Robbie Williams

array(1) { [0]=> array(4) { ["title"]=> string(15) "Robbie Williams" ["timestamp"]=> string(20) "2010-09-05T23:13:11Z" ["text"]=> string(99055) "{{For|other people with the same name|Robbie Williams (disambiguation)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2010}} {{Infobox musical artist |Name = Robbie Williams |Img = Robbiein2009.jpg |Img_capt = Williams performing at [[ARIA Music Awards of 2009]] in Sydney, Australia |Img_size |Landscape = No |Background = solo_singer |Birth_name = Robert Peter Williams |Born = {{birth date and age|1974|2|13|df=yes}}
[[Stoke-on-Trent]], [[Staffordshire]], [[England]]. |Spouse(s) = Ayda Field (2010 - present) |Instrument = Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, synthesiser, drums, piano, violin, harmonica, Marimba |Genre = [[Pop]], [[rock]], [[Dance music|dance]] |Occupation = Singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, actor, vocal coach |Years_active = 1990-Present |Label = [[Chrysalis Records|Chrysalis]], [[Virgin Records|Virgin]], [[EMI]] |Associated_acts = [[Take That]] |URL = [http://www.robbiewilliams.com/ www.RobbieWilliams.com] }} '''Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams'''{{cite news|title=Stars' crazy middle names|work=[[The Sun (newspaper)|The Sun]]|publisher=[[News International]]|author=Rollings, Grant|date=5 February 2010|accessdate=5 February 2010|page=8}} (born 13 February 1974) is an [[English People|English]] singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of pop group [[Take That]]. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early to mid 1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams left the group in 1995 to launch his solo career. On 15 July 2010, it was announced he had rejoined Take That and that the group intended to release a new album in November 2010.{{cite news|last=Topping|first=Alexandra |title=Robbie Williams rejoins Take That after 15 years|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/jul/15/robbie-williams-rejoins-take-that1|accessdate=15 July 2010|newspaper=The Guardian (London)|date=07-15-2010}}http://www.inentertainment.co.uk/20100712/robbie-williams-rejoining-take-that-to-record-album/ His debut album, ''[[Life thru a Lens]]'', was released on 29 September 1997, on [[EMI Records]]. The album produced a string of successful singles, including "[[Angels (Robbie Williams song)|Angels]]", which has become one of his well known songs to date. Other successful singles from the album include "[[Old Before I Die]]" and "[[South of the Border (Robbie Williams song)|South of the Border]]". Williams followed up the success of his first album with his second album ''[[I've Been Expecting You]]'', released on [[EMI Records]] on 26 October 1998. Like his debut, the album charted at number one on the UK Album Charts and was successful on other worldwide album charts. The album produced Williams's first UK number one single to that point, "[[Millennium (song)|Millennium]]". His third and fourth albums, ''[[Sing When You're Winning]]'' released on 28 August 2000 and ''[[Swing When You're Winning]]'' released on 19 November 2001 were well received by music critics, and like his previous albums, debuted at number one in the United Kingdom. ''Sing When You're Winning'' is more of a pop album, while ''Swing When You're Winning'' is more a jazz/big-band led album, in which Williams claimed that "he always wanted to do a jazz album". From both albums, successful singles were released, including "[[Rock DJ (song)|Rock DJ]]", which was released from ''Sing When You're Winning'' and "[[Somethin' Stupid]]" (featuring [[Nicole Kidman]]) which was released from ''Swing When You're Winning''. The follow-up album to ''Sing'' and ''Swing When You're Winning'' was ''[[Escapology]]'', released on 28 November 2002. ''Escapology'' debuted at number one on the UK Album Charts, making this Williams's fifth UK #1 album. Singles released included "[[Feel (Robbie Williams song)|Feel]]", "[[Come Undone (Robbie Williams song)|Come Undone]]", "[[Something Beautiful]]" and "[[Sexed Up]]", all of which were top 10 hits in the UK. In 2004, Williams released a ''[[Greatest Hits (Robbie Williams album)|Greatest Hits]]'' album. His 2005 ''[[Intensive Care]]'' album was one of the best selling albums of 2005, and was the 53rd best selling album of the decade in the United Kingdom. His follow-up album, ''[[Rudebox (album)|Rudebox]]'', was however less successful in chart sales. After the release of ''Rudebox'', Williams took a musical hiatus, and returned in 2009 with his long-awaited [[Trevor Horn]]-produced album ''[[Reality Killed the Video Star]]'', which became his first album throughout his career not to chart at #1 on the UK Album Charts. Williams has sold more than 55 million records worldwide. He is the best-selling British solo artist in the United Kingdom and the best selling non-Latino artist in Latin America. Six of his albums are among the top 100 biggest-selling albums in the United Kingdom. He has also been honoured with fifteen [[BRIT Awards]]—more than any other artist—and seven [[ECHO Awards]]. In 2004, he was inducted into the [[UK Music Hall of Fame]] after being voted as the "Greatest Artist of the 1990s." ==Life and career== ===1974–89: Early life=== Williams was born to Peter and Janet Williams in [[Stoke-on-Trent]] on 13 February 1974. He and his older sister, Sally, were raised by his mother, Janet, as she and his father, attempted stand-up comedian Peter "Parp" Conway, separated when Williams was three days old and since divorced. Williams attended Mill Hill Primary School at [[Stoke-on-Trent]]{{cite news | url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-509391/Parents-furious-headteacher-troubled-school-takes-months--skiing.html | title=Parents furious as headteacher of troubled school takes three months off - to go skiing | first1=Laura | last1=Clark | first2=David | last2=Wilkes | publisher=''Daily Mail'' | date=21 January 2008 | accessdate=8 August 2010 | location=London}} then St [[Margaret Ward]] Roman Catholic School in [[Tunstall, Staffordshire|Tunstall]],{{cite news | url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Robbie-doing-kids-awards/article-339261-detail/article.html | title=Robbie doing it for the kids with awards | date=19 September 2008 | publisher=''[[The Sentinel (Stoke-on-Trent)|The Sentinel]]'' | accessdate=8 August 2010 }} and also attended dance school UKDDF in Tunstall.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} He participated in several school plays, and his biggest role was that of the [[Artful Dodger]] in a production of [[Oliver (musical)|''Oliver!'']]. A talented footballer, Williams briefly played for [[Port Vale Football Club]]Fowler, David (2009) "Robbie: the early years", Lotus Books. before an ankle injury finished what was a promising career. Following this, and prior to becoming involved in [[Take That]], Williams worked as a double glazing salesman, but he was fired after being caught advising customers not to buy from the company. ===1990–95: Take That era=== {{Main|Take That}} In 1990, the sixteen year old Williams was the youngest member to join Take That. According to the documentary ''[[Take That: For the Record]]'', his mother read an advertisement seeking members for a new boy band and suggested that he try out for the group. He met fellow member [[Mark Owen]] on the day of his audition/interview with [[Nigel Martin-Smith]]. During the heights of the band's popularity, Williams was known as the extrovert and practical joker of the band. Although the majority of the band's material was written and performed by [[Gary Barlow]], Williams did perform lead vocals on their first Top Ten hit "[[Could It Be Magic]]", "[[I Found Heaven]]", and "[[Everything Changes (Take That song)|Everything Changes]]". However, he had conflicts with Martin-Smith over the restrictive rules for Take That members, and he began drinking more alcohol and dabbling in cocaine. In July 1995, Williams's drug abuse had escalated to the point of his having a near drug overdose the night before the group was scheduled to perform at the [[MTV Europe Music Awards]]. According to the documentary ''For the Record'', he stated that he was unhappy with his musical ideas not being taken seriously by lead singer Barlow and Nigel Martin-Smith, because his desire to explore [[hip hop]] and [[rap (music)|rap]] conflicted with the band's usual ballads. Barlow explained in interviews that Williams had given up trying to offer creative input and merely did as he was told. As well as Williams's friction with the management of the band, [[Jason Orange]] had problems with his increasingly belligerent behaviour, his lack of interest in performing, and his frequent habit of missing the band's rehearsals. Both Orange and Barlow confronted Martin-Smith about the internal conflict, because they did not want him dropping out while touring and before any possible future touring of America, which never took place. During one of the last rehearsals before the tour commenced, the group confronted Williams about his attitude and stated they wanted to do the tour without him. He agreed to quit the band and left; it would be the last time for twelve years that they were all together. Despite the departure of Williams, Take That completed their [[Nobody Else Tour]] as a four-piece band. They later disbanded on 13 February 1996, Williams's twenty-second birthday. Shortly afterwards, Williams was photographed by the press partying with the members of [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]] at [[Glastonbury Festival]]. Following his departure, he became the subject of talk shows and newspapers as he acknowledged his plans to become a solo singer, and he was spotted partying with [[George Michael]] in France. However, a clause in his Take That contract prohibited him from releasing any material until after the group was officially dissolved, and he was later sued by Marth-Smith and forced to pay $200,000 in commission. After various legal battles over his right to a solo career, Williams was victorious in getting released from his contract with [[BMG]]. On 27 June 1996, Williams formally announced that he had signed with [[Chrysalis Records]]. ===1996–98: ''Life Thru a Lens'' and ''I've Been Expecting You''=== After leaving [[Take That]], Williams launched his solo career starting things off in 1996 by covering [[George Michael]]'s "[[Freedom (Robbie Williams song)|Freedom]]", the single reached number two in the [[UK Singles Chart]],{{cite web|url=http://www.8notes.com/biographies/robbie_williams.asp |title=Robbie Williams |publisher=8notes.com |date= |accessdate=23 December 2009}} twenty-six places higher than George Michael's original. Recordings for Williams's first album began at London's Maison Rouge studios in March of that year. Shortly after his introduction to [[Guy Chambers]], Williams released "[[Old Before I Die]]" which would be the first single taken from his début album. Co-written by Williams with [[Eric Bazilian]] and [[Desmond Child]], the single was released in April 1997, hitting number-two on the UK Charts; however, it was largely ignored on international charts. The second single, "[[Lazy Days]]", was released in mid-1997. Although Williams was going through drug rehabilitation on the advice of his friend [[Elton John]], he was allowed to check out to shoot the video for the song, but promotion for the single was virtually non-existent, so whilst the single charted at number eight in the United Kingdom, it struggled to reach the top forty of any European chart. His debut album, ''[[Life Thru a Lens]]'', was released in September 1997. The album launched with his first live solo gig at the [[Élysée Montmartre]] theatre in Paris, France. At first, the album was slow to take off, debuting at number eleven of the [[UK Album Charts]]. The third single of the album, "[[South of the Border (Robbie Williams song)|South of the Border]]", failed to make a significant impact on the UK Charts. When it was released in September 1997, it reached number fourteen. After Williams met the record company's concerns about his future, he released what would be the fourth single taken from his album, not knowing it would become his biggest single in the United Kingdom so far, and one of his most well-known songs and successful. "Angels" became Williams's best-seller in the United Kingdom, being certified 2x Platinum by the [[British Phonographic Industry|BPI]].{{cite web |url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=27952 |title=Award Certification for "Angels" |publisher=BPI |accessdate=4 January 2008}} The song, apart from becoming a hit around Europe and Latin America, caused sales of his album to skyrocket. The album remained forty weeks inside the British top ten and 218 weeks altogether, making it the 58th best selling album in UK History with sales over 2.4 million.{{cite web |url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=30745 |title=Award Certification for "Life Thru A Lens" |publisher=BPI |accessdate=4 January 2008}} The album eventually managed to sell over three million copies in Europe alone.{{cite web |url=http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/plat2002.html |title=IFPI Platinum Europe Awards - 2002 |publisher=IFPI |year=2002}} Williams and Chambers started writing the second album in [[Jamaica]] in early 1998. The first single, "[[Millennium (single)|Millennium]]", was inspired by [[John Barry (composer)|John Barry's]] [[James Bond (film series)|James Bond]] music. The song became Williams's first solo number one single in the United Kingdom when it was released in September of that year. The song went on to sell over 400,000 copies in the UK alone being [[British_Phonographic_Industry#Sales_certificates|certified Gold]] by the BPI in November 1998.{{cite web |url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=27847 |title=Award Certification for "Millennium" |publisher=BPI |accessdate=4 January 2008}} It also became a top twenty hit in many European countries, as well becoming a hit in Latin America and Australia.{{cite web |title=Robbie Williams - Millennium |publisher=GfK Dutch Charts |url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Robbie+Williams&titel=Millennium&cat=s Dutchcharts.nl}} When the album ''[[I've Been Expecting You]]'' was released in late October 1998, it débuted at number one in the UK Albums Chart.{{cite web |url=http://www.everyhit.com/ |title=UK Top 40 Database |publisher=everyhit.com}} The album received more attention outside the United Kingdom, leaving its mark in the European and Latin American markets with hits such as "[[No Regrets (Robbie Williams song)|No Regrets]]", a collaboration with The [[Pet Shop Boys]]' singer [[Neil Tennant]] and [[The Divine Comedy]]'s [[Neil Hannon]]. The single "No Regrets" was released in November 1998, reaching number four in the UK Singles Chart, backed with the cover of [[Adam and the Ants]], "Antmusic". The single eventually sold over 200,000 copies in the United Kingdom being certified Silver in October 2004, almost six years after its original release.{{cite web |title=Award Certification for "No Regrets" |publisher=BPI |url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=31788 |accessdate=4 January 2008}} The third single "[[Strong (song)|Strong]]" from the album debuted at number four in the United Kingdom and number nine in New Zealand, however, peaking moderately at only number 68 in Germany, number 99 in France and number 55 in the Netherlands.{{cite web |title=Robbie Williams - Strong (Single) |url=http://dutchcharts.nl//showitem.asp?interpret=Robbie+Williams&titel=Strong&cat=s |publisher=GfK Dutch Charts}} The fourth single, "[[She's the One (Karl Wallinger song)|She's the One]]", a cover of a track from [[World Party]]'s album, ''Egyptology'', became his second number one hit in the United Kingdom. The single was released as a double [[a-side]] with "It's Only Us", the official theme for '''[[FIFA 2000]]'''. The single became a massive success selling over 400,000 copies in the UK alone being certified Gold by the BPI in early 2000.{{cite web |title=Award Certification for "She's The One"/"It's Only Us" |url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=28709 |publisher=BPI |accessdate=4 January 2008}} Williams finished the year with an extensive European Tour in the late-1999. The album ''[[I've Been Expecting You]]'' was a smash hit, selling almost 3 million copies in the United Kingdom alone: certified 10x Platinum by the BPI.{{cite web |url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=31787 |title=Award Certification for "I've Been Expecting You" |publisher=BPI |accessdate=4 January 2008}} In Europe alone, the album sold over 4 million copies.{{cite web |url=http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/plat2001.html |title=IFPI Platinum Europe Awards:2001 AWARDS |publisher=IFPI |year=2001}} ===1999–2001: ''Sing When You're Winning'' and ''Swing When You're Winning''=== In 1999, Williams was signed to [[Capitol Records]] in the United States, which is a part of [[EMI]]. Williams embarked on a US promotional tour and when his first U.S. and Canadian single, "[[Millennium (single)|Millennium]]" was released, it hit number 72 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]],{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100#/artist/robbie-williams/chart-history/175454?f=379&g=Singles |title=Robbie Williams' US singles' positions |work=Billboard Magazine |accessdate=28 August 2009}} the album ''[[The Ego Has Landed]]'' was released in July 1999 in the United States and Canada, not having the success that he enjoyed in Europe, the album peaked at number 63 in the U.S. ''[[Billboard magazine|Billboard]]'' Albums Chart and number 17 on the Canadian [[SoundScan]] album chart.{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100#/artist/robbie-williams/chart-history/175454?f=305&g=Albums |title=Robbie Williams' US albums' positions |work=Billboard Magazine |accessdate=28 August 2009}} Despite this, Williams enjoyed good video airplay and received a nomination for the [[MTV Video Music Awards]] for "Best Male Video"{{ndash}} he did not win, but the exposure helped the sales of the album. {{Citation needed|date=June 2009}} Capitol Records, trying to make Williams a bigger star, released a second single from the album, the ballad "Angels", Williams shot a new video for it, and when it was released in fall of that year, the song became a somewhat bigger hit than "Millennium", peaking at number 53,Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles but this was not enough for Williams, so he concentrated on the rest of the world where he was already an established act. The album went on to sell 596,000 copies in the United States, certified Gold by the [[RIAA]] in November of that year.{{cite web |url=http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=robbie%20williams&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2008&sort=Artist&perPage=25 |title=Gold and Platinum:Robbie Williams |publisher=RIAA |date=199-11-05}} The compilation was released worldwide (as a limited edition in Europe); the album was a success in New Zealand reaching number-one on the official album charts.{{cite web |url=http://charts.org.nz/showitem.asp?key=7331&cat=a |title=Robbie Williams{{ndash}} The Ego Has Landed |work=New Zealand charts portal |accessdate=4 January 2008}} In the middle of promotion and the tours in 1999, becoming an established worldwide pop star, Williams found time to start the work on what would be his third studio album, this time he had finally found his confidence, not only to be more brash, but also vulnerable.{{cite web|url=http://www.robbiewilliams.com/ |title=Discography>Albums>Sing When You're Winning |publisher=Robbiewilliams.com |date= |accessdate=23 December 2009}} The first single taken from the album was "[[Rock DJ (song)|Rock DJ]]", a song inspired by Williams's [[UNICEF]] mentor, the late [[Ian Dury]]. The video, which showed Williams in an attempt to get noticed by the female DJ first stripping and then tearing chunks of skin and muscle from his body, caused a controversy in the United Kingdom and many other countries. The video was edited by [[Top of the Pops]] for its graphic content and many other channels followed suit.{{cite news |title=Controversial Robbie single hits the shops |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/859988.stm |date=31 July 2000 |publisher=BBC NEWS}} The song became an instant hit hitting number-one in the United Kingdom, becoming his third number-one single as a solo artist and exactly a year after his sell-out concert at the [[Slane Castle]]. The song also reached number-one in New Zealand and hit the Top-10 placings in many countries including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Italy and Australia.{{cite web |title=Robbie Williams - Rock DJ (Single) |url=http://dutchcharts.nl//showitem.asp?interpret=Robbie+Williams&titel=Rock+DJ&cat=s |publisher=GfK Dutch Charts }} Despite this success, the song failed to break in the United States charts, but it did get some TV Airplay in channels such as MTV and [[VH1]]. The song went on to win several awards, among them, "Best Song of 2000" at the [[MTV Europe Music Awards]], "Best Single of the Year" at the BRIT Awards and an [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Special Effects]], the single went on to sell over 600,000 copies in the UK alone, being certified Platinum by the BPI.{{cite web |title=Award Certification for "Rock DJ" |url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=29110 |accessdate=4 January 2008 |publisher=BPI}} When the album, ''[[Sing When You're Winning]]'' was released in August 2000, it topped the charts all over the world including Germany, New Zealand, The Netherlands and secured top ten placings in Italy, Austria, Australia, Finland, Sweden among many others.{{cite web |title=Robbie Williams - Sing When You're Winning (album) |url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Robbie+Williams&titel=Sing+When+You%27re+Winning&cat=a |publisher=GfK Dutch Charts}} As for the UK, the album débuted at number-one being certified 2x Platinum on its first week of release.{{cite web |title=Award Certification for "Sing When You're Winning" |url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=29046 |publisher=BPI |accessdate=4 January 2008}} The second single, a collaboration with Australian singer [[Kylie Minogue]], titled "[[Kids (song)|Kids]]", was written when Minogue approached Williams to write material for what would be her first album ''[[Light Years (Kylie Minogue album)|Light Years]]'' under [[Parlophone]]; it was then, when Williams felt the chemistry and decided to include the track on his album and release it as a single. It was an instant hit when it was released in October of that year, hitting number-two in the United Kingdom and reached top-20 placings in countries like Australia, New Zealand.{{cite web |title=Robbie Williams & Kylie Minogue - Kids(Single) |url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Robbie+Williams+%26+Kylie+Minogue&titel=Kids&cat=s |publisher=GfK Dutch Charts}} Kids became one of the biggest hits of that year selling over 200,000 copies in the UK alone being certified [[Silver]].{{cite web |title=Award Certification for "Kids" |url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=29111 |publisher=BPI |accessdate=4 January 2008}} Further singles, such as "[[Supreme (song)|Supreme]]" (which Williams recorded also in French), and "[[Better Man (Robbie Williams song)|Better Man]]" became big hits reaching the top-10 in numerous countries around the world.