Robbie Williams News: Take That

Take That have offered to lend their support to Robbie Williams after he recently checked into rehab.

The pop bad boy was admitted to a US clinic last week for addiction to prescription drugs.

Following his admittance, a number of stars lined up to mock Robbie including comedian Russell Brand and Oasis star Noel Gallagher.

Brand made light of Williams’ return to rehab during this year’s Brit Awards by joking that a giant padlock on stage was his medicine cabinet while Gallagher said: “If you take drugs, you end up in rehab unless you’re a rock like me – and then you just give them up.”

But Take That singer Mark Owen hit back and said their comments were uncalled for.

He said: “I felt bad at the Brits because there were some jokes said about Robbie that made it look like he was being mocked. When I heard about him checking into rehab I felt really sad – I just want him to get happy again.”

Fellow singer Howard Donald also said that he has tried to get into contact with his former bandmate.

itv.com

Comeback kings Take That are officially the sexiest men in the world. The lads clinched the top spot on a list of the top 100 hottest hunks but former bandmate Robbie Williams trailed behind at number nine. New James Bond star Daniel Craig proved a favourite, coming second with actor Johnny Depp closely following in third place.

The surprise came with Prime Minister in waiting Gordon Brown, who sneaked in as the 97th sexiest man. The Chancellor even pipped Arctic Monkey, Alex Turner, 21, and singer Pete Doherty, 27, this year. Mr Brown, a newcomer on the list, is the oldest man at 55 to be voted for by more than 10,000 women.

The youngest person is Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, 17, who is estimated to have a personal wealth of £14 million, at number 82. Last year Brad Pitt scooped the top spot, but the Hollywood star and father-of-three has now dropped to seventh place.

itv.com

Take That’s successful reunion is set to net them even more thousands. A musical based on the songs and careers of the fab four is being penned — and because their lyrics will be used, they will receive impressive royalties. But it is mega-rich Gary Barlow, responsible for writing the majority of their hits, who will rake in the most cash.

The show, which is at the centre of a bidding war by West End theatres, will feature characters based on Gary, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Jason Orange, but it is not yet known what Robbie Williams’s involvement will be. Although the foursome won’t be participating in what is certain to be the most popular theatre show to hit London in many years, they have already agreed to be involved in the casting of their respective parts. A source in the Take That camp said: “The script is being written at this moment and there is a real buzz around it. “It is a perfect show for the West End and because the band have so many fans of all ages it is expected to sell out months — if not years — in advance.

“The boys are excited about it too, but they won’t be starring in it because it would be too much of a commitment as they have so many other things going on this year. “But they want to have a hand in it, so they have agreed to take part in the casting process —after all, it is them who will be portrayed by whatever actors are chosen. “It is causing such a hit that the theatres in central London are all vying to have it placed with them because it is going to be such a money-spinner, as well as having a huge profile.” This is the latest in a string of huge successes for the Mancunian outfit. They reunited last year, minus cheeky Robbie Williams, a decade after they went their separate ways. Initially they only had a reunion tour booked in but things are going so well for them that they have stuck around and have released a single and album — both of which topped the charts in Britain and across Europe. And last week we told you how the boys are also planning new British, European and Australian tours.

thisislondon.co.uk

“Just have a little paaaatience.” Take That could’ve sung that to their fans ten years ago when they broke up shortly after Robbie Williams’ departure from the band.
They’re back. The ultimate boy band from the 90s that caused hysteria amongst teenage girls and reeked of money for record companies, who had finally found the “novel”, money-inducing idea they were looking for, has reformed. And so what if Robbie Williams didn’t join his four former bandmates? Who needs him anyway? Take That Minus Robbie are doing fine without the megastar, selling out in every venue. We met up with Mark Owen and Jason Orange in London for a chat. And judging from their timidity, it was obvious that they had been out of the spotlight for too long.

The classic question: why and when did you guys decide to reform?
JO: Why? Well, we did this documentary. I’ll tell you the story quickly if you like. Our old record company phoned our ex-manager and said, “We’re going to re-release the greatest hits of Take That. Would the boys like to get together and talk about it and do some promotion maybe?” And we said, “Yeah, we’ll do this documentary.” It got so well-received in the UK – lots of people tuned in to watch it – it reminded people who we were and people started to talk about us again. A tour promoter in the UK offered us some money to go on tour, and we said, “Yeah, we’ll do it.” We did the tour and then a record label offered us some more money to do a record. We said, “Yeah, we’ll do it.”

