Robbie Williams News: Take That

Robbie Williams is living the bizarre life of a hermit in California, pursuing his obsession with extraterrestrials.

While his former Take That bandmates busily plan their next album on the back of two Brit awards this year, Robbie’s taking part in a Radio 4 show about ETs, set to air at 6.30pm on 6 May. He explains his interest by saying: ‘I think that joining Take That was like leaving on a spaceship and coming back, with all your friends going: “He’s weird now.”’ Until just before Christmas, Robbie had an active social life revolving around his beloved amateur football team LA Vale and constantly had friends round to his mansion. Read the rest…

Robbie Williams is reportedly planning a huge musical comeback in 2008.

The singer – who recently came to the end of his four-year recording deal with EMI – is said to be so jealous of his former Take That bandmates success he is plotting his revenge by planning a comeback of his own.

A source close to the singer said: “Things haven’t been going that well for Robbie recently and he’s been having a bit of a break from recording. Read the rest…

Britain’s biggest come-back band Take That tell Jonathan they would still like Robbie back in tonight’s edition of Friday Night With Jonathan Ross on BBC One. Asked about their relationship with him they say: “Out of all of us I was the most hopeful,” says Jason. “We all know he’s got a good heart,” adds Howard, “we still love him, but we’d have to spend time with him, see what his personality’s like now.” “The door’s always open,” says Gary. They talk about the inclusion of Gary’s wife Dawn on the tour: “We’ve got a lot of female dancers to impress!” says Howard, who gets to dance with her, “I trust them all!” says Gary.As for their renewed success: “It’s been unbelievable, I don’t think you can expect success like that,” says Gary. “There’s not a night goes by when we think are we still here,” admits Jason. “It was our whole life last time,” says Gary, “but we have other lives now. There’s no question we’ve got all the control, it’s nice to be in control of your own destiny. We’re all respectful of each other, before we do anything it’s a big decision.” The band also perform their new single Rule The World live in the studio. The line-up also includes broadcasting legend and national treasure Sir Terry Wogan, who inadvertently hit the headlines this week after a recent noteworthy edition of Points Of View. “I did the show in moleskin trousers, and the mole was still in there!” he jokes, “when I watch TV I look at people’s faces!”

He also confirms that he has no intention of taking any time off from his busy broadcasting schedule: “I love doing it [Wake Up To Wogan], would I get up at 5.30 every morning to do something I don’t want to do?”. Jonathan is also joined by England ladies’ football star Kelly Smith and comic actor and writer Peter Serafinowicz whose eponymous new sketch show is currently screening on BBC Two.

Gary Barlow has made it clear his recent reconciliation with former bandmate Robbie Williams does not signal his return to the group. Williams left the boy band in 1995 and immediately blamed his departure on his frayed relationships with Barlow. The group reformed last year (06) after a 10 year split, but Williams shunned the reunion tour and subsequent new album. However, Barlow admits the pair are back on speaking terms after they met at Los Angeles’ Chateau Marmont recently, but denies the Angels singer will be coming back to Take That for their upcoming European tour. He says, “No he won’t be rejoining.” The 2007 tour kicks off in Belfast on 11 October (07).

Robbie Williams is ready to reunite with his old Take That pals, the Daily Star can reveal. The Angels idol is “thrilled” that his former group are enjoying huge success with their album, Beautiful World. And Robbie insists a comeback with the world’s biggest boyband “will happen”. In a sensational move, he said he now can’t wait to perform with Gary Barlow, 36, Jason Orange, 36, Howard Donald, 38, and Mark Owen, 35.

Robbie, 33, has just had a stint in a rehab clinic in Los Angeles, where he was treated for an addiction to prescription drugs. Now he is getting his life back on track by penning a catalogue of new songs. He’s also been working with a series of top producers in America and is said to be “putting his all” into creating a worldwide hit record. Last night his proud mum Jan, who has supported her son through his battle with drink and drugs, opened her heart exclusively to the Star. She confirmed that Robbie wanted to reunite with the band which first shot him to stardom, thanks to hits including Relight My Fire.

Drugs counsellor Jan, 56, said: “He’s thrilled at how Take That have come back. “On the question of him doing something with them, I feel that will happen. It would be something he wanted to do. “I’m thrilled that, out of all the negative stuff that happened in the past, there’s now something great happening. “Take That were excellent when they were all together – and they are excellent now.” And former bandmate Jason, who was Robbie’s best pal before the band split in 1995, said he would be welcomed back.

Jason said: “Maybe it’s my romanticism, but I think if we do future albums it’s inevitable Rob will sing with us.” Jan – the inspiration behind Robbie’s hit Angels – has revealed she flew out to LA to be there when he left the £700-a-night Cottonwood Clinic on March 6. And she told his army of fans not to worry, because he is getting his life back on track. She said: “He’s fine. He’s on a good road to recovery. “He’s enjoying his life and his football, and going out with the lads and having a laugh. It’s great to see. “He’s doing a lot of writing. He spends a lot of time in the studio. He’s in a very good place.” Pals of the singer also say he has been on top form since leaving rehab. He has since been hitting the LA club scene with a vengeance – but insiders insist his partying is no cause for concern. In fact, it is quite the reverse.

