News of April 2004
21/04/04
Take That are to get back
together for the first time since their split in 1996.
The band, complete with Robbie Williams will reunite for "something special" at
Christmas. Gary Barlow let details of the reunion slip during Simon Fuller's 19
management party at the Royal Albert Hall, says the Daily Mirror. He said: "We're
all getting back together this Christmas for something really special. It's not
strictly speaking a concert but we're doing something in time for Christmas and
Robbie has signed up to do it." The band went their separate ways in 1996 after
six years at the top. Last year Mark Owen joined Williams on the stage at one of
his sell-out Knebworth gigs to perform a duet of Take That's Back for Good.
Mark Owen has since been dropped by his record label after his album, In Your
Own Time, failed to make it into the top 20 when it was released in November.
20/04/04
Robbie Williams has put up
£15,000 for this year's Sanity Fair Festival in Stoke-on-Trent. Preparations are
well under way for the event, the fourth of its kind, to be staged in the
Cultural Quarter from 12pm on June 19.
Last year's festival attracted about 20,000 people from all over the country -
four times as many as the previous year. And this year promises to be even
bigger after the ex-Take That star stepped in to provide £15,000 in funding.
James McAteer, director of the Media Action Group said: "Sanity Fair is an
exciting addition to the city's other festivals.
"It celebrates the diversity of people who live with mental health problems and
is a celebration of life and well being." Sanity Fair aims to explore and
promote awareness of mental health issues.
14/04/04
British singer Robbie Williams
has conceded defeat in his attempts to crack the American market - and will play
smaller venues there from now on. The FEEL star remains keen to make it big in
the US, but recently moved back to Britain, after living in Los Angeles for a
couple of years. An insider says, "Robbie loves it in America and has tried so
hard to become a big star out there, like he is in Britain, but it hasn't worked
for him.
"So, he has taken the brave decision to downsize his ambition and play at much
smaller venues instead." Williams, 30, is currently in talks with top Hollywood
agency CREATIVE ARTISTS to record a song for the BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF
REASON soundtrack in order to raise his American celebrity.
09/04/04
A team of young footballers was
surprised to find pop star Robbie Williams in their midst when they arrived for
training. The football-fan singer - who has been renting a mansion in West
Sussex while recording his new album - dropped in for a kickaround with the
under-16s Kirdford Cougars team.
And even the 50p signing on fee was not a problem for Port Vale fan Robbie, who
is thought to be worth more than £30 million. Joyce Morgan, 57, of Townfield
Road, Kirdford, said Robbie asked if he could join in during the regular
training session last Saturday morning.
"The coach said, 'Hang on, the boys pay 50p', so Robbie tossed him the money
"The children were really excited. He's been around the area a lot recently and
is always very friendly." The star stayed around to play for about an hour and a
half.
The landlady of the nearby Foresters Arms pub, Marlene Oliver, said Robbie had
rented a house in Whithurst Park, and often came in for a drink. "He's very
chatty and doesn't mind signing autographs. "He's become just like one of the
locals."
02/04/04
Robbie Williams is said to have
been on a series of secret dates with old girlfriend Rachel Hunter.
The Sun says the pair have met up several times at the Beverly Glen cafe in Los
Angeles in the past few months.
The singer is said to want to get back with the supermodel whom he dated for
nearly a year before their split in February 2003. It's reported he's been
bombarding her with phone calls and text messages. A friend of Williams told The
Sun: "Robbie never wanted to split up with Rachel in the first place. He hasn't
dated anyone else since they split and has been calling her constantly.
"They have met up several times and have been spending time together in LA but
neither of them want a public relationship because the pressure is too intense.
"Last time they found it impossible to have any kind of privacy - they were
followed everywhere they went. But hopefully things with Rob and Rachel will
work out. They are so good together and all their friends want them to make it."
Hunter, who is the new face of Ultimo lingerie, has been linked with millionaire
club promoter Anthony De Rothschild. Her manager Claire Powell refuses to
comment on the model's private life. Williams is back in Britain, having rented
out a luxurious Sussex country house while writing new material. But it's
reported he'll be returning to LA in a few weeks time.
01/04/04
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - In a
sign that Robbie Williams hasn't completely given up on cracking the U.S.
market, the English pop star has signed with talent powerhouse Creative Artists
Agency. The Beverly Hills-based firm will represent Williams in such areas as
touring, film and television work. The deal covers the United States, Canada and
South America.
Williams, 30, who reportedly makes his home in Los Angeles, was previously
represented in the United States by New York-based boutique Little Big Man.
America has long been immune to the charms of Williams, who is a superstar
virtually everywhere else. In a statement, CAA said he has sold more than 30
million albums worldwide.
His most recent album, "Escapology," spent just four weeks in the U.S. pop
charts after its April 2003 release by Virgin Records. Released the previous
year everywhere else, it topped the charts in such countries as Britain, Ireland,
Switzerland, the Netherlands and Belgium. A 2003 live album, "Live at Knebworth,"
culled from a three-night stand in Britain before 375,000 fans, was not released
Stateside. Sources close to Williams said he is taking time off, with plans to
resume touring next year. He recently made his feature acting debut in "De-Lovely,"
a film starring Kevin Kline as composer Cole Porter. It is scheduled for North
American release in June through United Artists.