{{cite web |title=Robbie Williams - Supreme (single) |url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Robbie+Williams&titel=Supreme&cat=s |publisher=GfK Dutch Charts}}{{cite web |title=Robbie Williams - Better Man (single) |url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Robbie+Williams&titel=Better+Man&cat=s |publisher=GfK Dutch Charts}} "[[Eternity/The Road to Mandalay|Eternity]]", a track that was not featured on the album, was released in the mid-2001 backed with "[[Eternity/The Road to Mandalay|The Road to Mandalay]]", the former was written by Williams. It became his fourth number-one single in the United Kingdom, selling over 70,000 copies in its first week in the UK alone,{{cite web|author=www.devstars.com |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/all_singles_song.php?id=903 |title="Eternity"/"The Road To Mandalay" first week sales in the United Kingdom |publisher=Theofficialcharts.com |date=21 July 2001 |accessdate=23 December 2009}} and also hit the top-10 in many countries including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy among others.{{cite web |title=Robbie Williams - Eternity (Single) |url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Robbie+Williams&titel=Eternity&cat=s |publisher=GfK Dutch Charts}} The album had spent 91 weeks inside the UK Charts, going on to sell 2.4 Million copies in the UK alone being certified 8x Platinum by the BPI,{{cite web |url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=30744 |title=Award Certification for "Sing When You're Winning" |publisher=BPI |accessdate=4 January 2008}} the album became the 51st Best Selling album in UK Music History. The album went on to sell over 4 million copies in Europe alone. After the success of his third album, Williams wanted to take another musical direction. He took two weeks off from his tour to record what would be his fourth studio album, the big band album he had always dreamed of making.{{cite web|url=http://www.robbiewilliams.com/ |title=Discography>Albums>Swing When You're Winning |publisher=Robbiewilliams.com |date= |accessdate=23 December 2009}} Born from his life-long love for [[Frank Sinatra]]{{ndash}} combined with the success of the track "[[Have You Met Miss Jones?]]" that he recorded for the film ''[[Bridget Jones's Diary (film)|Bridget Jones's Diary]]'' in early 2001{{ndash}} the album was recorded at the [[Capitol Studios]] in Los Angeles, California. Williams took the chance to duet with his long-time friend [[Jonathan Wilkes]], ''Little Voice'' star [[Jane Horrocks]], ''Saturday Night Live'' star [[Jon Lovitz]], [[Rupert Everett]] and the [[Academy Award]] winning actress [[Nicole Kidman]]. The first single released from the album was a duet with Kidman, on "[[Somethin' Stupid]]". Originally a hit for [[Frank Sinatra|Frank]] and [[Nancy Sinatra]], the song became Williams's fifth number-one hit in the United Kingdom, selling almost 100,000 copies in its first week of release,{{cite web|author=www.devstars.com |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/all_singles_song.php?id=916 |title="Somethin' Stupid" first week sales in the United Kingdom |publisher=Theofficialcharts.com |date=22 December 2001 |accessdate=23 December 2009}} as well as hitting the top-5 in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium, New Zealand.{{cite web |title=Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman - Somthin' Stupid (Single) |url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Robbie+Williams+%26+Nicole+Kidman&titel=Somethin%27+Stupid&cat=s |publisher=GfK Dutch Charts}} It eventually went on to become one of the biggest hits of 2001, selling over 200,000 copies in the UK alone. After spending three weeks at the top of the charts in 2001, it was certified Silver in January 2002.{{cite web |url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=29997 |title=Award Certification for "Something Stupid" |publisher=BPI |accessdate=4 January 2008}} When the album, ''[[Swing When You're Winning]]'' (in reference to his 2000 studio album ''Sing When You're Winning'') was released in late 2001, it became an instant number-one hit in the United Kingdom (spending six consecutive weeks at number-one), Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland and it reached the top ten in the rest of the world going on to sell over 2 million copies by the end of 2001 and over 7 million altogether.{{cite news |url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,4-2002420301,00.html |title=Robbie swings both ways |work=The Sun |date=10 September 2002}} A second single was released from the album, a double a-side "[[Mr. Bojangles/I Will Talk and Hollywood Will Listen]]". It was, however, released only in Central and Eastern Europe. "[[Mack the Knife]]" was released as a radio single in Mexico.{{cite web|url=http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=217433 |title="Mack the Knife" Mexican Promo |publisher=Eil.com |date=17 June 2002 |accessdate=23 December 2009}} The album spent 57 weeks inside the UK Charts, selling more than 2.1 million copies. It was certified 7x Platinum in the United Kingdom{{cite web |url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=30751 |title=Award Certification for "Swing When You're Winning" |publisher=BPI |accessdate=4 January 2008}} and ultimately became the 49th Best Selling Album in UK Music History.{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article638531.ece?print=yes&randnum=1217442812968 |title=UK's 100 best-selling albums |work=The Times |accessdate=16 November 2006 | location=London}} "Beyond the Sea" was put in the credits of the film ''[[Finding Nemo]]'' in 2003 and was also released on the film's soundtrack CD. A DVD called ''Robbie Williams Live at the Albert Hall'' was released in December of that year. So far, it has become one of the best selling music DVDs in Europe, being certified 6x Platinum in the United Kingdom{{cite web |url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=32440 |title=Award Certification for "Live at the Albert Hall" |publisher=BPI |accessdate=4 January 2008}} and 2x Platinum in Germany.{{cite web|url=http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/?action=1&strSuche=Robbie+Williams |title=IFPI Germany: Certification for "Live at the Albert Hall" |publisher=Musikindustrie.de |date= |accessdate=23 December 2009}} ===2002–05: ''Escapology'' and ''Intensive Care''=== In 2002, Williams signed a record-breaking £80 million contract with EMI.{{cite news |title=Robbie signs '£80m' deal |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2291605.stm|publisher=BBC NEWS |date=2 October 2002}} The contract featured a number of provisos, including the label ceding greater creative control to the artist and a commitment to breaking Williams into the US market. So far it is the biggest music deal in British history. The deal was brokered by [[Ingenious Media]], a leading UK corporate finance advisory business.{{cite web|url=http://www.robbiewilliams.com/ |title=Discography>Albums>Escapology |publisher=Robbiewilliams.com |date= |accessdate=23 December 2009}} Williams began working on what would be his fifth studio album, spending a year in the recording studio. The album heralded a new era for Williams. He had taken a more active role in the making of this album, giving an indication of his growing confidence in the studio. "One Fine Day", "Nan's Song", and "Come Undone" were the first songs that Williams wrote without the input of Guy Chambers. Most of the songs were recorded in Los Angeles. The album's first single, "[[Feel (Robbie Williams song)|Feel]]", written by Williams and Chambers, was recorded as a demo. When they started working on the album and were trying to re-record the vocals, Williams felt unsatisfied with it, so he decided to include the demo version and then release it as the first single.{{cite web|url=http://www.robbiewilliams.com/ |title=Discography>Singles>Feel |publisher=Robbiewilliams.com |date= |accessdate=23 December 2009}} When the single was released in late 2002, it became Williams's biggest international hit, going number one in countries like The Netherlands and Italy, as well as reaching the top ten in almost every single European country.{{cite web |title=Robbie Williams - Feel (Single) |url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Robbie+Williams&titel=Feel&cat=s |publisher=GfK Dutch Charts }} When Williams's fifth studio album, ''[[Escapology (album)|Escapology]]'', was released in late 2002, it hit number-one in at least 10 countries around the world including the United Kingdom, Germany,{{cite web |title=Suchergebnis (Search) |url=http://www.charts-surfer.de/musiksearch.php |publisher=charts-surfer.de }} Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. Elsewhere, it made the top ten.{{cite web |title=Robbie Williams - Escapology(Album) |url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Robbie+Williams&titel=Escapology&cat=a |publisher=GfK Dutch Charts }} In the United States, however, it failed to make as big of an impact, reaching only number forty-three on the Billboard Albums Chart. The album's second single, "[[Come Undone (Robbie Williams song)|Come Undone]]" became a top ten hit around the world. Due to its controversial video, it was heavily censored by MTV Networks Europe for depicting a debauched (but fully-clothed) Williams having three-way sex with two women. The video was about some young people having a party and it showed footage of fights, drug taking and alcohol abuse. It also showed unsettling images of insects and reptiles. The uncensored version of the video was released on DVD single in Europe and was also included on the Enhanced CD Single.{{cite web|url=http://famous.y2u.co.uk/F_Robbie_Williams.htm |title=Escapology |publisher=Famous.y2u.co.uk |date= |accessdate=23 December 2009}} BBC Radio 2 also banned the song for its explicit content.{{cite web|url=http://www.robbiewilliams.com/ |title=Discography>Singles>Come Undone Official website |publisher=Robbiewilliams.com |date= |accessdate=23 December 2009}} At that time, it was confirmed that Williams and Guy Chambers were to officially split up. The single version of "[[Come Undone (Robbie Williams song)|Come Undone]]" is not the same version as the one on the album, but instead is listed by producer Steve Power as being "from an original production by Guy Chambers/Steve Power". The third single taken from the album was "[[Something Beautiful]]". The song was written in Barbados. It was first offered to [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]], who declined, after which it was reworked for its inclusion on Williams's album.{{cite web|url=http://www.robbiewilliams.com/ |title=Discography>Singles>Something Beautiful |publisher=Robbiewilliams.com |date= |accessdate=23 December 2009}} The single was released in mid-2003. While it had minor success compared to Williams's previous songs, it did manage to enter the top-10 in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Denmark.{{cite web |title=Robbie Williams - Something Beautiful (single) |url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Robbie+Williams&titel=Something+Beautiful&cat=s |publisher=GfK Dutch Charts }} It failed to make much more of an impact in the music charts in other countries. The video featured a number of people from all over Europe vying to win the chance to perform as Robbie Williams at the end of the same video. The three winners had the chance to meet Williams. Three different versions of the video were released in different parts of the world, featuring the different winners. Williams started his world tour in the mid-2003, and he was about to do three live concerts in [[Knebworth]]. The Knebworth shows attracted a total of 375,000 fans.{{cite press release |title=Robbie Williams at Abbey Road |date=31 October 2003 |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/10_october/31/robbie_abbey_road.shtml |publisher=BBC}} ''Escapology'' ended up selling almost 2 million copies by the end of 2003 in the United Kingdom. It was certified 6x Platinum by the BPI,[http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=30860 BPI Certification for "Escapology"]{{Dead link|date=December 2009}} becoming the 60th best selling album in UK music history. The album went on to sell over 5 million copies in Europe alone.{{cite web |url=http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/plat2003.html |title=IFPI Platinum Europe Awards - 2003 |publisher=IFPI |year=2003}} In October 2003, Williams released his first live album, ''[[Live at Knebworth]]'' which peaked at number-two in the UK. The album reached the top position in Germany and Austria and became a top ten album throughout the rest of Europe, Australasia and Latin America.{{cite news |title=Robbie Williams- Live Summer / Live at Knebworth (UK edition) |url=http://dutchcharts.nl//showitem.asp?interpret=Robbie+Williams&titel=Live+Summer+2003&cat=a |publisher=Dutchcharts.com}} The live record ended up selling a little over 600,000 copies in the United Kingdom and was certified 2x Platinum by the BPI.[http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=31784 BPI Certification "Live at Knebworth"]{{Dead link|date=December 2009}} It sold a total of 2 million units in Europe alone. He also sang the song [[Beyond the Sea (song)|Beyond the Sea]] in the film [[Finding Nemo]]. In October 2004, Williams released a retrospective of his career, and also, to reveal the new tracks he had been working on with the then, new collaborator, [[Stephen Duffy]].{{cite web|url=http://www.robbiewilliams.com/ |title=Discography>Albums>Greatest Hits |publisher=Robbiewilliams.com |date= |accessdate=23 December 2009}} "[[Radio (Robbie Williams song)|Radio]]", the compilation's first single was released in October 2004, which debuted at number-one of the [[UK Singles Chart]] (becoming Williams's sixth number-one hit) selling 41,732 copies,{{cite web|author=www.devstars.com |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/all_singles_song.php?id=994 |title="Radio" first week sales in the United Kingdom |publisher=Theofficialcharts.com |date=16 October 2004 |accessdate=23 December 2009}} the song was also a number-one hit in Denmark, and it hit the top ten in The Netherlands, Italy, Austria and Norway.{{cite web |url=http://dutchcharts.nl//showitem.asp?interpret=Robbie+Williams&titel=Radio&cat=s |title=Robbie Williams "Radio" |publisher=DutchCharts.com}} When the compilation ''[[Greatest Hits (Robbie Williams album)|Greatest Hits]]'' was released two weeks later, it went on to sell 320,000 copies in its first week in the United Kingdom debuting at number-one, the album, also hit the top spot in other countries like Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, Austria, The Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand.{{cite web |url=http://dutchcharts.nl//showitem.asp?interpret=Robbie+Williams&titel=Greatest+Hits&cat=a |title=Robbie Williams "Greatest Hits" |publisher=DutchCharts.com}} The album's second single, the ballad, "[[Misunderstood (Robbie Williams song)|Misunderstood]]", being the soundtrack of the film, ''[[Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (film)|Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason]]'' hit the top ten in Italy and Denmark in December of that year,{{cite web |url=http://dutchcharts.nl//showitem.asp?interpret=Robbie+Williams&titel=Misunderstood&cat=s |title=Robbie Williams "Misunderstood" |publisher=DutchCharts.com}} making the album the best selling album of the year in the United Kingdom, becoming the 61st Best Selling Album in UK Music History, with sales over the 2 million copies being certified 6x Platinum by the BPI.[http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=32340 BPI Certification for "Greatest Hits"]{{Dead link|date=December 2009}} The album, also became the best selling album of the year in Europe being certified 5x Platinum for over 5 million copies sold.{{cite web |url=http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/plat2006.html |title=IFPI Platinum Europe Awards - 2006 |publisher=IFPI |year=2006}} Eight years after the release of "Angels", in February 2005 British public voted it as the "Best Single of the past Twenty Five Years" at the 2005 BRIT Awards.{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/news/brits2005/wdyt_2.shtml |title=Brits25: Did your favourites get awards? |publisher=BBC |date=9 February 2005}} After touring Latin America in late 2004 for the promotion of his ''Greatest Hits'' album, Williams started working on his sixth studio album. Recorded in his bedroom in the [[Hollywood Hills]], the album was co-written by [[Stephen Duffy]] over the course of 24 months.{{cite web|url=http://www.robbiewilliams.com/ |title=Discography>Albums>Intensive Care |publisher=Robbiewilliams.com |date= |accessdate=23 December 2009}} The track "Ghosts" was inspired by [[the Human League]]'s "Louise", about a man who breaks off a relationship and realised he still has strong feelings for her. The album's first single "[[Tripping (song)|Tripping]]", was released on 3 October 2005, it became an international success topping the charts in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway and Spain.{{cite web |url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Robbie+Williams&titel=Tripping&cat=s |title=Robiie Williams- Tripping (single) |publisher=GfK Dutch Charts}} The album ''[[Intensive Care (album)|Intensive Care]]'' was launched in Berlin, Germany on 9 October. It became a smash hit around the world, hitting number one in the United Kingdom, as well as topping the charts in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Australia, Sweden, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Finland and many other countries.{{cite web |title=Robbie Williams - Intensive Care (Album) |url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Robbie+Williams&titel=Intensive+Care&cat=a |publisher=GfK Dutch Charts}} In November 2005, Williams took home the [[MTV Europe Music Awards|MTV Europe Music Award]] for 'Best Male', but also, entered in ''[[The Guinness Book of World Records]]'' when he announced his World Tour for 2006, selling 1.6 million tickets in one single day.{{cite news |url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Robbie-Williams-Enters-The-Guinness-Book-of-World-Records-13394.shtml |title=Robbie Williams Enters The Guinness Book of World Records |date=26 November 2005 |publisher=Softpedia}} But after the success, [[Gary Barlow]], [[Mark Owen]], [[Jason Orange]], and [[Howard Donald]] had agreed to reunite in [[Notting Hill]], west London, for a preview screening of a documentary about [[Take That]]. The documentary screened on [[ITV1]] on 16 November 2005. Unfortunately, according to a source quoted by Sunday Mirror, "Robbie announced he wasn't coming. The rest of the band were gutted but felt the show had to go on."{{cite news |title=Robbie Williams Misses Take That Reunion |url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Robbie-Williams-Misses-Take-That-Reunion-12303.shtml |publisher=Softpedia |date=14 November 2005}} By December, the second single from the album was released, the ballad "[[Advertising Space]]" reached the top-10 in some European countries including UK, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy.{{cite web |title=Robbie Williams - Advertising Space (Single) |url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Robbie+Williams&titel=Advertising+Space&cat=s |publisher=GfK Dutch Charts}} Williams kicked off his ''[[Close Encounters Tour|Close Encounters World Tour]]'' in South Africa in April 2006, when he finished his European leg of the tour, 2.5 million had seen the show,{{cite web|author=Time |url=http://www.emimusic.com.mx/portal/hgxpp001.aspx?2,24,135,O,S,0,PAG;CONC;26;2;D;372970;1;PAG;, |title=EMI Music Mexico |publisher=Emimusic.com.mx |date= |accessdate=23 December 2009}} and after [[Latin America]] and Australia the numbers when up to 3 million. After a long gap between singles, the third cut from the album was released in the mid-2006. "[[Sin Sin Sin]]" was the first song Williams and Duffy wrote together,{{cite web|url=http://www.robbiewilliams.com/ |title=Discography>Singles>Sin Sin Sin |publisher=Robbiewilliams.com |date= |accessdate=23 December 2009}} the video of which was shot in [[Cape Town]], South Africa right before the start of his tour. The track became Williams's first single to miss the UK Top 20, charting at only number 22, but managed to enter the top-20 in some countries including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, The Netherlands, Denmark and Italy.{{cite web |title=Robbie Williams - Sin Sin Sin (single) |url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Robbie+Williams&titel=Sin+Sin+Sin&cat=s |publisher=GfK Dutch Charts}} By the end of the promotion of the album, it was announced that it had sold over 5,000,000 copies in Europe alone, and was certified 5x Platinum by the [[IFPI]].{{cite web|url=http://www.zpav.pl/rankingi.asp?page=inne&lang=en |title=IFPI certification for "Intensive Care" |publisher=Zpav.pl |date= |accessdate=23 December 2009}} It was also certified 5x Platinum in the United Kingdom becoming, at the time, his lowest selling studio album in the country.[http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=32490 BPI Certification for "Intensive Care"]{{Dead link|date=December 2009}} ===2006–09: ''Rudebox'' and ''Reality Killed the Video Star''=== [[Image:HamburgDSC03276.JPG|thumb|right|Robbie Williams in concert in [[Hamburg]], Germany in 2006]] Williams's seventh studio album was announced in early 2006. It was to be a [[dance music|dance]]/[[electronic (music)|electro]] album with collaborations with the [[Pet Shop Boys]], [[William Orbit]], Soul Mekanik, [[Joey Negro]], [[Mark Ronson]], Chris Grierson, [[The Orr Boys]] and more. The first single, "[[Rudebox]]", premièred on radio by [[Scott Mills]] on his show on [[BBC Radio 1]]. The event caused some controversy, as the record label's embargo date was broken, although the artist himself later backed the presenter for doing so. Right after the single was unleashed, it caused controversy due to Williams's radical change in the single in direction from his other releases. British newspaper ''[[The Sun (newspaper)|The Sun]]'' named the song "The Worst Song Ever".{{cite web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/article56833.ece |title=The Sun, Williams' Worst Song EVER |publisher=Thesun.co.uk |date=22 July 2006 |accessdate=23 December 2009}} However, [[Victoria Newton]] stated that there were sure-fire hits on the album.{{cite web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/article56097.ece |title=The Sun, Robbie: After you, Justin |publisher=Thesun.co.uk |date=17 July 2006 |accessdate=23 December 2009}} The song was released in September that year reaching number four in the [[UK Singles Chart]]. It hit the number one spot in Germany, Switzerland and Italy.{{cite web |title=Robbie Williams - Rudebox (Single) |url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Robbie+Williams&titel=Rudebox&cat=s |publisher=GfK Dutch Charts}} Williams released his much anticipated dance/electro album, ''[[Rudebox (album)|Rudebox]]'', on 23 October 2006. It received mixed reviews: Allmusic gave it a four star rating, the ''[[NME]]'' 8 out of 10, and Music Week and MOJO were equally positive,{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/robbie-williams/8052 |title=NME Magazine on "Rudebox" |work=New Musical Express |location=UK |date=23 October 2006 |accessdate=23 December 2009}} but it received much weaker reviews from some of the British press. Despite reaching the number one spot, sales were far below what was expected by his label, and overall sales in the UK were overtaken by his former band, [[Take That]]'s ''[[Beautiful World (Take That album)|Beautiful World]]''. The album has sold a little under 500,000 copies in the United Kingdom, becoming his lowest-selling album in the country, being certified 2x Platinum by the BPI.[http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=32726 BPI Certification for "Rudebox"]{{Dead link|date=December 2009}} The album was received with a warmer reception by the public in other parts of the world where it hit number one including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Finland and Italy.{{cite web |title=Robbie Williams - Rudebox (Album) |url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Robbie+Williams&titel=Rudebox&cat=a |publisher=GfK Dutch Charts}} [[Image:Robbie Williams catzi.