So it’s for money?
JO: No. But I wouldn’t do it for free! (Laughs)
MO: I think it was the challenge as well and the chance to be creative. I think there are so many aspects that come into it – the chance to heal. Some wounds still remained from when the band ended and we never had the chance to heal. So I think it worked on many different levels. Read the rest…

It seems Brit award organisers want to make this year’s show one to remember – they apparently want pop heartthrob Robbie Williams to present a gong to his former Take That bandmates. Mark Owen, Jason Orange, Howard Donald and Gary Barlow have made a glittering comeback – they sold a staggering 1.3 million copies of their new album Beautiful World in just six weeks – and look likely to pick up a trophy for Best Pop Act.

They have also performed to half a million fans during a sold-out 31-date tour. “Organisers would love Robbie to be the one to hand over whatever award they win,” an insider told the Daily Star. “He loves the Brits and wants to be there in 2007.

“This would be a massive moment in the show and would finally give the original line-up a chance to have the get together that many of their fans want to see. It’s just a matter of getting Robbie to agree to it.”

metro.co.uk

Take That star Howard Donald has revealed he personally asked Robbie Williams to reunitView the profile for Robbie Williams on Celebrity Spotlighte with the group. The boy band reformed last year and after a sell-out comeback tour are currently riding high in both the UK singles and album charts. When they first reunited, the band – Howard, Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Jason Orange – invited Robbie, who quit the group 11 years ago to pursue a solo career, to join them on stage through the media.

Now, Howard has revealed he also telephoned the ‘Angels’ singer to ask him if he wanted to rejoin the foursome. He told Now magazine: “I personally phoned Rob and asked if he’d like to come on tour. He was genuinely touched that we asked him, but he said, ‘No, but thanks for asking.’ “To be fair to him, he’d already signed up to do his own extensive world tour, so he didn’t have time.”

BANG Media International / lse.co.uk

The Sun has issued an apology and paid compensation to the former manager of pop group Take That.

On September 4 and 14 the newspaper published articles about “The Nineties” a song written about former Take That singer Robbie Williams for his soon to be released album.

The piece included allegations from Williams – now retracted – alleging that Nigel Martin Smith, who used to manage Take That, either took the profits from a European tour or failed to make any and lied to the band when they asked about it.

Today the Sun wrote: “There is no truth in these allegations. The European tour did make money, the band were paid and the accounts were scrutinised by accountants and found to be impeachable. We sincerely apologise to Nigel Martin Smith for the distress caused by publishing these allegations and have agreed to pay him compensation.”

pressgazette.co.uk, Lou Thomas

Gary – who famously fell out with Robbie after the ‘Angels’ singer quit the popular boy band in 1995 – says the group have put their differences behind them and are hopeful Robbie will delight their fans by joining his bandmates on stage again

Gary – who famously fell out with Robbie after the ‘Angels’ singer quit the popular boy band in 1995 – says the group have put their differences behind them and are hopeful Robbie will delight their fans by joining his bandmates on stage again
He told Britain’s This Morning TV programme: “We all dream of a day when we can be on stage together, even if it’s just for one song. I think it will happen.”

Gary and the three other members, Jason Orange, Howard Donald, Mark Owen, reunited this year for a series of sell-out live shows and are releasing a new album just before Christmas.
Gary recently revealed that he is worried about Robbie.

The ‘Back For Good’ singer is concerned that his former bandmate could have a nervous breakdown if his so far successful solo career starts to struggle.

He said: “Robbie has hurt me more than anyone else has. But as an adult and a father I’d hate to see him go through what I’ve been through, because I don’t know if he’d come out the other end. On a musical level, I know how much it keeps him together, doing this and being successful.”

BANG Media International

LONDON (Reuters) – Robbie Williams and his former bandmates from Take That go head to head later this month with the release of an album and a DVD on the same day. Williams, who has forged a successful solo career since leaving boyband Take That and who frequently makes digs at his former bandmates during gigs, is releasing his new album “Rudebox” on October 23. The album follows last year’s “Intensive Care”, which, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry trade group, was the top selling album in Europe last year and sold more than five million copies in total. Take That are releasing a DVD on the same day called “The Ultimate Tour – Live in Manchester”, which features a documentary about the build up to the band’s reunion — after splitting in 1996 — and successful return to the stage. Take That are also promoting a new album which appears on November 27 called “Beautiful World”.

Williams has asked young film-makers to make seven short films to compliment his new album and is holding a competition for the eighth film to accompany the track “The 80s”. Williams will be on the panel of judges and the winner will receive 7,500 pounds in prize money as well as possibly see the film included on a special DVD. “This is the record I’ve always wanted to make,” Williams said in a statement. It’s reignited how I think about what I can do with music myself.”

Speaking about the film competition, he added: “Just like in music, today you can create a masterpiece out of an i-book and some digital footage, as much as you can in a fancy studio.”

Williams is signed to EMI and Take That to Universal Music Group’s Polydor label.

© Reuters 2006.