williams released the disc Swing when you're winning, as well as a song he performed with the charming Nicole Kidman. Eventually, a series of new albums followed in Robbie Williams' discography. Robbie knows how to uniquely perform and create his works; a distinctive feature of the artist is the ability to create a real masterpiece, for example one of the hits, the composition Feel. Of course, music is Williams' element, but he is also talented as an actor. All his videos are dynamic, unique, and each hero has his own inimitable character.
Robbie Williams' personal life has always been the focus of journalists' attention. Numerous affairs that were constantly highlighted in photographs of Robbie Williams and his passions. There was a lot of gossip, and the conversation was accompanied by opinions about the singer’s orientation. There were rumors that the artist’s managers forbade marriage so as not to scare off gay fans. In 1998, the singer denied all the rumors and started a crazy affair with Nicole Appleton.
Then, in 2006, he decided to pull out another trick and went on a blind date. There he meets actress Aide Field, three years later he proposes to the girl live on the radio, but even here he distinguishes himself by saying that all this is just PR and a joke. But, despite the rowdy Robbie, the wedding took place, and a photo of Robbie Williams and his wife appeared in the press as a happy family. And on September 3, 2012, a charming girl, Theodora, was born. The singer’s character may not be simple, but with the right approach, any person can be changed and made an exemplary family man.
Becoming famous is what Robbie Williams always wanted. And he managed to fulfill his dream. Even if you have never come into contact with the work of this British musician, you have undoubtedly heard about his scandalous behavior. This bad boy knows how to shock the audience. He also knows how to charge a huge crowd with his energy and unique sense of humor. His concerts are a real drive. This is what fans of the pop star say, who see Robbie as complex and interesting personality. Is this really true?
Brief biography
Ordinary boyish games, ordinary conversations with friends, ordinary family gatherings - Robbie Williams' childhood was quite ordinary for a British boy. He was born on February 13, 1974 in the beautiful English city of Stoke-on-Trent.
Rob is the child of Teresa and Peter Williams. In addition to him, the family grew up with a girl, Sally, a child from her father’s first marriage. While the children were playing and exploring the world, the parents were developing their own pub. Three years after Robbie was born, the marriage broke up. Teresa began raising the children alone, and Peter took the pseudonym Pete Conway and decided to make a career as a comedian.
It is not known whether genes or constant meetings with his comedian father influenced the development of the boy’s sense of humor, but at school he was known as a clown. He was also lazy and a loser. But this did not stop Robbie from participating in theatrical productions on the school stage, singing songs on the guitar and captivating the hearts of those around him with his charm. In addition, he often got leading roles in musicals. If you look at the childhood photographs of this British singer, what immediately catches your eye is his trademark slightly oblique smile and cheerfulness - with youth he was charismatic. No wonder people came to school plays just for him.
Robbie's school life ended with failure in exams and... joining the new boy group "Take that". Just the day 16-year-old Rob left the walls educational institution, his mother came across an advertisement for recruitment into a boy band. Teresa, without doubting her son’s talent, invited him to try his hand at it. He took her advice and was right: his audition impressed the members of the new group. Ahead lay 5 years of success as part of “Take that”, recognized as one of the most successful British teams.
Tours, constant concerts, awards, crowds of fans - this is what the life of an attractive young man consisted of in the early 90s. Participation in the boy band turned out to be more than just popularity for Robbie Williams. He became addicted to alcohol and drugs. The young man understood what this meant, but he didn’t care. Even persuasion did not help the intractable guy Elton John , who has already experienced all the harmfulness of the habit. But the musician turned to rehabilitation only in the late 90s, and in the new millennium he will still have to undergo treatment for addiction with antidepressants. In the meantime, the charming Briton is enjoying life and basking in the love of fans.
But, as often happens, the well-coordinated team begins to disintegrate. This happened with “Take that”. After 5 years collaboration, disagreements arose. And if someone in the group tried not to talk about it, then Rob decided to rebel. He dyed his hair, started fooling around and eventually left the group in 1995, admitting that it was a real prison for him. Why? All work came down to rules and obligations that pressed on him.