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Robbie Williams at a concert in Vienna, Austria in 2006.]] The album sold 2x Platinum in Europe with sales of over 2 million making it the fastest platinum selling album of 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/plat2006.html |title=IFPI Certifications, November 2006 |publisher=Ifpi.org |date=1 September 2005 |accessdate=23 December 2009}} The album finished at number eighteen in the list of 2006's best selling albums worldwide, Neil Tennant claimed the album had sold 4.5 million copies by early 2007.{{cite news |title=The boys are back in town |url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/showbiz/entertainment/music/tm_method=full%26objectid=19176631%26siteid=89520-name_page.html |author=Gavin Martin |date=25 May 2007 |work=Daily Mirror}} The second single, "[[Lovelight]]", came out right before the release of the album, and was commercially released on 13 November. The single reached the top ten in the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Finland, Denmark and Italy,{{cite web |title=Robbie Williams - Lovelight (Single) |url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Robbie+Williams&titel=Lovelight&cat=s |publisher=GfK Dutch Charts }} but failed to reach the success of Williams's previous releases when the track showed no longevity in the charts. The third single, "[[She's Madonna]]" included remixes from [[Kris Menace]] and Chris Lake, was released to European radio in late January to precede the commercial release which was scheduled to 5 March 2007. The track reached only number sixteen on the Singles Chart in the United Kingdom, but fared better in Continental Europe hitting the top ten in most countries. It rose to number one on the European Airplay Chart after spending four weeks at number two, a feat his former band, Take That, failed to achieve.{{cite web |url=http://charly1300.perso.orange.fr/nouveauclassement.htm |title=She's Madonna: #1 in European Airplay Charts |publisher=Orange.fr |date=25 February 2007 |accessdate=25 February 2007}}{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i36498a3471ed416a03b71c9f595e2ad1 |title=Billboard Euro hot 100 |publisher=Billboard.biz |date=15 March 2007 |accessdate=23 December 2009}} It was confirmed that this single was not going to be released in [[Latin America]] or Australia, but did receive heavy airplay in the latter of the two.{{cite web|url=http://www.robbiewilliams.com/ |title=Discography>Singles>She's Madonna>Territory Info |publisher=Robbiewilliams.com |date= |accessdate=23 December 2009}} Despite this, the single was released as [[Digital Download]] in Mexico in four different formats.[http://www.beon.com/detail/album.aspx?productID=e9e85e48-6718-4f5c-9d61-521ffec8bb4f "She's Madonna" Mexican Digital Download]{{Dead link|date=December 2009}}[http://www.beon.com/detail/album.aspx?productID=e5f7bbf1-9543-4e31-b764-ed58e325a138 "She's Madonna" Mexican Digital Download (Format 4)]{{Dead link|date=December 2009}} In August 2007, the single reached number 12 in the U.S. Billboard [[Hot Dance Club Play]] Chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/chart_display.jsp?f=Hot+Dance+Club+Play&pageNumber=Top+11-25&g=Singles |title=US Dance Chart |work=Billboard |date=19 December 2009 |accessdate=23 December 2009}} "[[Bongo Bong and Je Ne T'Aime Plus]]", a collaboration with British singer [[Lily Allen]], was released as the third single in [[Latin America]] and other European countries, hitting radio in January 2007, and as a Digital Download in February. To promote his album, Williams commissioned a series of short films.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/index.php?menuID=2&subID=1514 |title=Goodbye to the hard sell |publisher=Thefirstpost.co.uk |date=12 March 2007 |accessdate=23 December 2009}} ''Goodbye to the Normals'' was directed by [[Jim Field Smith]] and features "Burslem Normals" by Robbie Williams. On 4 October 2007, Williams made a return to the live stage after almost ten months, when he made a guest appearance at Mark Ronson's concert in Los Angeles. He performed [[The Charlatans (UK band)|The Charlatans]] song "[[The Only One I Know]]", which features on Ronson's album ''[[Version (album)|Version]]''. Rumours of a new studio album co-written with Guy Chambers had surfaced in early 2007, along with known commitments required by Williams to his EMI contract. British singer-songwriter [[Laura Critchley]] commented that she had sung vocals for three songs, and said that it would not be released until 2009.{{cite news |title=Three WAGs on Rob's bed |author=Dominik Lemanski |url=http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/16180/Three-WAGs-on-Rob-s-bed/ |work=Daily Star |date=23 September 2007}} On 16 January 2008 UK tabloid ''[[The Sun (newspaper)|The Sun]]'' announced that Williams had been working on some songs with [[Ian Dury and the Blockheads|The Blockheads]] member [[Chaz Jankel]]. The article went on to state that the reunion with Chambers hadn't worked out and that the material that Williams is working on with Jankel will form the basis of his next studio album.{{cite news |url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/article691870.ece |title=Robbie's hit by rhythm stick |work=The Sun |date=16 January 2008}} However, although it had been confirmed on the Blockheads official site that Jankel was writing with Williams, the rumour that Chambers was no longer working with him was not official. In late August 2008, Williams's friend [[Callum Blue]] commented that he was still working on the album.{{cite web|url=http://itn.co.uk/news/ebbc6ef6dc2b0b70e4a63137dcc1eae4.html |title=Robbie planning 'amazing' new album |publisher=ITN |date= |accessdate=23 December 2009}} In February 2009, it was confirmed that Williams has written material with Guy Chambers and Mark Ronson. A spokesman said that Williams was planning to begin the recording sessions in March and that the new album would be released in late 2009. This will be probably the last Williams album released by EMI.{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jan/28/robbie-williams-album-mark-ronson |title=robbie williams album-mark ronson |work=Guardian |date= 28 January 2009|accessdate=23 December 2009 | location=London | first=Sean | last=Michaels}} On his official website, Williams confirmed he is working with producer [[Trevor Horn]] on his new album; he described himself as "buzzing, it sounds big. Very, very big". The new album will be titled ''[[Reality Killed the Video Star]]'',{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.it/music/inuscita/dischi_all.asp |title=New album title - Page 4 |publisher=Mtv.it |date= |accessdate=23 December 2009}} a reference to the song "[[Video Killed the Radio Star]]" by Horn's former band [[The Buggles]]. The album is now due 9 November 2009 for the United Kingdom.{{cite web|last=Glastetter |first=Jason |url=http://www.theendofirony.net/2009/08/robbie-williams-is-back-for-good.html |title=Robbie Williams is back for good |publisher=Theendofirony.net |date=5 August 2009 |accessdate=23 December 2009}} The new song "[[Bodies (Robbie Williams song)|Bodies]]" had its first play on 4 September 2009 during the [[Chris Moyles Show]] on BBC Radio 1, where Moyles described it as "a grower", with Williams later agreeing that it may take a few listens for people to like it. On 11 October 2009 Williams published a 12-track compilation album, titled ''[[Songbook (Robbie Williams album)|Songbook]]'', as a free CD for the newspaper ''[[The Mail on Sunday]]''. The CD is a one-off album of some of his biggest hits - including several rare live performances and images from his new album. The CD also included the latest software 'completemyartist' which gave access to more exclusive content and playlists online.{{cite news|author=Louise Gannon |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1217429/Robbie-Williams-new-CD-hes-taking-world-storm-again.html?ITO=1490 |title=Robbie Williams, his new CD and how he's taking the world by storm all over again |work=Daily Mail |date=7 October 2009 |accessdate=23 December 2009 | location=London}} That same evening, Williams made his "comeback" on ''[[The X Factor (UK)|The X Factor]]'' results show, performing his new single "Bodies" for the first time live.[http://xfactor.itv.com/2009/episodes/news/item_100146.htm The Comeback Kids], xfactor.itv.com. Retrieved 12 October 2009. The appearance proved to be somewhat controversial as press and viewers alike questioned Williams's well-being following a bizarre and erratic performance. A spokesperson for Williams later issued a public statement declaring that Williams had not been taking drugs.{{cite news|author=Jo Clements |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1219929/X-Factor-Wild-eyed-Robbie-Williams-thought-Pop-Eyed-ol.html |title=Robbie Williams' X Factor appearance (13 October 2009) |work=Daily Mail |date=14 October 2009 |accessdate=23 December 2009 | location=London}} On 12 December 2009 Williams appeared again on the show to duet with finalist Olly Murs. Despite the claims Robbie missed his cue, he was unaware of the long instrumental and therefore began too early. However, after laughing it off and picking up his place again from Olly Murs, he managed to complete the performance without any other negative incidents.[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1235363/X-Factor-Joe-McElderry-Olly-Murs-head-head-final.html X Factor Final], Daily Mail. Retrieved 12 December 2009. On 20 October 2009 Williams opened the BBC Electric Proms at the London RoundHouse.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/electricproms/2009/artists/robbiewilliams/ |title=BBC Electric Proms - Robbie Williams |publisher=BBC News |date= |accessdate=23 December 2009}} It was his first live concert for 3 years{{cite web|url=http://www.robbiewilliams.com/news-blogs/robbie-switches-the-bbc-electric-proms-2009 |title=Robbie Turns on Electric Proms |publisher=Robbiewilliams.com |date= |accessdate=23 December 2009}} and was beamed across 200 cinemas around the world.{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/oct/21/robbie-williams-concert-review |title=Concert Review |work=Guardian |date= 21 October 2009|accessdate=23 December 2009 | location=London | first=Alexis | last=Petridis}} Accompanied by a string section, horn section, full band and producer Trevor Horn, Williams performed several new tracks from ''Reality Killed the Video Star'' and several of his greatest hits. ''Reality Killed the Video Star'' was exclusively previewed in the UK on the [[Spotify]] music streaming service on 6 November 2009, three days before its official release on 9 November.{{cite web|last=Sehr |first=Andres |url=http://www.spotify.com/blog/archives/2009/11/03/robbie-williams%E2%80%99-new-album-to-debut-exclusively-on-spotify-in-the-uk/ |title=Spotify.com |publisher=Spotify.com |date=3 November 2009 |accessdate=23 December 2009}} In a high profile chart battle, Williams's album was pitted against [[The X Factor (UK)|X Factor]] 2008 runners-up [[JLS]] who released their [[JLS (album)|debut album]] the same day. JLS beat Williams by 1500 sales with the 2 biggest selling albums of the year at that stage to the no.1 position, making ''Reality...'' Williams's first studio album not to reach no.1 in the UK. However it reached number 1 globally that week. The album was also released in the United States (Williams's first album to be released there since 2002's ''Escapology''). However, the album peaked at #160 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and dropped out of the chart after only one week. In late November 2009, Williams travelled to Australia to perform at the [[ARIA Music Awards of 2009]]. ===2010–present: ''In and Out of Consciousness'' and rejoining Take That=== In June 2010, it was officially announced that Williams is ready to release his second greatest hits album, ''[[In and Out of Consciousness: The Greatest Hits 1990–2010]]'', to celebrate his 20 year anniversary in music.{{cite web|title=In And Out Of Consciousness: Robbie's Greatest Hits 1990-2010 Is Coming!|url=http://www.robbiewilliams.com/news-blogs/in-and-out-of-consciousness-robbies-greatest-hits-1990-2010-coming|publisher=www.robbiewilliams.com|accessdate=26 June 2010}} Williams new single, also included on the album, will be "[[Shame (Robbie Williams song)|Shame]]", which is written and sung by Williams and [[Gary Barlow]], his [[Take That]] bandmate. The single is set for release on 4 October 2010, while the album is set for release on 11 October 2010 in both CD and DVD formats. On 15 July 2010, Robbie Williams announced he was returning to Take That. A joint statement between Williams and the group said "The rumours are true... Take That: the original lineup, have written and recorded a new album for release later this year," read the band's statement. "Following months of speculation Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams confirmed they have been recording a new studio album as a five-piece, which they will release in November."robbiewilliams.com On 26 August 2010, it was announced Williams would become vocal coach on the ninth series of German reality television show [[Popstars: Girls forever|POPSTARS]] to teach poptential girls for a girl group.{{cite news|url=http://www.focus.de/kultur/kino_tv/medien-robbie-williams-als-gastcoach-bei-popstars_aid_545690.html|title=Robbie Williams as vocal coach on Popstars|date=26 August 2010|accessdate=26 August 2010|publisher=Focus}} ==Other projects== === Reunion of Take That=== Williams announced in December 2008 that he was planning to relocate to the UK prior to releasing his eighth studio album in late-2009, and a possible reunion with Take That. Photos also showed Williams with his new tattoo of the [[:File:TTlogo.svg|Take That logo]] on his right arm, in tribute to his former bandmates.{{cite news|last=Moore |first=Matthew |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/3705276/Robbie-Williams-I-want-to-rejoin-Boy-Zone.html |title=Robbie Williams: I want to rejoin Take That |work=Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=11 December 2008 |accessdate=23 December 2009}} Williams bought a £7 million home in the village of [[Compton Bassett]], Wiltshire. On 27 March 2009, Williams stated he felt ready to re-join Take That. He said: "I'm in regular contact with them, even Gaz, and it's looking more likely by the week. The lads all seem up for it and some people think it's a done deal. I think it would be fun."{{cite news|author=Published: 6:40AM GMT 27 Mar 2009 |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/5058174/Robbie-Williams-ready-to-rejoin-Take-That.html |title=Telegraph.co.cuk |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=27 March 2009 |accessdate=23 December 2009 | location=London}} Williams was eager to re-join the band on their [[The Circus Live]] tour, but these plans never materialised. In September 2009, Williams was reported to be working in New York with Take That, however these rumours were never confirmed.[http://www.nme.com/news/robbie-williams/47535 Robbie Williams & Kez reunite in New York?] nme.com. Retrieved 11 October 2009. While it was rumoured that Williams would reunite with Take That on 12 November 2009 for a [[Children In Need]] charity concert at [[The Royal Albert Hall]], they merely greeted each other warmly on stage between performances. However, both did join with the other acts in the final song of the evening, with Robbie putting his arm around Gary Barlow and singing Hey Jude happily together. Williams subsequently implied in an interview that a proper reunion was still a distinct possibility. On 15 February 2010, tabloid newspaper ''The Sun'' printed an interview with Robbie, stating that he and Take That had been sighted going to an Los Angeles studio together.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8368475.stm |date=19 November 2009 |accessdate=23 December 2009 | work=BBC News | title=Gary talks about Take That reunion}} It was announced on 15 July that Robbie Williams had rejoined Take That and is set to release a new album in November with the band as well as embarking with them on a tour next year.www.robbiewilliams.com ===Reception in North America=== Williams's first United States single, "[[Millennium (song)|Millennium]]", made it to #72 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart.[http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=379&cfgn=Singles&cfn=The+Billboard+Hot+100&ci=3034436&cdi=7455056&cid=06%2F26%2F1999 Hot 100 from 26 June 1999, the last time the single was on the charts]{{Dead link|date=December 2009}} Its highest position on American charts was #20 in [[Top 40 Mainstream]].[http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=381&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Top+40+Mainstream&ci=3034842&cdi=7470289&cid=07%2F03%2F1999 Millennium Top 40 Mainstream]{{Dead link|date=December 2009}} His second single, "Angels", was a success on the [[Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks|Hot Adult Contemporary]] Chart where it peaked at #10. It also hit #41 in the Hot 100, becoming his highest peaking track on the main American chart and the most commonly known Robbie Williams song in the United States (later covers by [[Jessica Simpson]] and [[David Archuleta]] would be released as singles).[http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/searchResult.jsp?keyword=angels+robbie+williams&exposeNavigation=true&an=bbcom Angels Adult Contemporary]{{Dead link|date=December 2009}} In 1999, Williams released a special, US only, compilation of his first two albums, titled ''[[The Ego Has Landed]]''. The album peaked at #63[http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=305&cfgn=Albums&cfn=The+Billboard+200&ci=3036976&cdi=7548818&cid=02%2F12%2F2000 Billboard 200 Charts from the week of 12 February 2000, the last week "Ego" was on the charts]{{Dead link|date=December 2009}} and went Gold selling over 500,000 copies in the US. Later in 2000, "[[Rock DJ (song)|Rock DJ]]", a single taken from Williams's second US album ''[[Sing When You're Winning]]'', was released; it reached #24 in the [[Hot Dance Club Play]] Chart,[http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/searchResult.jsp?keyword=rock+dj+robbie+williams&exposeNavigation=true&an=bbcom Rock DJ Hot Dance Club Play]{{Dead link|date=December 2009}} but failed to chart on the Hot 100. The album peaked at #110 on the Billboard 200 and only stayed on the charts for four weeks.[http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=305&cfgn=Albums&cfn=The+Billboard+200&ci=3039830&cdi=7650785&cid=11%2F11%2F2000 Billboard 200 Charts from the week of 11 November 2000, the last time the album was on the charts]{{Dead link|date=December 2009}} Together with a promotional tour, EMI hoped that the release of ''[[Escapology (album)|Escapology]]'' would be the album to successfully break the American market. Williams performed the lead song "[[Feel (Robbie Williams song)|Feel]]" on such shows as ''[[Good Morning America]]'' and ''[[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992 TV series)|The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]]''. However, this single did not reach [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]] but peaked at #28 on the [[Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks|Adult Top 40]].[http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/searchResult.jsp?keyword=feel+robbie+williams&exposeNavigation=true&an=bbcom&x=0&y=9 Feel Adult Top 40]{{Dead link|date=December 2009}} The album ''Escapology'' also failed to catch fire in America and peaked at #43 on the US Album Billboard Charts.[http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=305&cfgn=Albums&cfn=The+Billboard+200&ci=3049828&cdi=8008794&cid=06%2F14%2F2003 Billboard 200 from the week of 14 June 2003, the last time the album was on the charts]{{Dead link|date=December 2009}} ''[[Intensive Care (album)|Intensive Care]]'' and ''[[Rudebox (album)|Rudebox]]'' were not released on an American label, but they were made available on iTunes. Williams's 2009 album, ''[[Reality Killed The Video Star]]'', was released in the US, but was also a commercial failure, peaking at #160 and remained on the chart for only one week. Williams's single "[[Lovelight]]" was released in the United States by [[Virgin Records]], debuting at #23 in the Billboard [[Hot Dance Club Play]] Chart on March 2008 and eventually peaking at #8 by May 2008. It was the third single from the British singer to hit the American dance chart. It was also his sixth single to reach American charts and his second highest-charting single in an American chart to date. Other singles from Rudebox were released in the United States: ''She's Madonna'', ''We're the Pet Shop Boys'' and ''We're the Pet Shop Boys (Close My Eyes)''. These songs peaked at #12, #5 and #7 respectively in the Hot Dance Club Play chart. In Canada, Williams has enjoyed more success, with "[[Feel (Robbie Williams song)|Feel]]" reaching the top ten there. A few of his other songs have gained popularity there, notably "Angels", "Millennium", "Rock DJ", "Tripping" and "She's Madonna". Williams has received a Platinum certification for his ''[[The Ego Has Landed]]'' for sales of over 100,000 and Gold for ''[[Swing When You're Winning]]'' as well as for [[Escapology (album)|Escapology]] selling over 50,000 units of each.{{cite web |title=Gold/Platinum |url=http://www.cria.ca/cert_db_search.php |publisher=The Canadian Recording Industry Association}} ===Collaborations=== One of his most famous collaborations was on the song "[[Kids (song)|Kids]]", a duet with Australian pop star [[Kylie Minogue]]. The single peaked at number 2 on the [[UK singles charts]] in 2000. Williams also collaborated with Australian film star [[Nicole Kidman]] on a cover of [[Frank Sinatra|Frank]] and [[Nancy Sinatra]]'s "[[Somethin' Stupid]]". The single reached number 1 on the UK singles chart in 2001. His single "[[No Regrets (Robbie Williams song)|No Regrets]]" featured Neil Tennant, and Neil Hannon on backing vocals. In 2002, Williams appeared on the track "[[My Culture]]" on the ''[[1 Giant Leap]]'' album, alongside rapper [[Maxi Jazz]] (which features lyrics from the hidden track "Hello Sir" from ''[[Life Thru A Lens]]''). Williams also features on a double CD titled ''Concrete'' which was released on the same day as ''Rudebox''. The CD features a concert recorded for the BBC featuring the Pet Shop Boys and Williams singing their classic hit "Jealousy". Their joint effort, "[[She's Madonna]]", was released as a single in March 2007. On 13 August 2007, a [[Dean Martin]] duets album was released, on which Williams sings "[[Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone]]". Most recently it was announced that Williams has recorded what is going to be Mexican singer [[Thalía]]'s first single from her upcoming English-language album. In 2010 he announced that he was to release "[[Shame (Robbie Williams song)|Shame]]", a duet with Take That lead singer songwriter [[Gary Barlow]] as the first single from his greatest hits collection ''[[In and Out of Consciousness: The Greatest Hits 1990–2010]]''. === Video Game=== Williams is to feature in his own karaoke video game, "[[We Sing Robbie Williams]]." It will feature 25 tracks accompanied by all the original videos. The game is to be released by publisher Nordic Games, which struck a licensing deal with EMI.http://www.billboard.com/news/robbie-williams-to-star-in-video-game-1004105649.story#/news/robbie-williams-to-star-in-video-game-1004105649.story ==Achievements== It has been claimed that Williams has sold more albums in the UK than any other British solo artist in history and has won more BRIT Awards than any other artist to date.