Robbie Williams news from month: November, 2006

The man behind Oasis’s early success, Alan McGee, has launched an attack on the prince of Brit-pop, Robbie Williams. McGee, who founded the indie record label Creation Records back in 1983, claims the Robster is a “crime against music”. Speaking to BBC 6 Music, McGee says he cannot understand why Robbie Williams is so popular.

The former Take That singer who left the band in 1995 has seen his pop career blossom becoming arguably the UK’s biggest artist at this time with total estimated record sales of somewhere in the region of 60 million units. Although Robbie has enjoyed huge success in the UK and Europe he has yet to crack the lucrative US market despite several attempts.

The Former Oasis manager, McGee, believes the Stoke-born singer is destroying the British record industry. He goes on to claim artists like George Michael and Sir Elton John are brilliant, world-class talents whilst Robbie is a “showbiz chancer” and has “one percent of Mick Jagger’s talent. Elton John has been quoted recently as saying Robbie is the “number 1 star in the world right now”.

music3w.com

Robbie Williams is next year’s hottest calendar pin-up – despite disappointing sales of his most recent album. The singer, 32, is Britain’s official calendar stud with the biggest sales so far for 2007. Kylie Minogue, 38, reigns at the top of the girls’ calendar list – outselling the likes of Girls Aloud and glamour model Keeley. The top tens are based on sales so far for Danilo, Europe’s biggest official calendar company. Sci-fi show Dr Who takes takes second place in the overall calendar chart, following the smash-hit success of the BBC remake.

Take That make a return to the top 10 after the band reformed without Robbie. Sir Cliff Richard, who has been in the top 10 for the last 20 years, has rocketed up two places to fourth place. Wayne Rooney and the England football team fail to make the list of favourite sports calendars but Frank Lampard is a newcomer in eighth place.

Overall 2007 Calendars (sales so far):
1 Robbie Williams
2 Dr Who
3 World Wrestling Entertainment
4 Sir Cliff Richard
5 The Simpsons
6 Kylie Minogue
7 Pirates of The Caribbean
8 Westlife
9 Take That
10 Girls Aloud

thisislondon.co.uk

The West Australian understands the British megastar will arrive on a chartered flight and stay at the Hyatt Regency Hotel before two concerts at Subiaco Oval on Thursday and Friday nights for 90,000 fans.

The Australian leg of his Close Encounters World Tour has sold more than 470,000 tickets for nine stadium shows, smashing the attendance and gross revenue records of Madonna’s Girlie Show Tour of 1993. Promoter Michael Chugg said no artist had almost filled Subiaco Oval twice on the same tour — until now. “I knew it was going to be big because the guy is an unbelievable entertainer,” he said. “His audience is five to 70 (years of age).” The tour will be Williams’ third to Australia. His first in 2001 included a gig at the Perth Entertainment Centre and he played stadiums on the east coast in 2003.

During his last WA visit, the sports-mad star played three games of indoor soccer against local players and enjoyed a cruise on the Swan River. Mr Chugg said demand was so strong Williams could have sold out two more shows in Sydney and one in Melbourne. The stage for this tour takes 77 trucks to transport around the country and is three times the size of that used by grunge legends Pearl Jam at the same venue last Saturday night. Tickets are still available for both nights.thewest.com.au

The international pop star, who was wearing a white t-shirt and jeans, drove off in an entourage of three cars which was escorted out of the airport by security vehicles. Williams will kick off the biggest tour this country has seen on Thursday night at Subiaco Oval. The West Australian understands Williams will stay at the Hyatt Regency Hotel before his two concerts on Thursday and Friday nights for 90,000 fans. The Australian leg of his Close Encounters World Tour has sold more than 470,000 tickets for nine stadium shows, smashing the attendance and gross revenue records of Madonna’s Girlie Show Tour of 1993.

Promoter Michael Chugg said no artist had almost filled Subiaco Oval twice on the same tour — until now. “I knew it was going to be big because the guy is an unbelievable entertainer,” he said. “His audience is five to 70 (years of age).” The tour will be Williams’ third to Australia. His first in 2001 included a gig at the Perth Entertainment Centre and he played stadiums on the east coast in 2003. During his last WA visit, the sports-mad star played three games of indoor soccer against local players and enjoyed a cruise on the Swan River. Mr Chugg said demand was so strong Williams could have sold out two more shows in Sydney and one in Melbourne. The stage for this tour takes 77 trucks to transport around the country and is three times the size of that used by grunge legends Pearl Jam at the same venue last Saturday night. Tickets are still available for both nights.

S. Collins and S. Riley, thewest.com.au

New York (eCanadaNow) – Kylie Minogue has uninvited Robbie Williams to join her family for Christmas – because he has a crush on her.

Kylie’s French actor boyfriend Olivier Martinez is said to be furious with the ‘Rudebox’ singer for confessing he has been attracted his long-term girlfriend for the last 20 years.

To avoid any arguments Kylie has decided to politely withdraw the invite.
Kylie – who struck up a friendship with Robbie when they duetted on hit single ‘Kids’ in 2000 – made the festive gesture when she discovered Robbie, 32, would be in her hometown of Melbourne for the last show of his world tour on December 18.