Robbie Williams is out of the music world for a year. Fans have a very ambivalent attitude towards him; in addition, problems arose with violating the terms of the contract concluded with “Take that” - in general, the popular Briton had no time for music. Having dealt with everyone legal issues, he proceeded to solo career and in the summer of 1996 he released a cover version of George Michael's song "Freedom-90". The public did not accept this single, nor the subsequent one.
Robbie was not going to give up and at the end of 1997 he recorded the song “Angels”. The touching and tender track not only conquered the British charts, where it was on the chart for 27 weeks, but also became a national hit. It was with this single that the real popularity and demand of Robbie Williams as a solo singer began.
The musician's fame grew. In the UK, sales of his albums and singles reach record levels. In 1998, Robbie was even recognized as the best-selling singer. But besides Europe, there is also America. To conquer it, the artist records the album “The Ego Has Landed” - a compilation from two previous collections. But the American public reacted coolly to the appearance of the British singer on their soil. But the British couldn't wait for the release of his next single and album. The musician tried not to disappoint them and released new hits.
In 2006 - 2007, Robbie slowed down. He actively took care of his health, which was failing. The abuse of various substances and personal problems affected. After refusing bad habits, a confirmed bachelor decided to surprise the public with a wedding. In 2010, he married American actress Ida Field. The pop musician found true family happiness a little later: in 2012 they became the parents of a charming girl, and in 2014 - a boy.
Happy, matured and popular, Robbie Williams admits that his children have changed his attitude towards life. He is ready to sing their praises and admire their every movement. But the performer does not forget about music. A crowd of millions of fans are waiting for his performances and new hits. It's not Robbie's style to disappoint them. That's why he continues to sing and doesn't intend to stop there.
Interesting facts
- The singer's full name is Robert Peter Maximilian Williams.
- Rob's childhood idol was John Travolta's character, Danny Zuko, from the 1978 film Grease. It was he, according to the singer, who influenced the development of his artistry.
- In addition to numerous awards, the singer was awarded an entry into the Guinness Book of Records. He didn’t do anything special for this: he simply announced the start of a world tour. 1.6 million tickets were sold per day. This was the reason for his name to appear in the book about record achievements in 2006.
- School plays weren't the only thing Robbie was interested in. He loved to play ball. The artist admits that if it weren’t for the music, now we would see him in a football uniform.
- The singer's name is included in the British Music Hall of Fame. He was recognized as the best performer of the 90s.
- In the performer's hometown, three streets are named after his songs. Angels' Road, Candy Street and High Street were a gift from the people of Stoke-on-Trent for Robbie's 40th birthday.
- The single “Have Fun Like a Russian” caused a lot of noise. On the part of the singer, it was a joke, tomfoolery. But the Russian public was very interested in the British attitude towards Russia. Feeling his responsibility, Robbie even began to look for a reason to communicate with Russian journalists. He told them that he admired the strength and spirit of Russia and that, if possible, he would definitely talk with Vladimir Putin. Although the song did not take high positions, it caused a lot of conversation.
- The singer's rider includes 48 eggs. This is how he takes care of his own staff. After all, they also need to eat something.
- A career in the group “Take that” turned into a scandal for the Briton. The posters with the boy band members were ambiguous: fans had questions about Robbie’s sexual orientation. This was the policy for promoting the group. Subsequently, Rob even sued printed publications who accused him of unconventional relationships. The British court delivered its verdict - Williams is a normal man. The newspapers had to pay the musician compensation for moral damages.
- You can get acquainted with the personality of Robbie Williams in his autobiographical book “Robbie Williams: All About Me.” The name sounds quite “modest”, however, the image of the artist obliges. In addition to this book, there is another one - “Feel”.
- In 2001, the musician recorded a duet with Nicole Kidman on the song “Somethin" Stupid,” which was once performed by Frank Sinatra. The single topped the British chart, and the video shot for it allowed fans to enjoy a beautiful video.