{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/01_january/05/one_superstars.shtml |title=The One And Only |publisher=BBC |date=5 January 2008}} His album sales stands at over 57 million worldwide.http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20100808/tot-uk-williams-wedding-4b7b872.htmlhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/Robbie-Williams/e/B000AQ20Y8http://www.emimusic.com/blog/2010/robbie-confirms-greatest-hits-double-album-duet-with-gary-barlow/ Williams was entered in [[The Guinness Book of World Records]] when, after he announced his World Tour for 2006, 1.6 million tickets were sold in one single day.{{cite web|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Robbie-Williams-Enters-The-Guinness-Book-of-World-Records-13394.shtml |title=Robbie Williams Enters The Guinness Book of World Records |publisher=News.softpedia.com |date= |accessdate=23 December 2009}} He has been presented many awards, including sixteen [[BRIT Awards|BRIT]]{{cite web |url=http://brits.co.uk/show/2005/ |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070702072306/http://brits.co.uk/show/2005/ |title=The BRIT Awards 2005 |publisher=BRIT Awards |archivedate=2 July 2007}} and seven [[ECHO (music award)|ECHO]] awards.{{cite web |url=http://rhein-zeitung.de/on/07/03/28/magazin/musik/t/rzo323926.html |title=Echo-Verleihung mit hohem Kreischfaktor |publisher=Rhein-Zeitung Online |language=German}} In 2004, he was inducted into the [[UK Music Hall of Fame]], after being voted as the Greatest artist of the 1990s.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4005595.stm |title=Robbie joins UK pop Hall of Fame |publisher=BBC NEWS |date=12 November 2004}} He appears in the list of the all-time Top 100 biggest selling albums in the United Kingdom six times.{{cite news |title=UK's 100 best-selling |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article638531.ece?print=yes&randnum=1217442812968 |work=The Times |location=London |accessdate=26 November 2006}} On 23 October 2009 it was announced that he would receive the [[Brit Awards|Outstanding Contribution To British Music]] award at the [[Brit Awards|2010 BRIT Awards]].{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8321080.stm |title=BBC.co.uk |publisher=BBC News |date=22 October 2009 |accessdate=23 December 2009}} Williams received his award on 16 February 2010 at the end of the ceremony and performed a live medley of his greatest hits including ''Let Me Entertain You'', ''No Regrets'', and ''Angels''.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8517579.stm Lady Gaga winw Brit Awards triple], BBC News, Retrieved 17 February 2010 ==Personal life== Since 2006, Williams has spent most of his time in Los Angeles, California,{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/robbie-williams/news/155503-exclusive-robbie-williams-interview|title=Robbie Williams Interview|publisher=MTV UK|accessdate=2 April 2010}} and has commented many times on how he enjoyed the freedom and privacy because he is not so famous there{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}. Williams moved back to the UK in 2009 when he bought an £8.5 million mansion in [[Compton Bassett]], Wiltshire, nearby to close friend [[Jonathan Wilkes]] who lives in Swindon. Williams sold the mansion a year later to move back to Los Angeles. Williams has reportedly battled mental illness, obesity, self-esteem issues, alcoholism, and substance abuse throughout his life.{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/robbies-redtop-revenge-or-how-a-star-got-his-own-back-on-the-paparazzi-558178.html |title=Robbie's red-top revenge. Or how a star got his own back on the paparazzi |work=The Independent |accessdate=29 August 2004 | location=London | first1=Anthony | last1=Barnes | date=29 August 2004}} He once discussed how his friend [[Elton John]] booked him into a clinic to cope with his drug use that emerged from the depression he was experiencing while still in Take That. He entered a rehabilitation centre in [[Tucson]] for his addiction to the prescription pills [[Xanax]], [[Seroxat]], [[Vicodin]], and the energy drink [[Lucozade]] in February 2007{{cite news |first=Victoria |last=Newton |title=What drove Robbie to rehab |url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,4-2007070393,00.html |work=The Sun |date=14 February 2007 |accessdate=14 February 2007}} Williams used to smoke up to 60 cigarettes a day, but gave up in 2009 for his girlfriend [[Ayda Field]]. Williams has a strong interest in [[UFO]]s and related [[paranormal]] phenomena, and has pursued this interest during his 2007–08 sabbatical.{{cite news |first=Jon |last=Ronson |title=I'm loving aliens instead |url=http://music.guardian.co.uk/pop/story/0,,2274878,00.html |work=The Guardian |date=19 April 2008 |accessdate=19 April 2008 | location=London}} His interest in the subject led to him taking part in a documentary for [[BBC Radio 4]] with [[Jon Ronson]]. The documentary followed them to a UFO convention in [[Nevada]]. During an interview with [[Joss Stone]] on ''[[The Jeremy Kyle Show]]'' in 2008, Williams revealed that while out of his head on dispirin he has seen UFOs three times.{{cite news |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-528670/Ive-seen-UFOs-times-claims-Robbie-Williams.html |title="Robbie Williams claims: I've seen UFOs three times" |publisher=[[Mail Online]] |date=8 March 2008 | location=London}} Williams said his first UFO sighting was when he was a child in Britain while he spotted his second in [[Beverly Hills]], and added that the third sighting was just after he had written a song about alien contact. On 30 November 2009, Williams's hairdresser Aaron Vickers was found dead in woodland near to Williams's then home in [[Wiltshire]]. Vickers first met Williams in Los Angeles after being introduced by their mutual friend [[Jonathan Wilkes]]. When Williams bought the £8.5 million mansion in early 2009, Vickers lived at the estate for some months but had recently moved back in with his mother who lives nearby. Vickers was last seen by his boyfriend at 1am on Monday 30 November, and his body was found hanged in the woods the following morning.{{cite news|author=Luke Salkeld |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1232610/Robbie-Williamss-hairstylist-Aaron-Vickers-dead-woods.html |title=Robbie Williamd hairdresser found dead (3 Dec 2009) |work=The Daily Mail |date=3 December 2009 |accessdate=23 December 2009 | location=London}}{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/feedarticle/8838584 |title=Robbie Williams' hairdresser found dead (3 Dec 2009) |work=The Guardian |date=3 December 2009 |accessdate=23 December 2009 | location=London}} ===Relationships=== Williams has had romantic relationships with several well-known female celebrities, including [[Rachel Hunter]].{{cite web|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/hunter-williams-was-the-real-deal_1001953|title=Hunter:'Williams Was The Real Deal'|publisher=Contactmusic.com|accessdate=1 April 2010}} The book Feel, written by Williams's friend, writer [[Chris Heath]], details Williams's many sexual conquests during his European tour in 2003.{{cite book |author=Chris Heath |title=Feel: Robbie Williams |publisher=Ebury |location=London |year=2004 |isbn=978-009189753-6}} As of January 2007, Williams is dating Turkish-American actress [[Ayda Field]].{{cite web|url=http://www.gala.de/stars/news/73904/Robbie-Williams-und-Ayda-Field-Ich-habe-meine-Liebe-gefunden.html |title=Robbie Williams + Ayda Field: "Ich habe meine Liebe gefunden" |publisher=Gala.de |date= |accessdate=23 December 2009}} They have reportedly been together for almost three years.{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=496563&in_page_id=1773 |title=Robbie Williams wraps up with American actress Ayda Field |language={{da icon}} |work=The Daily Mail |location=London |date= 28 November 2007|accessdate=23 December 2009}} Despite several break up stories in the press[http://www.showbizspy.com/2008/01/20/robbie-williams-love-life-on-the-rocks/ Robbie Williams Love Life on the Rocks]{{Dead link|date=December 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.people.co.uk/showbiz/showbiz/tm_headline=she-s-the-gone-for-robbie-williams&method=full&objectid=20291364&siteid=93463-name_page.html |title=She's The.. Gone For Robbie Williams |publisher=People.Co.Uk |date=20 January 2008 |accessdate=23 December 2009}}{{cite news|author=Richard Simpson |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1029337/Unlucky-love-Robbie-Williams-loses-splitting-latest-girlfriend.html |title=Robbie Williams Splits with Girlfriend |work=The Daily Mail |location=London |date=25 June 2008 |accessdate=23 December 2009}} Williams and Field have been spotted together many times this year.{{cite web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/article1106244.ece |title=Robbie Williams has put on weight like Elvis after retiring - Singer seen playing golf with actress girlfriend Ayda Field |publisher=Thesun.co.uk |date=30 April 2008 |accessdate=23 December 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2008/05/08/robbie-williams-swears-its-this-big/#comments |title=Robbie Williams Swears It's This Big |publisher=Tmz.com |date=8 May 2008 |accessdate=23 December 2009}}{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1076154/Robbie-Williams-enjoys-day-favourite-person--girlfriend-Ayda-comes-too.html |title=Robbie Williams enjoys a day out with his favourite person... and girlfriend Ayda comes too |work=The Daily Mail |location=London |date=10 October 2008 |accessdate=23 December 2009}} On 29 January 2008 they were pictured on vacation together at Mammoth Ski Resort in California, accompanied by [[Max Beesley]].{{cite web|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/webbtv/noje/article1762260.ab |title=Aftonbladet |publisher=Aftonbladet.se |date=4 February 2008 |accessdate=23 December 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://robbiewilliamsnews.blogspot.com/2008/02/robbie-williams-spotted-in-snowy.html |title=Robbie Williams News: Robbie Williams spotted in snowy California! |publisher=Robbiewilliamsnews.blogspot.com |date=26 February 2004 |accessdate=23 December 2009}}[http://robbiewilliamsjourney.blogspot.com/2008/02/images-thanks-to-rwcm-purerobbiecom.html My Robbie Williams Journey: images thanks to rwcm @purerobbie.com]{{Dead link|date=December 2009}} She was featured in a UFO documentary that Williams did for BBC Radio 4 in April{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/apr/19/popandrock.spaceexploration |title=Jon Ronson heads deep into the Nevada desert with UFO obsessed Robbie Williams |work=Guardian |date= 19 April 2008|accessdate=23 December 2009 | location=London}} and took part in a field investigation he did in [[Trout Lake, Washington]] in August 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread389179/pg1 |title=And Robbie Williams Investigate UFOs at Gilliland Ranch, page 1 |publisher=Abovetopsecret.com |date= |accessdate=23 December 2009}} On 8 November 2008, Williams was spotted with Field at football match at the [[Emirates Stadium]], where he was also seen with [[Gary Barlow]] accompanied by his two oldest children, and Williams's longtime friend [[Jonathan Wilkes]].[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1084069/Back-For-Good-Robbie-Williams-Gary-Barlow-reunite--Arsenal-match.html Back For Good? Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow reunite], Daily Mail Online, 8 November 2008 The couple has been living together in a mansion in Wiltshire since the beginning of 2009 according to ''The Sun''.{{cite web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/article2355332.ece |title=TheSun.co.uk |publisher=TheSun.co.uk |date=2 April 2009 |accessdate=23 December 2009}} In October 2009 Field appeared in the video of Williams comeback single Bodies. Williams has been referring to Field as his "wife" in recent interviews.{{cite news|last=Adams |first=Cameron |url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,28383,26216584-5013560,00.html |title= Robbie Williams 'nervous not drunk' during comeback performance|date=16 October 2009 |accessdate=23 December 2009 | work=The Daily Telegraph}} In November 2009, Williams announced to [[Jonathan Ross]] that he was 'in love' with Field.[[Friday Night with Jonathan Ross]], [[Hotsauce TV|Hot Sauce]] production for the BBC. First Broadcast 7 November 2009. On 26 November 2009 Robbie Williams proposed to [[Ayda Field]] live on the Australian radio channel 2dayfm in an interview on the Kyle and Jackie O Show.{{cite web|url=http://www.2dayfm.com.au/entertainment/daily_dirt//blog/robbie-proposes/20091127-6mnu.html |title=2dayfm.com.au |publisher=2dayfm.com.au |date=27 November 2009 |accessdate=23 December 2009}} However, it was later revealed by Williams's manager that it was "done as a joke following suggestions it was a stunt which was set up prior to the radio show." His spokesman confirmed: 'He did say it, but he did it in a jocular manner. They are not engaged.'[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1231321/Robbie-Williams-claims-proposal-Ayda-Field-live-radio-joke.html Robbie Williams' claims proposal to be a joke], Daily Mail. Retrieved 27 November 2009. A few days later Williams himself denied the engagement, using his official blog to say "Hey all. We are not engaged. Rob.".[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/news/a188971/robbie-williams-we-are-not-engaged.html Robbie Williams denies engagement rumours] Digital Spy. Retrieved 28 November 2009.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8384089.stm Robbie Williams denies engagement rumours] BBC News. Retrieved 28 November 2009. On 7 August 2010 Williams and Field married at his home in Los Angeles.{{cite news|last=Sara Nathan|first=Ben Todd|title=Robbie's a married man! Take That star ties the knot with Ayda Field at £12m mansion|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1301086/Robbie-Williams-prepares-tie-knot-Ayda-Field-12m-mansion.html|accessdate=8 August 2010|newspaper=Daily Mail, UK|date=8 August 2010 | location=London}}[http://www.peoplestar.co.uk/index.html?news=392 « Robbie: "I Take That woman to be my wife" »], ''peoplestar.co.uk'', Retrieved on 2010-08-08. ===Sexuality=== Williams won a libel case against MGN and Northern & Shell in December 2005 relating to articles which had reported he was a closet homosexual.{{cite news |title=Williams wins 'gay' libel damages |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4502834.stm |publisher=BBC |date=6 December 2005 |accessdate=17 December 2006}} In the libel action that resulted from this, Williams accepted substantial damages, and the publishers accepted that the stories were untrue. His counsel, Tom Shields QC, told the court, ''"Mr Williams is not, and has never been, homosexual."'' Gay rights campaigner [[Peter Tatchell]] called for any damages paid out from the libel case to be donated to gay charities, claiming Williams's legal actions had created the impression that it is "bad to be gay".{{cite news |title=Williams 'should donate damages' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4513430.stm |publisher=BBC |date=9 December 2005 |accessdate=17 December 2006}} Williams retorted that he was not bothered about being labelled as a gay man, and he would have taken the same action had it been regarding a heterosexual relationship. The court case has led some to draw comparisons between Williams and Australian actor/pop star [[Jason Donovan]], who also once made a successful libel claim against a publication concerning his sexuality. Donovan won his case at the height of his fame in 1992, but later regretted his legal action as it made him appear homophobic and virtually destroyed his career.Donovan, Jason - "Between The Lines: My Story Uncut" (2007) [[HarperCollins]] Publishing (ISBN 978-0007261475) In 2008, Williams's friend, actor [[Max Beesley]], rejected claims that Williams was gay. Beesley said, ''"Some of the stuff written about him is enough to make me mad, the rumours about him being gay, for example. Not true. I've never met anybody less gay in my life!"''{{cite web|url=http://www.nowmagazine.co.uk/celeb_news/Max_Beesley_Robbie_Williams_is_not_gay_article_181582.html |title=Max Beesley: Robbie Williams is not gay! |publisher=Nowmagazine.co.uk |date= |accessdate=23 December 2009}} ===Wealth=== In 2009, the [[Sunday Times Rich List]] claimed he was worth over £130 million.{{cite news |title=Sunday Times Rich List 2009 |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1017485/Rotund-Robbie-Williams-gains-pounds--new-girl.html |work=Sunday Times | location=London | date=26 April 2009 | accessdate=22 May 2010}} Williams is a lifelong supporter of [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]], based in his home town of [[Stoke-on-Trent]]. In February 2006 he bought £240,000 worth of shares in the club, making him the majority shareholder.{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2006/02/27/robbie_williams_vale_stake_feature.shtml |title=BBC Stoke & Staffordshire - Robbie buys into Vale |accessdate=17 December 2006}} He also has a restaurant at [[Vale Park]] named in his honour.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/5153986.stm|title=Williams given Port Vale honour |date=6 July 2006 |work=BBC News |accessdate=13 July 2009}} ===Charity=== Williams has set up a charity in his home town entitled ''Give It Sum'', with its goal being to "improve local conditions and strengthen community life by giving money to those who are disadvantaged."{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/robbie/giveitsum/index.shtml |title=Robbie's Givin It Sum... |accessdate=26 May 2007 |publisher=BBC}} Williams, with the help of friend [[Jonathan Wilkes]], organised a charity football match [[Soccer Aid]] to raise money for UNICEF UK. This match was played in May 2006 at Old Trafford, Manchester. The participants were a mixture of celebrities and professional football players.{{cite web |url=http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=60916 |title=Robbie Williams Kicks for Charity |publisher=Novinite=Sofia News Agency |date=23 March 2006}} It was continued in 2008 and will take place again in June 2010. Williams has also been the Patron of the children's charity the Donna Louise Trust based in his home town of Stoke-on-Trent, for the last 8 years. The charity offers respite and palliative care to terminally ill and life limited children who are not expected to live past the age of 16.{{cite web|url=http://www.donnalouisetrust.org/ |title=Donna Louise Trust |publisher=Donna Louise Trust |date= |accessdate=23 December 2009}} ==Awards== {{Main|List of Robbie Williams' Awards}} Williams has won a large number of awards over the years, including more BRIT Awards than any other artist in music history (16), as well as six Echo Awards in six consecutive years from 2001 until 2007. ==Discography== {{Main|Robbie Williams discography}} {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} ; Studio albums * ''[[Life Thru a Lens]]'' (1997) * ''[[I've Been Expecting You]]'' (1998) * ''[[Sing When You're Winning]]'' (2000) * ''[[Swing When You're Winning]]'' (2001) * ''[[Escapology (album)|Escapology]]'' (2002) * ''[[Intensive Care (album)|Intensive Care]]'' (2005) * ''[[Rudebox (album)|Rudebox]]'' (2006) * ''[[Reality Killed the Video Star]]'' (2009) {{col-2}} ; Compilation albums * ''[[The Ego Has Landed]]'' (1999) * ''[[Greatest Hits (Robbie Williams album)|Greatest Hits]]'' (2004) * ''[[The Best So Far (Robbie Williams album)|The Best So Far]]'' (2006) (released only in [[Brazil]]) * ''[[Songbook (Robbie Williams album)|Songbook]]'' (2009) (released only in the UK with ''[[The Mail on Sunday]]'') * ''[[In and Out of Consciousness: The Greatest Hits 1990–2010]]'' (2010) ; Live albums * ''[[Live at Knebworth]]'' (2003) {{col-end}} ==Tours== * The Show Off Must Go On (October–November 1997) * The Ego Has Landed (May–June 1998) * [[One More for the Rogue Tour]] / [[One More for the Rogue Tour|For a Few Dollars More... Tour]] (1998–99) * [[Robbie Williams North American Tours]] (1999) * [[The Sermon on the Mount Tour]] (2000–01) * [[Weddings, Barmitzvahs & Stadiums Tour]] / [[Weddings, Barmitzvahs & Stadiums Tour|Sing When You're Pacific Rimming Tour]] (2001) * [[Weekends of Mass Distraction Tour]] / [[Cock of Justice/Aussie Typo Tour]] (2003) * [[Close Encounters Tour]] (2006) ==References== {{Reflist|2}} ==External links== {{commons}} {{Wikiquote}} * {{official|http://www.robbiewilliams.com}} * [http://www.timedetectives.co.uk/robbie_williams_43.html 180 years of Robbie's Farrell Family Tree] {{Robbie Williams}} {{Robbie Williams singles}} {{Take That}} {{EngvarB|date=August 2010}} {{Persondata |NAME = Williams, Robbie |ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Williams, Robert Peter |SHORT DESCRIPTION = English singer |DATE OF BIRTH = 13 February 1974 |PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]], England |DATE OF DEATH = |PLACE OF DEATH =}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Robbie}} [[Category:1974 births]] [[Category:1990s singers]] [[Category:2000s singers]] [[Category:2010s singers]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:BRIT Award winners]] [[Category:Capitol Records artists]] [[Category:English dance musicians]] [[Category:English expatriates in the United States]] [[Category:English football chairmen and investors]] [[Category:English-language singers]] [[Category:English male singers]] [[Category:English pop singers]] [[Category:English singer-songwriters]] [[Category:Ivor Novello Award winners]] [[Category:MTV Europe Music Awards winners]] [[Category:Music from Stoke-on-Trent]] [[Category:People from Stoke-on-Trent]] [[Category:Port Vale F.C.]] [[Category:Take That members]] [[Category:MTV Video Music Awards winners]] [[Category:World Music Awards winners]] [[ar:روبي ويليامز]] [[ast:Robbie Williams]] [[az:Robbi Vilyams]] [[bs:Robbie Williams]] [[bg:Роби УилÑ�мÑ�]] [[ca:Robbie Williams]] [[cs:Robbie Williams]] [[cy:Robbie Williams]] [[da:Robbie Williams]] [[de:Robbie Williams]] [[et:Robbie Williams]] [[es:Robbie Williams]] [[eo:Robbie Williams]] [[fa:رابی ویلیامز]] [[fr:Robbie Williams]] [[gd:Robbie Williams]] [[gl:Robbie Williams]] [[ko:로비 윌리엄스]] [[hi:रॉबी विलियमà¥�स]] [[hr:Robbie Williams]] [[id:Robbie Williams]] [[it:Robbie Williams]] [[he:רובי וילי×�מס]] [[ka:რáƒ�ბი უილიáƒ�მსი]] [[la:Robertus Williams]] [[lv:Robijs Viljamss]] [[lb:Robbie Williams]] [[lt:Robbie Williams]] [[li:Robbie Williams]] [[hu:Robbie Williams]] [[nah:Robbie Williams]] [[nl:Robbie Williams]] [[ja:ロビー・ウィリアムズ]] [[no:Robbie Williams]] [[nn:Robbie Williams]] [[pl:Robbie Williams]] [[pt:Robbie Williams]] [[ro:Robbie Williams]] [[ru:УильÑ�мÑ�, Робби]] [[sq:Robbie Williams]] [[simple:Robbie Williams]] [[sk:Robbie Williams]] [[fi:Robbie Williams]] [[sv:Robbie Williams]] [[te:రాబీ విలియమà±�à°¸à±�]] [[th:ร็อบบี้ วิลเลียมส์]] [[tr:Robbie Williams]] [[uk:Роббі ВільÑ�мÑ�]] [[vi:Robbie Williams]] [[zh:罗比·å¨�廉斯]]" ["html"]=> string(67120) "{{Infobox musical artist|Name = Robbie Williams|Img = Robbiein2009.jpg|Img_capt = Williams performing at ARIA Music Awards of 2009 in Sydney, Australia|Img_size|Landscape = No|Background = solo_singer|Birth_name = Robert Peter Williams|Born =
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England.|Spouse(s) = Ayda Field (2010 - present)|Instrument = Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, synthesiser, drums, piano, violin, harmonica, Marimba|Genre = Pop, rock, dance|Occupation = Singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, actor, vocal coach|Years_active = 1990-Present|Label = Chrysalis, Virgin, EMI|Associated_acts = Take That|URL = www.RobbieWilliams.com}}Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams (born 13 February 1974) is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early to mid 1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams left the group in 1995 to launch his solo career. On 15 July 2010, it was announced he had rejoined Take That and that the group intended to release a new album in November 2010.http://www.inentertainment.co.uk/20100712/robbie-williams-rejoining-take-that-to-record-album/

