News of December 2002
24/12/02
Port Vale FC are hoping to persuade Robbie Williams to give them some money. The Staffordshire club has gone into administration with debts of more than £2million. Administrators hope Robbie might invest in his favourite team. "Being where we are, everyone talks about Robbie Williams. I have got a letter through to Robbie in Los Angeles," administrator Bob Young tells BBC News Online. "He knows this club's for sale but I don't think we should rely on the fact that he's going to bail us out."
12/12/02
FROM THE SUN:
Robbie Williams has revealed to me how he has finally won his battle with
depression. In an exclusive interview Robbie, who has admitted taking
anti-depressant “happy pills” to combat his illness, opened his heart to
describe how he woke up to his good fortune. Robbie said: “Everything is the
best. Life is wonderful right now — I’d envy me if I wasn’t me.” The singer who
signed an £80million record deal this autumn, said he came to his senses after
realising how miserable he looked in a TV film about his life on the road.
Robbie, whose Escapology CD is the fastest-selling album in Britain this year,
chatted before flying out to Los Angeles for Christmas with pal JONATHAN WILKES.
He explained: “I did the documentary Nobody Someday and realised how miserable I
was when I watched it. “I thought something had to change and it has.” In the
film Robbie is seen moaning: “For ten years I’ve been living a supposed dream.
“Everyone wants what I’ve got. When I was a kid I wanted it, too. “But now I’ve
got it, I’m struggling to find bits about it I enjoy.” Robbie now admits that
seeing himself so down despite his success and celebrity lifestyle snapped him
out of his long trail of self-pity. He told me: “I’ve got great fans, a great
album to promote, a fantastic record company and great people to work with. “If
it all ends tomorrow I’ve done really, really well.” Now the only thing the
singer is not happy with is his weight. Robbie, branded “the fat bloke from TAKE
THAT” by NOEL GALLAGHER, confessed: “I wish I was about 14 pounds lighter but
apart from that I can’t complain.” On the subject of OASIS songwriter Noel, a
bemused Rob told me: “You know, Noel hates me. “Noel really, really, really
dislikes me. He said he’d rather be dead than be me and I’ve never done anything
to upset him.” Then he joked: “I just find it really weird — but I’m glad I
spend a lot of time in his thoughts.” Rob has had the last laugh on Oasis, with
his album sales dwarfing those of the Gallaghers’ Heathen Chemistry offering and
his megadeal with label EMI the biggest contract in British music history. He
said: “I think my career is as high as it goes. “I’m enjoying it 95 per cent and
the other five per cent is like, ‘Wow — you know this is it. You may not be
indestructible for much longer so enjoy it while it lasts.’" And he explained
how he has mellowed, saying: “I’m not angry any more, I’m quite a sensitive old
man. I’m actually able to appreciate what’s going on, take a look around me and
see what I’ve achieved in such a small space of time. “You know I’m only 28, I
really enjoy my job and there’s still a long way to go. That’s pretty special
because I don’t think an awful lot of people get to that point in their life for
quite some time, it’s amazing. “The pessimist in me says something is on its
way, just around the corner. My glass is half-full and half-empty at the same
time — but it used to be just half-empty.” Robbie, whose single Feel came in at
No4 in the charts this week, reckons he is now at ease with his superstar
lifestyle. He told me: “I’m more down-to-earth than I’ve ever been, but I
wouldn’t say I’m totally grounded. "I’m from a working-class background and in
the space of a few short years I found myself travelling on private jets and
staying in really nice hotels — me and royalty and the Government. “It’s really
weird and has got to have an effect on you until you sort it out and realise it
doesn’t mean anything. “But I don’t believe that I’ve got my feet on the ground
— I’ve still got my head in the clouds.” As well as getting to grips with his
star status, Robbie has ditched his gigolo image for the quiet life. He said: “I
play backgammon, watch the television and videos and read. “By my body clock I
go to sleep at five or six in the morning and I wake up at one, two or three in
the afternoon, then go to work.” Robbie won’t be going wild on Christmas Day
either. He admitted: “I don’t like Christmas, I’ll be walking my dogs but I won’t
be doing anything else. I’ll probably have a tree in my house, but it won’t be
for me. “It’ll be for other people, so they don’t think I’m a Scrooge.” There’s
just one goal left for the reformed man of music — fatherhood. The singer says
he is now so settled that he can see himself with children. Robbie, who is
dating ROD STEWART’s ex RACHEL HUNTER, said: “I want to be a good dad, I’d like
to be a good father.” And there’s just one regret — pulling a few mingers. He
joked: “I don’t regret anything really, apart from a few people who I slept with
— you know, some right dogs.”
10/12/02
Robbie Williams' Escapology topped the UK album chart for the third consecutive week yesterday, becoming the fastest-selling album of 2002, record group EMI said. Escapology has sold 1.2 million copies in Britain - achieving quadruple platinum status - and 3.5 million copies worldwide. The album has yet to be released in America or Japan, EMI said. Williams has dominated the Christmas album charts for the past three years. In 2000, Sing When You're Winning was in the top five throughout December, while 2001's Swing When You're Winning held the top spot for around two months. Boyband Blue were at number two in Sunday's chart with One Love, followed by Westlife at three with Unbreakable - The Greatest Hits, Vol 1. Elton John held fast at number four with The Greatest Hits 1970-2002 and Pink was at five with Missundaztood.
09/12/02
Robbie Williams has told a German magazine he wants to retire in six years time when he's 34. He told Bild he didn't want to be still on stage at 40 or 50. Williams made the comments shortly before he appeared on the country's top TV show, Wetten, dass..?(You Bet) along with Shakira and Phil Collins. The game show involves celebrities making bets and carrying out forfeits if they lose. The show was filmed in the Austrian capital Vienna with 5,000 fans standing outside for the chance to get a glimpse of Williams. Williams was asked to bet on whether a Swiss contestant could balance a tray with 20 champagne glasses on top of a bottle on his head, while at the same time changing his shirt, trousers, shoes and socks. Williams said the feat was impossible, adding: "I tried it myself earlier mate, and I can tell you you are wasting your time." But the Swiss contestant was successful, forcing Robbie to do a forfeit. The audience laughed as he was forced to read the German football scores from the weekend games. He admitted his German was so bad he had to read the scores in English
05/12/02
Robbie Williams has surprised his French fans by showing off his new tattoo. He has had the score to The Beatles' All You Need Is Love tattooed on his lower back. Robbie made the revelation while in Paris filming a TV show. He lifted up the back of his white sweater to show off the tattoo to fans and photographers. Robbie's new single, Feel, is currently battling it out with Eminem and The Cheeky Girls for top spot in Sunday's chart. Eminem's Lose Yourself is on course for the number one Feel is Robbie's first new track for a year and is the follow-up to chart-topper Somethin' Stupid.
03/12/02
Robbie Williams 08/12/02 will be guest on an italian program TV of football "Quelli che il calcio", at 15:00 on "RAIDUE"