- By the way, Elton John nicknamed Robbie modern Frank Sinatra . The reason for this comparison was the singer's voice - tenor.
- The pop artist’s body is decorated with more than 20 tattoos. Among them, family “inscriptions” stand out: Robbie immortalized the memory of his mother, grandmother Betty and grandfather Jack.
- The famous singer suffers from dyslexia. Skipping words when reading or writing so that no one understands anything is in the spirit of people who have encountered this violation. The musician is also nearsighted.
- Rob spares no money or time for charity. In 2012, he captained the football team in a charity match. All funds went to support the UNICEF organization, which provides assistance to children. He later became its ambassador.
- Robbie's ex-women say he is a very sensitive person. He is far from indifferent to public rumors concerning his work and personality. Such impressionability led to dependence on antidepressants - he could not live in constant stress.
- Before becoming a member of the popular boy band, Williams helped his mother in a flower shop. He also worked as a window salesman, but was fired for his honesty. The director did not like the young man telling customers about the poor quality of the products.
- Robbie is partial to all things supernatural. The song “Angels” was written precisely under the impression of paranormal phenomena. The meaning of the composition, according to the musician, is literally this: loved ones pass away, but return to look after us.
- The artist also collects everything related to Star Wars.
- Robbie Williams is famous for his extraordinary antics. To undress in a video, to be naked in public, to get drunk or to fight is quite in his spirit. The scandalous fame fuels interest in him, although many fans do not share this behavior of the idol.
- In 1999, the football game FIFA 2000 was released. She has a direct connection with Robbie. Firstly, he recorded the title track for her - " It's Only Us" Secondly, there was a 3D model, whose movements later became part of computer graphics football characters.
- The United States did not submit to the musician’s work, but he achieved resounding success in Latin America. There he is always expected and greeted with joyful exclamations.
- Robbie has his own idols. He listens to the vocals of Freddie Mercury and the music of John Lennon. His favorite bands are U2 and Queen.
The best songs of Robbie Williams
His signature and most successful single is, without a doubt, “Angels.” For the British, it's already a classic and a jukebox staple. The song is still a leader in sales compared to other songs by the singer. Although 20 years have passed since its release (1997). Time has no power over her. Even Robbie himself considers “Angels” the most successful. How else did the musician captivate the audience?
- « Feel" is another international hit that touches with its lyrics, musical accompaniment and the singer’s characteristic voice. The track is framed by a clip. The best known is the black and white footage, although a color version was also recorded. American actress Daryl Hannah took part in the filming of the video. Thanks to her, the song managed to attract the attention of the American audience.
"Feel" (listen)
- « Millennium"became the first single to reach the top position of the UK chart. The composition itself wears social implications and accuses people of their vices. It's time to stop - God sees everything, sings Robbie. It is noteworthy that in the video the artist acted as James Bond.
- « Supreme" - the success of this track went far beyond the UK. It entered the top ten on the islands of New Zealand, and even reached gold status in France - it’s not for nothing that the musician recorded a version in French. In addition to the song itself, the video for it is also attractive. In the video, reminiscent of old tapes, the performer appears as a racer trying to win the championship. The prototype for Robbie's character was Scottish racing driver Jackie Stewart.
"Supreme" (listen)
- « Rock DJ" is a catchy and danceable song that opened the top of the charts in Argentina and Mexico. And again the clip - it’s impossible to pass by it. In it, Robbie is presented as a DJ who gradually undresses and eventually removes his... muscles. The video contains both entertainment and the singer’s usual satire.
- « Candy" - another successful track, for which an equally attractive video was shot. Robbie took on the role of a guardian angel in a soft pink suit. According to the plot, he protects the “honor” of a narcissistic girl with her head in the clouds. The entire video sequence, like the song itself, is an attempt to make fun of young beauties.
"Candy" (listen)
- « The Road to Mandalay"he wrote under the influence of impressions about the most wonderful summer that the singer managed to spend after many years permanent work. The vacation ended and led to the writing of a song that topped the hit parade.