His debut album, Life thru a Lens, was released on 29 September 1997, on EMI Records. The album produced a string of successful singles, including "Angels", which has become one of his well known songs to date. Other successful singles from the album include "Old Before I Die" and "South of the Border". Williams followed up the success of his first album with his second album I've Been Expecting You, released on EMI Records on 26 October 1998. Like his debut, the album charted at number one on the UK Album Charts and was successful on other worldwide album charts. The album produced Williams's first UK number one single to that point, "Millennium". His third and fourth albums, Sing When You're Winning released on 28 August 2000 and Swing When You're Winning released on 19 November 2001 were well received by music critics, and like his previous albums, debuted at number one in the United Kingdom. Sing When You're Winning is more of a pop album, while Swing When You're Winning is more a jazz/big-band led album, in which Williams claimed that "he always wanted to do a jazz album". From both albums, successful singles were released, including "Rock DJ", which was released from Sing When You're Winning and "Somethin' Stupid" (featuring Nicole Kidman) which was released from Swing When You're Winning.

The follow-up album to Sing and Swing When You're Winning was Escapology, released on 28 November 2002. Escapology debuted at number one on the UK Album Charts, making this Williams's fifth UK #1 album. Singles released included "Feel", "Come Undone", "Something Beautiful" and "Sexed Up", all of which were top 10 hits in the UK. In 2004, Williams released a Greatest Hits album. His 2005 Intensive Care album was one of the best selling albums of 2005, and was the 53rd best selling album of the decade in the United Kingdom. His follow-up album, Rudebox, was however less successful in chart sales. After the release of Rudebox, Williams took a musical hiatus, and returned in 2009 with his long-awaited Trevor Horn-produced album Reality Killed the Video Star, which became his first album throughout his career not to chart at #1 on the UK Album Charts.