A source told Britain’s Daily Star newspaper: “Kylie and Robbie are good friends and she hated the idea of him being alone over Christmas, when she lives so close. So she asked him to come to her family home for the day.
“But now she’s told Robbie that Olivier might feel a little awkward in his presence. So Rob has agreed to find another Shelia to spend Christmas with.”

Although Robbie recently confessed to having a crush on Kylie, 38, since she starred in Australian soap ‘Neighbours’, he conceded Olivier, 40 – who nursed the singer through her breast cancer battle – was tough competition.
The ‘Angles’ singer said: “I’ve fancied Kylie ever since she was on ‘Neighbours’, but as a singer, I fancy her even more.

“But she’s got that Olivier Martinez guy. I won’t get a look in unless she ditches him. He’s French and good-looking. Isn’t life a b***h?”

ecanadanow.com

Noel Gallagher is convinced British pop star Robbie Williams will kill himself, and the Oasis guitarist would happily load the gun for his long-time rival.

The Wonderwall guitarist has no sympathy for Angels singer Williams, who he believes will turn to suicide because of his battles with depression. He says: “I’d put the bullet in the gun as he’s eventually going to do it himself as he is a grossly unhappy person.”

breakingnews.iol.ie

Aye, Mr Williams is to display some of his work at the city’s Wales Millennium Centre – you know, the place near where all those aliens are imprisoned on BBC 3. Exactly when, we’re not sure… let me check right now. Okay, so I can’t find any information here, ‘here’ being the centre’s website. Silly me? Probably. But to the art: word is that Robbie’s pieces are indebted to Andy Warhol, in so much as they’re colourful, and will be on sale for just under three grand each. Yeeouch! Says a somebody about this exhibition:

“Robbie’s a real artist – both in his music and his pictures. We wanted to bring art into the 21st century and make it interesting for younger people. Robbie’s perfect for that. We want people to see that art is for everyone. It’s fun, and not just about names like Picasso.” A name like Picasso? It’s a car!

Mike Diver / drownedinsound.com

The ‘Angels’ singer – who is worth an estimated £100 million – wanted to enjoy an undisturbed meal with friends and told the manager of the Mumbai Blue eatery, in Derby, he was willing to settle everyone else’s bills if they left him alone. A source told Britain’s Daily Star newspaper: “He fancied a quite evening out with friends and definitely didn’t want to be disturbed. He gets jittery when a lot of people approach him and want to have their picture taken with him. So he asked the restaurant for some privacy and they obliged.” The surprised diners at the 125-seat restaurant were more than happy to oblige.

A fellow diner said: “People nearly choked on their naan bread when it became known that Robbie was willing to pay for everyone’s meal. Some cheeky souls even ordered extra helpings and more booze. Nobody minded though because the final bill must have been hundreds if not thousands of pounds.” The 32-year-old singer is renowned for protecting his privacy. Earlier this year, he complained that he found it hard to live in Britain because of the constant interest in his private life. Robbie mainly resides in Los Angeles where is virtually unknown.

BANG Media International / monstersandcritics.com

PET SHOP BOYS will bring in the new year by having a Highland Fling with ROBBIE WILLIAMS. NEIL TENNANT and CHRIS LOWE are headlining the famous New Year’s Eve celebrations in Edinburgh. And the whisky-fuelled revellers are in line for a late Christmas present with a guest appearance from the Pets’ pop pal Robbie. He is lined up to perform She’s Madonna with the electropop legends at the Hogmanay bash, as they call it up north. The Pets used their knob-twiddling skills on the ode to Madge, which features on Rob’s latest album Rudebox. I reckon there couldn’t be a better ticket in the country to see in 2007 with a bang. A source said: “Robbie, Neil and Chris have become close pals over the last 12 months. “They performed together earlier in the year for a radio show and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

“It will be one hell of a party up in Edinburgh.” “Robbie is up for doing at least one number but if things are going well he could end up doing more.” Robbie is off the booze but the Pet Shop Boys are well known for enjoying a proper knees-up. Their live shows are always a massive spectacle and the New Year do won’t be any different.

I was there the last time Robbie performed with Neil and Chris. In May they played a special gig for Radio 2 in the Mermaid Theatre in London — and it was brilliant. The December gig is billed as The Concert In The Gardens at Edinburgh’s Royal Bank Street Hogmanay Party. It takes place in Edinburgh City Centre on December 31 and usually attracts about 300,000 bladdered punters. The PSB’s live show is currently getting rave reviews in the USA and they are promising to play all the classic tracks from their 25-year career. She’s Madonna will be released as a joint Robbie/Pet Shop Boys single in January and will coincides with the start of the Boys’ full UK tour the same month. PAOLO NUTINI, Scotland’s new ROD STEWART, is also on the Hogmanay bill. So I reckon it’s worth packing some headache pills — in anticipation of the hangover — and getting up there.

the-sun.co.uk

Promoters of next month’s Robbie Williams concert in Brisbane do not expect there will be much for residents to complain about during the show. Residents living near Lang Park will be able to ring a telephone hotline if they believe the music is too loud. Also, a State Government official will order the volume turned down if it is exceeding environmental noise levels.

Chugg Entertainment is now checking contractual arrangements with the venue after learning of the noise monitoring plans. But spokesman Matthew Lazarus-Hall says noise levels will be similar to those experienced at Lang Park in the past. “We don’t expect Robbie Williams to be any louder than the victory cheers that resounded through Suncorp Stadium when Queensland won the State of Origin,” he said.