One friend said: “He’s very well and on really good form at the moment. “We’re just relieved that he’s so happy and back to his best.”

dailystar.co.uk

Gary Barlow has hit out at his former TAKE THAT bandmate ROBBIE WILLIAMS for publicising his recent stint in rehab. Barlow is baffled by the press release Williams issued the day he entered The Meadows centre in Arizona in February (07) – to be treated for addictions to caffeine and prescription drugs – claiming he could and should have kept it secret. The singer says, “I’d have been embarrassed. If it was me, you’d never know.”

pr-inside.com

Take That fans may need a little patience if they’re expecting a reunion with former band member and now solo pop superstar Robbie Williams. The British boy band, who got back together last year, revealed in an exclusive chat with The Sunday Mail in Brisbane yesterday that they don’t see eye to eye on a reconciliation. Jason Orange, 36, said he had “high hopes” and asked Robbie about a reunion “all the time”.

“I really want him to,” Orange said. “I think it would be good for him, for us and for Take That.” But co-band member Howard Donald, 38, said: “I think it could be a big mistake. We don’t know Robbie. Even though Jason calls him or Gary (Barlow) might email him, we don’t know him, we really don’t.” Reunion disputes aside, the band – Barlow, Donald, Orange and Mark Owen – have had a storming return to the charts. On the same day they won a Best Single Brit Award for their hit Patience, Williams was admitted to rehab. While his solo album Rudebox flounders on the charts, Take That sold out a UK tour in minutes. On a promotional tour to support their UK No. 1 album Beautiful World, the boys performed at a VIP B105 party at Movie World on the Gold Coast last night. They will sign copies of their album at the Queen Street Mall upper stage today.

Now in their mid-30s and three of them fathers, they admitted their return to the pop scene was less hyped than in their heyday. Just four fans were waiting at Sydney airport when they arrived last week.

news.com.au

Gary Barlow is confident that former band mate and hugely successful (though dwindling in popularity) solo artist Robbie Williams will rejoin Take That.

Barlow told The People that he and the other guys met with Robbie while on tour and they’re on good terms (read: not at each other’s throats).

“If I’m really, really honest we wouldn’t have had a chance to be Take That again if it wasn’t for him still being a successful artist, we wouldn’t have this second chance if he wasn’t out there,” he said.

Robbie Williams broke free from the boyband, openly mocking them on stage (“Sing the backing vocals, that’s all I f*cking did!” he would tell the audience as his new band played Take That’s ‘Back For Good’)

He became one of the most successful solo artists in history (although never breaking America) with ‘Sing When You’re Winning’ being considered his high point.

When songwriting collaborator Guy Chambers left the Williams ship, it began to sink, slowly.

However, during the relatively short voyage, Williams revealed that Take That’s management was run like a slave labor camp and Williams had ticks against him from management for drug use, using bad language in the press or not being dressed appropriately.

So with this in mind, can someone please explain to me exactly how Take That became “cool” again?

T. Cashmere / undercover.com.au

She may be Madonna, but she ain’t gonna get Mr Williams that much-needed No 1…

Robbie Williams’ career crisis is deepening with his latest single looking likely to be his biggest flop. ‘She’s Madonna’ – which has been touted as one of the standout tracks from the album ‘Rudebox’ – is sitting at a lowly No 17 in the midweek charts, despite being available on CD and as a download. The Pet Shop Boys-penned track hasn’t suffered from a lack of press either – it bagged all the wrong kind of headlines after footage of the accompanying video leaked.

In the promo Robbie dresses as a (bad) transvestite and talks about himself in the third person. In the past month of course, the singer has also embarked on a highly publicised stint in rehab after admitting a caffeine, nicotine and prescription drug addiction. What will also undoubtedly add salt to the wounds is that his old bandmates, Take That, are certs to hold on to the No 1 spot with their single ‘Shine’, this week. Their other single ‘Patience’ which has been in the charts for 17 weeks meanwhile, is just one spot behind ‘She’s Madonna’ at No 18. Just don’t look, Robbie…

mtv.co.uk

BOYBAND pioneers Take That have announced they are playing O2 as part of their UK tour. One of the biggest pop sensations of the 90s, Take That – minus Robbie Williams – came back with a vengeance last year. Triumphs included a successful reunion tour, a chart-topping album, Beautiful World, and the single Patience – which won Best British Single at the Brits earlier this month.

It was the band’s first Brit Award since 1996. The old troupers beat off stiff competition from Snow Patrol, Will Young, Razorlight and The Feeling. The Beautiful World Tour kicks off at Birmingham’s NEC in November. The band will be playing five gigs, between November 29 and December 4, at O2 – the former Millenium Dome in Greenwich.

newsshopper.co.uk