Williams has sold more than 55 million records worldwide. He is the best-selling British solo artist in the United Kingdom and the best selling non-Latino artist in Latin America. Six of his albums are among the top 100 biggest-selling albums in the United Kingdom. He has also been honoured with fifteen BRIT Awards—more than any other artist—and seven ECHO Awards. In 2004, he was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame after being voted as the "Greatest Artist of the 1990s."

Life and career

1974–89: Early life

Williams was born to Peter and Janet Williams in Stoke-on-Trent on 13 February 1974. He and his older sister, Sally, were raised by his mother, Janet, as she and his father, attempted stand-up comedian Peter "Parp" Conway, separated when Williams was three days old and since divorced. Williams attended Mill Hill Primary School at Stoke-on-Trent then St Margaret Ward Roman Catholic School in Tunstall, and also attended dance school UKDDF in Tunstall. He participated in several school plays, and his biggest role was that of the Artful Dodger in a production of Oliver!. A talented footballer, Williams briefly played for Port Vale Football ClubFowler, David (2009) "Robbie: the early years", Lotus Books. before an ankle injury finished what was a promising career. Following this, and prior to becoming involved in Take That, Williams worked as a double glazing salesman, but he was fired after being caught advising customers not to buy from the company.

1990–95: Take That era

In 1990, the sixteen year old Williams was the youngest member to join Take That. According to the documentary For the Record, his mother read an advertisement seeking members for a new boy band and suggested that he try out for the group. He met fellow member Mark Owen on the day of his audition/interview with Nigel Martin-Smith. During the heights of the band's popularity, Williams was known as the extrovert and practical joker of the band. Although the majority of the band's material was written and performed by Gary Barlow, Williams did perform lead vocals on their first Top Ten hit "Could It Be Magic", "I Found Heaven", and "Everything Changes". However, he had conflicts with Martin-Smith over the restrictive rules for Take That members, and he began drinking more alcohol and dabbling in cocaine.

In July 1995, Williams's drug abuse had escalated to the point of his having a near drug overdose the night before the group was scheduled to perform at the MTV Europe Music Awards. According to the documentary For the Record, he stated that he was unhappy with his musical ideas not being taken seriously by lead singer Barlow and Nigel Martin-Smith, because his desire to explore hip hop and rap conflicted with the band's usual ballads. Barlow explained in interviews that Williams had given up trying to offer creative input and merely did as he was told. As well as Williams's friction with the management of the band, Jason Orange had problems with his increasingly belligerent behaviour, his lack of interest in performing, and his frequent habit of missing the band's rehearsals.

Both Orange and Barlow confronted Martin-Smith about the internal conflict, because they did not want him dropping out while touring and before any possible future touring of America, which never took place. During one of the last rehearsals before the tour commenced, the group confronted Williams about his attitude and stated they wanted to do the tour without him. He agreed to quit the band and left; it would be the last time for twelve years that they were all together. Despite the departure of Williams, Take That completed their Nobody Else Tour as a four-piece band. They later disbanded on 13 February 1996, Williams's twenty-second birthday.

Shortly afterwards, Williams was photographed by the press partying with the members of Oasis at Glastonbury Festival. Following his departure, he became the subject of talk shows and newspapers as he acknowledged his plans to become a solo singer, and he was spotted partying with George Michael in France. However, a clause in his Take That contract prohibited him from releasing any material until after the group was officially dissolved, and he was later sued by Marth-Smith and forced to pay $200,000 in commission. After various legal battles over his right to a solo career, Williams was victorious in getting released from his contract with BMG. On 27 June 1996, Williams formally announced that he had signed with Chrysalis Records.

1996–98: Life Thru a Lens and I've Been Expecting You

After leaving Take That, Williams launched his solo career starting things off in 1996 by covering George Michael's "Freedom", the single reached number two in the UK Singles Chart, twenty-six places higher than George Michael's original.

Recordings for Williams's first album began at London's Maison Rouge studios in March of that year. Shortly after his introduction to Guy Chambers, Williams released "Old Before I Die" which would be the first single taken from his début album. Co-written by Williams with Eric Bazilian and Desmond Child, the single was released in April 1997, hitting number-two on the UK Charts; however, it was largely ignored on international charts. The second single, "Lazy Days", was released in mid-1997. Although Williams was going through drug rehabilitation on the advice of his friend Elton John, he was allowed to check out to shoot the video for the song, but promotion for the single was virtually non-existent, so whilst the single charted at number eight in the United Kingdom, it struggled to reach the top forty of any European chart.

His debut album, Life Thru a Lens, was released in September 1997. The album launched with his first live solo gig at the Élysée Montmartre theatre in Paris, France. At first, the album was slow to take off, debuting at number eleven of the UK Album Charts. The third single of the album, "South of the Border", failed to make a significant impact on the UK Charts. When it was released in September 1997, it reached number fourteen.

After Williams met the record company's concerns about his future, he released what would be the fourth single taken from his album, not knowing it would become his biggest single in the United Kingdom so far, and one of his most well-known songs and successful. "Angels" became Williams's best-seller in the United Kingdom, being certified 2x Platinum by the BPI. The song, apart from becoming a hit around Europe and Latin America, caused sales of his album to skyrocket. The album remained forty weeks inside the British top ten and 218 weeks altogether, making it the 58th best selling album in UK History with sales over 2.4 million. The album eventually managed to sell over three million copies in Europe alone.

Williams and Chambers started writing the second album in Jamaica in early 1998. The first single, "Millennium", was inspired by John Barry's James Bond music. The song became Williams's first solo number one single in the United Kingdom when it was released in September of that year. The song went on to sell over 400,000 copies in the UK alone being certified Gold by the BPI in November 1998. It also became a top twenty hit in many European countries, as well becoming a hit in Latin America and Australia.

When the album I've Been Expecting You was released in late October 1998, it débuted at number one in the UK Albums Chart. The album received more attention outside the United Kingdom, leaving its mark in the European and Latin American markets with hits such as "No Regrets", a collaboration with The Pet Shop Boys' singer Neil Tennant and The Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon. The single "No Regrets" was released in November 1998, reaching number four in the UK Singles Chart, backed with the cover of Adam and the Ants, "Antmusic". The single eventually sold over 200,000 copies in the United Kingdom being certified Silver in October 2004, almost six years after its original release.

The third single "Strong" from the album debuted at number four in the United Kingdom and number nine in New Zealand, however, peaking moderately at only number 68 in Germany, number 99 in France and number 55 in the Netherlands. The fourth single, "She's the One", a cover of a track from World Party's album, Egyptology, became his second number one hit in the United Kingdom. The single was released as a double a-side with "It's Only Us", the official theme for FIFA 2000. The single became a massive success selling over 400,000 copies in the UK alone being certified Gold by the BPI in early 2000. Williams finished the year with an extensive European Tour in the late-1999.

The album I've Been Expecting You was a smash hit, selling almost 3 million copies in the United Kingdom alone: certified 10x Platinum by the BPI. In Europe alone, the album sold over 4 million copies.

1999–2001: Sing When You're Winning and Swing When You're Winning

In 1999, Williams was signed to Capitol Records in the United States, which is a part of EMI. Williams embarked on a US promotional tour and when his first U.S. and Canadian single, "Millennium" was released, it hit number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100, the album The Ego Has Landed was released in July 1999 in the United States and Canada, not having the success that he enjoyed in Europe, the album peaked at number 63 in the U.S. Billboard Albums Chart and number 17 on the Canadian SoundScan album chart. Despite this, Williams enjoyed good video airplay and received a nomination for the MTV Video Music Awards for "Best Male Video" he did not win, but the exposure helped the sales of the album.

Capitol Records, trying to make Williams a bigger star, released a second single from the album, the ballad "Angels", Williams shot a new video for it, and when it was released in fall of that year, the song became a somewhat bigger hit than "Millennium", peaking at number 53,Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles but this was not enough for Williams, so he concentrated on the rest of the world where he was already an established act. The album went on to sell 596,000 copies in the United States, certified Gold by the RIAA in November of that year. The compilation was released worldwide (as a limited edition in Europe); the album was a success in New Zealand reaching number-one on the official album charts. The Ego Has Landed |work=New Zealand charts portal |accessdate=4 January 2008}}

In the middle of promotion and the tours in 1999, becoming an established worldwide pop star, Williams found time to start the work on what would be his third studio album, this time he had finally found his confidence, not only to be more brash, but also vulnerable.

The first single taken from the album was "Rock DJ", a song inspired by Williams's UNICEF mentor, the late Ian Dury. The video, which showed Williams in an attempt to get noticed by the female DJ first stripping and then tearing chunks of skin and muscle from his body, caused a controversy in the United Kingdom and many other countries. The video was edited by Top of the Pops for its graphic content and many other channels followed suit. The song became an instant hit hitting number-one in the United Kingdom, becoming his third number-one single as a solo artist and exactly a year after his sell-out concert at the Slane Castle. The song also reached number-one in New Zealand and hit the Top-10 placings in many countries including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Italy and Australia. Despite this success, the song failed to break in the United States charts, but it did get some TV Airplay in channels such as MTV and VH1. The song went on to win several awards, among them, "Best Song of 2000" at the MTV Europe Music Awards, "Best Single of the Year" at the BRIT Awards and an MTV Video Music Award for Best Special Effects, the single went on to sell over 600,000 copies in the UK alone, being certified Platinum by the BPI.

When the album, Sing When You're Winning was released in August 2000, it topped the charts all over the world including Germany, New Zealand, The Netherlands and secured top ten placings in Italy, Austria, Australia, Finland, Sweden among many others. As for the UK, the album débuted at number-one being certified 2x Platinum on its first week of release.

The second single, a collaboration with Australian singer Kylie Minogue, titled "Kids", was written when Minogue approached Williams to write material for what would be her first album Light Years under Parlophone; it was then, when Williams felt the chemistry and decided to include the track on his album and release it as a single. It was an instant hit when it was released in October of that year, hitting number-two in the United Kingdom and reached top-20 placings in countries like Australia, New Zealand. Kids became one of the biggest hits of that year selling over 200,000 copies in the UK alone being certified Silver.

Further singles, such as "Supreme" (which Williams recorded also in French), and "Better Man" became big hits reaching the top-10 in numerous countries around the world.

"Eternity", a track that was not featured on the album, was released in the mid-2001 backed with "The Road to Mandalay", the former was written by Williams. It became his fourth number-one single in the United Kingdom, selling over 70,000 copies in its first week in the UK alone, and also hit the top-10 in many countries including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy among others.

The album had spent 91 weeks inside the UK Charts, going on to sell 2.4 Million copies in the UK alone being certified 8x Platinum by the BPI, the album became the 51st Best Selling album in UK Music History. The album went on to sell over 4 million copies in Europe alone.

After the success of his third album, Williams wanted to take another musical direction. He took two weeks off from his tour to record what would be his fourth studio album, the big band album he had always dreamed of making. Born from his life-long love for Frank Sinatra combined with the success of the track "Have You Met Miss Jones?" that he recorded for the film Bridget Jones's Diary in early 2001 the album was recorded at the Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, California.

Williams took the chance to duet with his long-time friend Jonathan Wilkes, Little Voice star Jane Horrocks, Saturday Night Live star Jon Lovitz, Rupert Everett and the Academy Award winning actress Nicole Kidman. The first single released from the album was a duet with Kidman, on "Somethin' Stupid". Originally a hit for Frank and Nancy Sinatra, the song became Williams's fifth number-one hit in the United Kingdom, selling almost 100,000 copies in its first week of release, as well as hitting the top-5 in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium, New Zealand. It eventually went on to become one of the biggest hits of 2001, selling over 200,000 copies in the UK alone. After spending three weeks at the top of the charts in 2001, it was certified Silver in January 2002.

When the album, Swing When You're Winning (in reference to his 2000 studio album Sing When You're Winning) was released in late 2001, it became an instant number-one hit in the United Kingdom (spending six consecutive weeks at number-one), Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland and it reached the top ten in the rest of the world going on to sell over 2 million copies by the end of 2001 and over 7 million altogether. A second single was released from the album, a double a-side "Mr. Bojangles/I Will Talk and Hollywood Will Listen". It was, however, released only in Central and Eastern Europe. "Mack the Knife" was released as a radio single in Mexico.

The album spent 57 weeks inside the UK Charts, selling more than 2.1 million copies. It was certified 7x Platinum in the United Kingdom and ultimately became the 49th Best Selling Album in UK Music History. "Beyond the Sea" was put in the credits of the film Finding Nemo in 2003 and was also released on the film's soundtrack CD.

A DVD called Robbie Williams Live at the Albert Hall was released in December of that year. So far, it has become one of the best selling music DVDs in Europe, being certified 6x Platinum in the United Kingdom and 2x Platinum in Germany.

2002–05: Escapology and Intensive Care

In 2002, Williams signed a record-breaking £80 million contract with EMI. The contract featured a number of provisos, including the label ceding greater creative control to the artist and a commitment to breaking Williams into the US market. So far it is the biggest music deal in British history. The deal was brokered by Ingenious Media, a leading UK corporate finance advisory business.

Williams began working on what would be his fifth studio album, spending a year in the recording studio. The album heralded a new era for Williams. He had taken a more active role in the making of this album, giving an indication of his growing confidence in the studio. "One Fine Day", "Nan's Song", and "Come Undone" were the first songs that Williams wrote without the input of Guy Chambers. Most of the songs were recorded in Los Angeles.

The album's first single, "Feel", written by Williams and Chambers, was recorded as a demo. When they started working on the album and were trying to re-record the vocals, Williams felt unsatisfied with it, so he decided to include the demo version and then release it as the first single. When the single was released in late 2002, it became Williams's biggest international hit, going number one in countries like The Netherlands and Italy, as well as reaching the top ten in almost every single European country.

When Williams's fifth studio album, Escapology, was released in late 2002, it hit number-one in at least 10 countries around the world including the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. Elsewhere, it made the top ten. In the United States, however, it failed to make as big of an impact, reaching only number forty-three on the Billboard Albums Chart.

The album's second single, "Come Undone" became a top ten hit around the world. Due to its controversial video, it was heavily censored by MTV Networks Europe for depicting a debauched (but fully-clothed) Williams having three-way sex with two women. The video was about some young people having a party and it showed footage of fights, drug taking and alcohol abuse. It also showed unsettling images of insects and reptiles. The uncensored version of the video was released on DVD single in Europe and was also included on the Enhanced CD Single. BBC Radio 2 also banned the song for its explicit content. At that time, it was confirmed that Williams and Guy Chambers were to officially split up. The single version of "Come Undone" is not the same version as the one on the album, but instead is listed by producer Steve Power as being "from an original production by Guy Chambers/Steve Power".

The third single taken from the album was "Something Beautiful". The song was written in Barbados. It was first offered to Tom Jones, who declined, after which it was reworked for its inclusion on Williams's album. The single was released in mid-2003. While it had minor success compared to Williams's previous songs, it did manage to enter the top-10 in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Denmark. It failed to make much more of an impact in the music charts in other countries. The video featured a number of people from all over Europe vying to win the chance to perform as Robbie Williams at the end of the same video. The three winners had the chance to meet Williams. Three different versions of the video were released in different parts of the world, featuring the different winners. Williams started his world tour in the mid-2003, and he was about to do three live concerts in Knebworth. The Knebworth shows attracted a total of 375,000 fans.

Escapology ended up selling almost 2 million copies by the end of 2003 in the United Kingdom. It was certified 6x Platinum by the BPI, BPI Certification for "Escapology" becoming the 60th best selling album in UK music history. The album went on to sell over 5 million copies in Europe alone.

In October 2003, Williams released his first live album, Live at Knebworth which peaked at number-two in the UK. The album reached the top position in Germany and Austria and became a top ten album throughout the rest of Europe, Australasia and Latin America. The live record ended up selling a little over 600,000 copies in the United Kingdom and was certified 2x Platinum by the BPI. BPI Certification "Live at Knebworth" It sold a total of 2 million units in Europe alone.He also sang the song Beyond the Sea in the film Finding Nemo.

In October 2004, Williams released a retrospective of his career, and also, to reveal the new tracks he had been working on with the then, new collaborator, Stephen Duffy. "Radio", the compilation's first single was released in October 2004, which debuted at number-one of the UK Singles Chart (becoming Williams's sixth number-one hit) selling 41,732 copies, the song was also a number-one hit in Denmark, and it hit the top ten in The Netherlands, Italy, Austria and Norway.

When the compilation Greatest Hits was released two weeks later, it went on to sell 320,000 copies in its first week in the United Kingdom debuting at number-one, the album, also hit the top spot in other countries like Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, Austria, The Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand.

The album's second single, the ballad, "Misunderstood", being the soundtrack of the film, The Edge of Reason hit the top ten in Italy and Denmark in December of that year, making the album the best selling album of the year in the United Kingdom, becoming the 61st Best Selling Album in UK Music History, with sales over the 2 million copies being certified 6x Platinum by the BPI. BPI Certification for "Greatest Hits" The album, also became the best selling album of the year in Europe being certified 5x Platinum for over 5 million copies sold.

Eight years after the release of "Angels", in February 2005 British public voted it as the "Best Single of the past Twenty Five Years" at the 2005 BRIT Awards.

After touring Latin America in late 2004 for the promotion of his Greatest Hits album, Williams started working on his sixth studio album. Recorded in his bedroom in the Hollywood Hills, the album was co-written by Stephen Duffy over the course of 24 months.

The track "Ghosts" was inspired by the Human League's "Louise", about a man who breaks off a relationship and realised he still has strong feelings for her.

The album's first single "Tripping", was released on 3 October 2005, it became an international success topping the charts in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway and Spain.

The album Intensive Care was launched in Berlin, Germany on 9 October. It became a smash hit around the world, hitting number one in the United Kingdom, as well as topping the charts in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Australia, Sweden, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Finland and many other countries.

In November 2005, Williams took home the MTV Europe Music Award for 'Best Male', but also, entered in The Guinness Book of World Records when he announced his World Tour for 2006, selling 1.6 million tickets in one single day. But after the success, Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Jason Orange, and Howard Donald had agreed to reunite in Notting Hill, west London, for a preview screening of a documentary about Take That. The documentary screened on ITV1 on 16 November 2005. Unfortunately, according to a source quoted by Sunday Mirror, "Robbie announced he wasn't coming. The rest of the band were gutted but felt the show had to go on."

By December, the second single from the album was released, the ballad "Advertising Space" reached the top-10 in some European countries including UK, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy.

Williams kicked off his Close Encounters World Tour in South Africa in April 2006, when he finished his European leg of the tour, 2.5 million had seen the show, and after Latin America and Australia the numbers when up to 3 million.

After a long gap between singles, the third cut from the album was released in the mid-2006. "Sin Sin Sin" was the first song Williams and Duffy wrote together, the video of which was shot in Cape Town, South Africa right before the start of his tour. The track became Williams's first single to miss the UK Top 20, charting at only number 22, but managed to enter the top-20 in some countries including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, The Netherlands, Denmark and Italy.

By the end of the promotion of the album, it was announced that it had sold over 5,000,000 copies in Europe alone, and was certified 5x Platinum by the IFPI. It was also certified 5x Platinum in the United Kingdom becoming, at the time, his lowest selling studio album in the country. BPI Certification for "Intensive Care"

2006–09: Rudebox and Reality Killed the Video Star

, Germany in 2006]]Williams's seventh studio album was announced in early 2006. It was to be a dance/electro album with collaborations with the Pet Shop Boys, William Orbit, Soul Mekanik, Joey Negro, Mark Ronson, Chris Grierson, The Orr Boys and more.

The first single, "Rudebox", premièred on radio by Scott Mills on his show on BBC Radio 1. The event caused some controversy, as the record label's embargo date was broken, although the artist himself later backed the presenter for doing so. Right after the single was unleashed, it caused controversy due to Williams's radical change in the single in direction from his other releases. British newspaper The Sun named the song "The Worst Song Ever". However, Victoria Newton stated that there were sure-fire hits on the album. The song was released in September that year reaching number four in the UK Singles Chart. It hit the number one spot in Germany, Switzerland and Italy.

Williams released his much anticipated dance/electro album, Rudebox, on 23 October 2006. It received mixed reviews: Allmusic gave it a four star rating, the NME 8 out of 10, and Music Week and MOJO were equally positive, but it received much weaker reviews from some of the British press. Despite reaching the number one spot, sales were far below what was expected by his label, and overall sales in the UK were overtaken by his former band, Take That's Beautiful World. The album has sold a little under 500,000 copies in the United Kingdom, becoming his lowest-selling album in the country, being certified 2x Platinum by the BPI. BPI Certification for "Rudebox" The album was received with a warmer reception by the public in other parts of the world where it hit number one including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Finland and Italy.

The album sold 2x Platinum in Europe with sales of over 2 million making it the fastest platinum selling album of 2006. The album finished at number eighteen in the list of 2006's best selling albums worldwide, Neil Tennant claimed the album had sold 4.5 million copies by early 2007.

The second single, "Lovelight", came out right before the release of the album, and was commercially released on 13 November. The single reached the top ten in the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Finland, Denmark and Italy, but failed to reach the success of Williams's previous releases when the track showed no longevity in the charts.

The third single, "She's Madonna" included remixes from Kris Menace and Chris Lake, was released to European radio in late January to precede the commercial release which was scheduled to 5 March 2007. The track reached only number sixteen on the Singles Chart in the United Kingdom, but fared better in Continental Europe hitting the top ten in most countries. It rose to number one on the European Airplay Chart after spending four weeks at number two, a feat his former band, Take That, failed to achieve.It was confirmed that this single was not going to be released in Latin America or Australia, but did receive heavy airplay in the latter of the two. Despite this, the single was released as Digital Download in Mexico in four different formats. "She's Madonna" Mexican Digital Download "She's Madonna" Mexican Digital Download (Format 4) In August 2007, the single reached number 12 in the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart.

"Bongo Bong and Je Ne T'Aime Plus", a collaboration with British singer Lily Allen, was released as the third single in Latin America and other European countries, hitting radio in January 2007, and as a Digital Download in February. To promote his album, Williams commissioned a series of short films. Goodbye to the Normals was directed by Jim Field Smith and features "Burslem Normals" by Robbie Williams.

On 4 October 2007, Williams made a return to the live stage after almost ten months, when he made a guest appearance at Mark Ronson's concert in Los Angeles. He performed The Charlatans song "The Only One I Know", which features on Ronson's album Version.

Rumours of a new studio album co-written with Guy Chambers had surfaced in early 2007, along with known commitments required by Williams to his EMI contract. British singer-songwriter Laura Critchley commented that she had sung vocals for three songs, and said that it would not be released until 2009.

On 16 January 2008 UK tabloid The Sun announced that Williams had been working on some songs with The Blockheads member Chaz Jankel. The article went on to state that the reunion with Chambers hadn't worked out and that the material that Williams is working on with Jankel will form the basis of his next studio album. However, although it had been confirmed on the Blockheads official site that Jankel was writing with Williams, the rumour that Chambers was no longer working with him was not official. In late August 2008, Williams's friend Callum Blue commented that he was still working on the album.

In February 2009, it was confirmed that Williams has written material with Guy Chambers and Mark Ronson. A spokesman said that Williams was planning to begin the recording sessions in March and that the new album would be released in late 2009. This will be probably the last Williams album released by EMI. On his official website, Williams confirmed he is working with producer Trevor Horn on his new album; he described himself as "buzzing, it sounds big. Very, very big". The new album will be titled Reality Killed the Video Star, a reference to the song "Video Killed the Radio Star" by Horn's former band The Buggles. The album is now due 9 November 2009 for the United Kingdom. The new song "Bodies" had its first play on 4 September 2009 during the Chris Moyles Show on BBC Radio 1, where Moyles described it as "a grower", with Williams later agreeing that it may take a few listens for people to like it.

On 11 October 2009 Williams published a 12-track compilation album, titled Songbook, as a free CD for the newspaper The Mail on Sunday. The CD is a one-off album of some of his biggest hits - including several rare live performances and images from his new album. The CD also included the latest software 'completemyartist' which gave access to more exclusive content and playlists online. That same evening, Williams made his "comeback" on The X Factor results show, performing his new single "Bodies" for the first time live. The Comeback Kids, xfactor.itv.com. Retrieved 12 October 2009. The appearance proved to be somewhat controversial as press and viewers alike questioned Williams's well-being following a bizarre and erratic performance. A spokesperson for Williams later issued a public statement declaring that Williams had not been taking drugs. On 12 December 2009 Williams appeared again on the show to duet with finalist Olly Murs. Despite the claims Robbie missed his cue, he was unaware of the long instrumental and therefore began too early. However, after laughing it off and picking up his place again from Olly Murs, he managed to complete the performance without any other negative incidents. X Factor Final, Daily Mail. Retrieved 12 December 2009.

On 20 October 2009 Williams opened the BBC Electric Proms at the London RoundHouse. It was his first live concert for 3 years and was beamed across 200 cinemas around the world. Accompanied by a string section, horn section, full band and producer Trevor Horn, Williams performed several new tracks from Reality Killed the Video Star and several of his greatest hits.

Reality Killed the Video Star was exclusively previewed in the UK on the Spotify music streaming service on 6 November 2009, three days before its official release on 9 November. In a high profile chart battle, Williams's album was pitted against X Factor 2008 runners-up JLS who released their debut album the same day. JLS beat Williams by 1500 sales with the 2 biggest selling albums of the year at that stage to the no.1 position, making Reality... Williams's first studio album not to reach no.1 in the UK. However it reached number 1 globally that week.

The album was also released in the United States (Williams's first album to be released there since 2002's Escapology). However, the album peaked at #160 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and dropped out of the chart after only one week.

In late November 2009, Williams travelled to Australia to perform at the ARIA Music Awards of 2009.

2010–present: In and Out of Consciousness and rejoining Take That

In June 2010, it was officially announced that Williams is ready to release his second greatest hits album, The Greatest Hits 1990–2010, to celebrate his 20 year anniversary in music. Williams new single, also included on the album, will be "Shame", which is written and sung by Williams and Gary Barlow, his Take That bandmate. The single is set for release on 4 October 2010, while the album is set for release on 11 October 2010 in both CD and DVD formats.

On 15 July 2010, Robbie Williams announced he was returning to Take That.A joint statement between Williams and the group said "The rumours are true... Take That: the original lineup, have written and recorded a new album for release later this year," read the band's statement. "Following months of speculation Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams confirmed they have been recording a new studio album as a five-piece, which they will release in November."robbiewilliams.com

On 26 August 2010, it was announced Williams would become vocal coach on the ninth series of German reality television show POPSTARS to teach poptential girls for a girl group.

Other projects

Reunion of Take That

Williams announced in December 2008 that he was planning to relocate to the UK prior to releasing his eighth studio album in late-2009, and a possible reunion with Take That. Photos also showed Williams with his new tattoo of the Take That logo on his right arm, in tribute to his former bandmates. Williams bought a £7 million home in the village of Compton Bassett, Wiltshire.

On 27 March 2009, Williams stated he felt ready to re-join Take That. He said: "I'm in regular contact with them, even Gaz, and it's looking more likely by the week. The lads all seem up for it and some people think it's a done deal. I think it would be fun." Williams was eager to re-join the band on their The Circus Live tour, but these plans never materialised. In September 2009, Williams was reported to be working in New York with Take That, however these rumours were never confirmed. Robbie Williams & Kez reunite in New York? nme.com. Retrieved 11 October 2009.

While it was rumoured that Williams would reunite with Take That on 12 November 2009 for a Children In Need charity concert at The Royal Albert Hall, they merely greeted each other warmly on stage between performances. However, both did join with the other acts in the final song of the evening, with Robbie putting his arm around Gary Barlow and singing Hey Jude happily together. Williams subsequently implied in an interview that a proper reunion was still a distinct possibility. On 15 February 2010, tabloid newspaper The Sun printed an interview with Robbie, stating that he and Take That had been sighted going to an Los Angeles studio together.It was announced on 15 July that Robbie Williams had rejoined Take That and is set to release a new album in November with the band as well as embarking with them on a tour next year.www.robbiewilliams.com

Reception in North America

Williams's first United States single, "Millennium", made it to #72 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Hot 100 from 26 June 1999, the last time the single was on the charts Its highest position on American charts was #20 in Top 40 Mainstream. Millennium Top 40 Mainstream His second single, "Angels", was a success on the Hot Adult Contemporary Chart where it peaked at #10. It also hit #41 in the Hot 100, becoming his highest peaking track on the main American chart and the most commonly known Robbie Williams song in the United States (later covers by Jessica Simpson and David Archuleta would be released as singles). Angels Adult Contemporary In 1999, Williams released a special, US only, compilation of his first two albums, titled The Ego Has Landed. The album peaked at #63 Billboard 200 Charts from the week of 12 February 2000, the last week "Ego" was on the charts and went Gold selling over 500,000 copies in the US.

Later in 2000, "Rock DJ", a single taken from Williams's second US album Sing When You're Winning, was released; it reached #24 in the Hot Dance Club Play Chart, Rock DJ Hot Dance Club Play but failed to chart on the Hot 100. The album peaked at #110 on the Billboard 200 and only stayed on the charts for four weeks. Billboard 200 Charts from the week of 11 November 2000, the last time the album was on the charts

Together with a promotional tour, EMI hoped that the release of Escapology would be the album to successfully break the American market. Williams performed the lead song "Feel" on such shows as Good Morning America and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. However, this single did not reach Hot 100 but peaked at #28 on the Adult Top 40. Feel Adult Top 40 The album Escapology also failed to catch fire in America and peaked at #43 on the US Album Billboard Charts. Billboard 200 from the week of 14 June 2003, the last time the album was on the charts Intensive Care and Rudebox were not released on an American label, but they were made available on iTunes. Williams's 2009 album, Reality Killed The Video Star, was released in the US, but was also a commercial failure, peaking at #160 and remained on the chart for only one week.

Williams's single "Lovelight" was released in the United States by Virgin Records, debuting at #23 in the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart on March 2008 and eventually peaking at #8 by May 2008. It was the third single from the British singer to hit the American dance chart. It was also his sixth single to reach American charts and his second highest-charting single in an American chart to date. Other singles from Rudebox were released in the United States: She's Madonna, We're the Pet Shop Boys and We're the Pet Shop Boys (Close My Eyes). These songs peaked at #12, #5 and #7 respectively in the Hot Dance Club Play chart.

In Canada, Williams has enjoyed more success, with "Feel" reaching the top ten there. A few of his other songs have gained popularity there, notably "Angels", "Millennium", "Rock DJ", "Tripping" and "She's Madonna". Williams has received a Platinum certification for his The Ego Has Landed for sales of over 100,000 and Gold for Swing When You're Winning as well as for Escapology selling over 50,000 units of each.

Collaborations

One of his most famous collaborations was on the song "Kids", a duet with Australian pop star Kylie Minogue. The single peaked at number 2 on the UK singles charts in 2000. Williams also collaborated with Australian film star Nicole Kidman on a cover of Frank and Nancy Sinatra's "Somethin' Stupid". The single reached number 1 on the UK singles chart in 2001. His single "No Regrets" featured Neil Tennant, and Neil Hannon on backing vocals.

In 2002, Williams appeared on the track "My Culture" on the 1 Giant Leap album, alongside rapper Maxi Jazz (which features lyrics from the hidden track "Hello Sir" from Life Thru A Lens). Williams also features on a double CD titled Concrete which was released on the same day as Rudebox. The CD features a concert recorded for the BBC featuring the Pet Shop Boys and Williams singing their classic hit "Jealousy". Their joint effort, "She's Madonna", was released as a single in March 2007. On 13 August 2007, a Dean Martin duets album was released, on which Williams sings "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone". Most recently it was announced that Williams has recorded what is going to be Mexican singer Thalía's first single from her upcoming English-language album.In 2010 he announced that he was to release "Shame", a duet with Take That lead singer songwriter Gary Barlow as the first single from his greatest hits collection The Greatest Hits 1990–2010.

Video Game

Williams is to feature in his own karaoke video game, "We Sing Robbie Williams." It will feature 25 tracks accompanied by all the original videos. The game is to be released by publisher Nordic Games, which struck a licensing deal with EMI.http://www.billboard.com/news/robbie-williams-to-star-in-video-game-1004105649.story#/news/robbie-williams-to-star-in-video-game-1004105649.story

Achievements

It has been claimed that Williams has sold more albums in the UK than any other British solo artist in history and has won more BRIT Awards than any other artist to date. His album sales stands at over 57 million worldwide.http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20100808/tot-uk-williams-wedding-4b7b872.htmlhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/Robbie-Williams/e/B000AQ20Y8http://www.emimusic.com/blog/2010/robbie-confirms-greatest-hits-double-album-duet-with-gary-barlow/ Williams was entered in The Guinness Book of World Records when, after he announced his World Tour for 2006, 1.6 million tickets were sold in one single day.

He has been presented many awards, including sixteen BRIT and seven ECHO awards. In 2004, he was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame, after being voted as the Greatest artist of the 1990s.

He appears in the list of the all-time Top 100 biggest selling albums in the United Kingdom six times.

On 23 October 2009 it was announced that he would receive the Outstanding Contribution To British Music award at the 2010 BRIT Awards. Williams received his award on 16 February 2010 at the end of the ceremony and performed a live medley of his greatest hits including Let Me Entertain You, No Regrets, and Angels. Lady Gaga winw Brit Awards triple, BBC News, Retrieved 17 February 2010

Personal life

Since 2006, Williams has spent most of his time in Los Angeles, California, and has commented many times on how he enjoyed the freedom and privacy because he is not so famous there. Williams moved back to the UK in 2009 when he bought an £8.5 million mansion in Compton Bassett, Wiltshire, nearby to close friend Jonathan Wilkes who lives in Swindon. Williams sold the mansion a year later to move back to Los Angeles.

Williams has reportedly battled mental illness, obesity, self-esteem issues, alcoholism, and substance abuse throughout his life. He once discussed how his friend Elton John booked him into a clinic to cope with his drug use that emerged from the depression he was experiencing while still in Take That. He entered a rehabilitation centre in Tucson for his addiction to the prescription pills Xanax, Seroxat, Vicodin, and the energy drink Lucozade in February 2007 Williams used to smoke up to 60 cigarettes a day, but gave up in 2009 for his girlfriend Ayda Field.

Williams has a strong interest in UFOs and related paranormal phenomena, and has pursued this interest during his 2007–08 sabbatical. His interest in the subject led to him taking part in a documentary for BBC Radio 4 with Jon Ronson. The documentary followed them to a UFO convention in Nevada. During an interview with Joss Stone on The Jeremy Kyle Show in 2008, Williams revealed that while out of his head on dispirin he has seen UFOs three times. Williams said his first UFO sighting was when he was a child in Britain while he spotted his second in Beverly Hills, and added that the third sighting was just after he had written a song about alien contact.

On 30 November 2009, Williams's hairdresser Aaron Vickers was found dead in woodland near to Williams's then home in Wiltshire. Vickers first met Williams in Los Angeles after being introduced by their mutual friend Jonathan Wilkes. When Williams bought the £8.5 million mansion in early 2009, Vickers lived at the estate for some months but had recently moved back in with his mother who lives nearby. Vickers was last seen by his boyfriend at 1am on Monday 30 November, and his body was found hanged in the woods the following morning.

Relationships

Williams has had romantic relationships with several well-known female celebrities, including Rachel Hunter. The book Feel, written by Williams's friend, writer Chris Heath, details Williams's many sexual conquests during his European tour in 2003.

As of January 2007, Williams is dating Turkish-American actress Ayda Field. They have reportedly been together for almost three years. |work=The Daily Mail |location=London |date= 28 November 2007|accessdate=23 December 2009}} Despite several break up stories in the press Robbie Williams Love Life on the Rocks Williams and Field have been spotted together many times this year. On 29 January 2008 they were pictured on vacation together at Mammoth Ski Resort in California, accompanied by Max Beesley. My Robbie Williams Journey: images thanks to rwcm @purerobbie.com She was featured in a UFO documentary that Williams did for BBC Radio 4 in April and took part in a field investigation he did in Trout Lake, Washington in August 2008.

On 8 November 2008, Williams was spotted with Field at football match at the Emirates Stadium, where he was also seen with Gary Barlow accompanied by his two oldest children, and Williams's longtime friend Jonathan Wilkes. Back For Good? Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow reunite, Daily Mail Online, 8 November 2008 The couple has been living together in a mansion in Wiltshire since the beginning of 2009 according to The Sun. In October 2009 Field appeared in the video of Williams comeback single Bodies. Williams has been referring to Field as his "wife" in recent interviews.

In November 2009, Williams announced to Jonathan Ross that he was 'in love' with Field.Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, Hot Sauce production for the BBC. First Broadcast 7 November 2009. On 26 November 2009 Robbie Williams proposed to Ayda Field live on the Australian radio channel 2dayfm in an interview on the Kyle and Jackie O Show. However, it was later revealed by Williams's manager that it was "done as a joke following suggestions it was a stunt which was set up prior to the radio show." His spokesman confirmed: 'He did say it, but he did it in a jocular manner. They are not engaged.' Robbie Williams' claims proposal to be a joke, Daily Mail. Retrieved 27 November 2009. A few days later Williams himself denied the engagement, using his official blog to say "Hey all. We are not engaged. Rob.". Robbie Williams denies engagement rumours Digital Spy. Retrieved 28 November 2009. Robbie Williams denies engagement rumours BBC News. Retrieved 28 November 2009. On 7 August 2010 Williams and Field married at his home in Los Angeles. « Robbie: "I Take That woman to be my wife" », peoplestar.co.uk, Retrieved on 2010-08-08.

Sexuality

Williams won a libel case against MGN and Northern & Shell in December 2005 relating to articles which had reported he was a closet homosexual. In the libel action that resulted from this, Williams accepted substantial damages, and the publishers accepted that the stories were untrue. His counsel, Tom Shields QC, told the court, "Mr Williams is not, and has never been, homosexual." Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell called for any damages paid out from the libel case to be donated to gay charities, claiming Williams's legal actions had created the impression that it is "bad to be gay". Williams retorted that he was not bothered about being labelled as a gay man, and he would have taken the same action had it been regarding a heterosexual relationship. The court case has led some to draw comparisons between Williams and Australian actor/pop star Jason Donovan, who also once made a successful libel claim against a publication concerning his sexuality. Donovan won his case at the height of his fame in 1992, but later regretted his legal action as it made him appear homophobic and virtually destroyed his career.Donovan, Jason - "Between The Lines: My Story Uncut" (2007) HarperCollins Publishing (ISBN 978-0007261475) In 2008, Williams's friend, actor Max Beesley, rejected claims that Williams was gay. Beesley said, "Some of the stuff written about him is enough to make me mad, the rumours about him being gay, for example. Not true. I've never met anybody less gay in my life!"

Wealth

In 2009, the Sunday Times Rich List claimed he was worth over £130 million.

Williams is a lifelong supporter of Port Vale, based in his home town of Stoke-on-Trent. In February 2006 he bought £240,000 worth of shares in the club, making him the majority shareholder. He also has a restaurant at Vale Park named in his honour.

Charity

Williams has set up a charity in his home town entitled Give It Sum, with its goal being to "improve local conditions and strengthen community life by giving money to those who are disadvantaged." Williams, with the help of friend Jonathan Wilkes, organised a charity football match Soccer Aid to raise money for UNICEF UK. This match was played in May 2006 at Old Trafford, Manchester. The participants were a mixture of celebrities and professional football players.{{cite web |url=http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=60916 |title=Robbie Williams Kicks for Charity|publisher=Novinite=Sofia News Agency |date=23 March 2006}} It was continued in 2008 and will take place again in June 2010. Williams has also been the Patron of the children's charity the Donna Louise Trust based in his home town of Stoke-on-Trent, for the last 8 years. The charity offers respite and palliative care to terminally ill and life limited children who are not expected to live past the age of 16.

Awards

Williams has won a large number of awards over the years, including more BRIT Awards than any other artist in music history (16), as well as six Echo Awards in six consecutive years from 2001 until 2007.

Discography

Studio albums

• Life Thru a Lens (1997)
• I've Been Expecting You (1998)
• Sing When You're Winning (2000)
• Swing When You're Winning (2001)
• Escapology (2002)
• Intensive Care (2005)
• Rudebox (2006)
• Reality Killed the Video Star (2009)

Compilation albums

• The Ego Has Landed (1999)
• Greatest Hits (2004)
• The Best So Far (2006) (released only in Brazil)
• Songbook (2009) (released only in the UK with The Mail on Sunday)
• The Greatest Hits 1990–2010 (2010)

Live albums

• Live at Knebworth (2003)

Tours

• The Show Off Must Go On (October–November 1997)
• The Ego Has Landed (May–June 1998)
• One More for the Rogue Tour / For a Few Dollars More... Tour (1998–99)
• Robbie Williams North American Tours (1999)
• The Sermon on the Mount Tour (2000–01)
• Weddings, Barmitzvahs & Stadiums Tour / Sing When You're Pacific Rimming Tour (2001)
• Weekends of Mass Distraction Tour / Cock of Justice/Aussie Typo Tour (2003)
• Close Encounters Tour (2006)

References

External links

• 180 years of Robbie's Farrell Family Tree

{{Persondata|NAME = Williams, Robbie|ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Williams, Robert Peter|SHORT DESCRIPTION = English singer|DATE OF BIRTH = 13 February 1974|PLACE OF BIRTH = Newcastle, England|DATE OF DEATH =|PLACE OF DEATH =}}1974 births1990s singers2000s singers2010s singersLiving peopleBRIT Award winnersCapitol Records artistsEnglish dance musiciansEnglish expatriates in the United StatesEnglish football chairmen and investorsEnglish-language singersEnglish male singersEnglish pop singersEnglish singer-songwritersIvor Novello Award winnersMTV Europe Music Awards winnersMusic from Stoke-on-TrentPeople from Stoke-on-TrentPort Vale F.C.Take That membersMTV Video Music Awards winnersWorld Music Awards winners

روبي ويليامزRobbie WilliamsRobbi VilyamsRobbie WilliamsРоби Уил�м�Robbie WilliamsRobbie WilliamsRobbie WilliamsRobbie WilliamsRobbie WilliamsRobbie WilliamsRobbie WilliamsRobbie Williamsرابی ویلیامزRobbie WilliamsRobbie WilliamsRobbie Williams로비 윌리엄스रॉबी विलियम�सRobbie WilliamsRobbie WilliamsRobbie Williamsרובי וילי�מסრ�ბი უილი�მსიRobertus WilliamsRobijs ViljamssRobbie WilliamsRobbie WilliamsRobbie WilliamsRobbie WilliamsRobbie WilliamsRobbie Williamsロビー・ウィリアムズRobbie WilliamsRobbie WilliamsRobbie WilliamsRobbie WilliamsRobbie WilliamsУиль�м�, РоббиRobbie WilliamsRobbie WilliamsRobbie WilliamsRobbie WilliamsRobbie Williamsరాబీ విలియమ�స�ร็อบบี้ วิลเลียมส์Robbie WilliamsРоббі Віль�м�Robbie Williams罗比·�廉斯" } }