News of February 2003
26/02/03
FROM THE SUN:
Robbie belted out tracks from his best-selling Escapology album at the gig,
which was screened on MTV. The performance at the Rock The Vote gig in New York
marks the start of a six-month campaign aimed at helping the singer crack
America.
The Yanks in the audience loved his act. One said: “Robbie was simplybrilliant.
If this performance is anything to go by, he will win a load of fans here in the
coming months.”
20/02/03
Robbie Williams has surprised fans by
winning the Brit award for British Male Solo Artist for the fourth time.
He beat Badly Drawn Boy, David Gray and favourite for the award The Streets.
Williams has won nine Brits since leaving Take That - more than anyone else.
Will Young also scooped the best British breakthrough award, while Ms Dynamite
collected the prize for British Urban Act. Robbie Williams sent a video message
of thanks, in which he dictated a jokey lonely hearts message appealing for a
new love in his life. He said: "29-year-old Aquarian, slightly chubby,
chain-smoking, seeks boy or girl for fun nights of poker and AA meetings."
Williams, who split with girlfriend Rachel Hunter earlier this week, added: "I'd
like to thank the Brits for allowing me to put my lonely hearts message out
there, and I'll see you next year I suppose." Kylie and Justin Timberlake
stunned the audience with a smouldering duetof Blondie's hit Rapture. The pair
teamed up on stage at London's Earl's Court for a remix of the 1980's classic.
13/02/03
Robbie Williams - 29 today - has been
dumped by Rod Stewart's ex-wife, Rachel Hunter.
The relationship has foundered after nine months, apparently because of the
singer's erratic behaviour.
The New Zealand-born model, whose marriage ended four years ago, has been hiding
this latest break-up from friends. But the truth emerged when she was spotted
out with a blond man in Los Angeles. The pair were photographed caressing each
other next to a hotel pool.
The man, identified only as Wensley, is believed to have been introduced to Miss
Hunter by her sister Jackie. 'Rachel has tried to keep the split a secret and
has even been lying that she is still with Rob,' said one friend. `'But the
truth is they split up a couple of weeks ago.
'Rachel couldn't deal with Robbie in the end. He is a very needy character but
at the same time he doesn't trust anyone. 'Some days he was all over her, saying
how much he loved her, and at other times he didn't want to know and tried to
dump her. 'She also found it difficult to be with someone who can't drink and
spends much of his time playing backgammon. 'They have barely seen each other
since Christmas because they have both been so busy. 'Robbie has been promoting
his album all over Europe, while Rachel has been working on a new programme for
the American channel ABC. 'They spoke earlier this month on the phone and Rachel
told Rob it wasn't working. 'It is very early days with Wensley - he is just a
bit of fun.' Williams, who is 29 today, has admitted addictions to drink, drugs,
sex and, most recently, gambling. Earlier this week it was revealed that he had
blown up to £2million in casinos around the world.
The troubled star has also revealed that he has been taking medication to combat
depression. 'I just feel terrible - and it's not about record sales or media or
family,' he said. 'The real root of it all is, actually, I suffer with an
illness
that's called depression.' Alongside his other problems, he has always had a
complicated and
fast-changing love life.
The superstar - who recently signed an £80million deal with EMI - was briefly
engaged to All Saints singer Nicole Appleton. He has also dated Andrea Corr,
Nicole Kidman and Geri Halliwell. Williams is a self-confessed 'commitment-phobe',
finding it hard to build a steady relationship. But there were hopes that he and
Miss Hunter would last in the notoriously fickle world of celebrity romance. She
was his longest-standing girlfriend for some time but he hinted at a recent
press conference that he did not intend to marry her. He told journalists in
Berlin that he was still looking for his perfect girl. A friend of Williams said
last night: 'He always knew that she wasn't the right girl for him. 'He likes
her a lot but he didn't find her intellectually stimulating. It was never going
to last.' Miss Hunter, 32, is well used to the rock 'n' roll lifestyle, having
been with Rod Stewart for eight years before their marriage broke up. But with
two children, she has different priorities from Williams, who is notorious for
his hard-partying lifestyle Miss Hunter has never divorced and she and Stewart
are still friends.
10/02/03
Robbie Williams has struggled with addictions to drugs, alcohol and even sex.Now is hooked on a new vice - gambling. It is said that he has lost nearly £2million playing poker. Having been treated for his alcohol and drug abuse, the singer - who recently won an £80million four-album recording deal with EMI - has turned to frittering his money away in casinos. In Las Vegas, he has been betting vast sums without flinching. Friends say he blew £50,000 on a single hand of poker and a further £30,000 on another. In a single night he gambled away £100,000. One said: 'This is costing him even more than his drug habit did. 'One night we played for six hours, raising each other £5,000 a time. Before you knew it there was £50,000 resting on a single hand. 'Robbie lost, but he didn't look gutted in the slightest. He was flashing his cash without a care in the world. 'Over the night he was down £100,000. He is addicted, and gambles every day now. Over two years, £ 2million is a conservative estimate of his losses.' Ironically, 28-year-old Williams began playing cards with friends from his Alcoholics Anonymous therapy group. He recently admitted: 'I'm still addicted to anything I can get my hands on.' As the passion developed, he began inviting celebrity friend including Tom Jones to his home for high- stakes games. Jones, who has a home near that of Williams in Los Angeles, said: 'He's addicted to cards and he's started a poker circle.' In the past, Williams's obsessive behaviour led to his record company-keeping tight control over his finances, giving him a monthly allowance of £60,000. But on one occasion he blew the lot during a brief visit to a Monte Carlo casino. At the height of his troubles in 2000, the singer collapsed twice in a week. On the second occasion, in Stockholm, he was seen frothing at the mouth after fainting at a private party in the early hours of the morning. Earlier that year he had revealed that he faced a daily struggle to resist his craving for cocaine. The former Take That singer was treated in a rehabilitation clinic six years ago and has confessed that the lure of drugs still remains strong. He said: 'If there was a gram of coke on the table, I'd have to leave the room or else that would be it. 'It's such an awful drug I wish they had never invented it.' It was after leaving Take That in 1995, at the age of 21, that Williams, who comes from Stoke on-Trent, embarked on a year-long bout of self-destruction. In addition to drink and drugs, he also became hooked on sex, admitting having intimate encounters every night. In London, his days were spent either in the recording studio or as a virtual recluse at his Notting Hill home. There were always fans camped outside the front door. So he decided to spend more time in California, where he enjoys the freedom that comes from being relatively unknown, in an attempt to build some normality back into his life. He has also been taking acting classes. And after extensive therapy, he has cleaned up his act and is said to be teetotal and free from drug abuse. Last night a spokesman for the star said: 'Robbie does gamble as a hobby, but the figures have been exaggerated.'
10/02/03
FROM THE SUN:
Robbie Williams looks like he’s going to get a smack in the mouth after afan left a big lipstick mark on his cheek.
The cheeky singer left on-off girlfriend RACHEL HUNTER in a right strop
after an admirer gave him a big sloppy kiss.
It wouldn’t have been so bad had the besotted fan not left a saucy smudge of
lipstick on the side of his face.
Robbie and Rachel were leaving the Whiskey Bar in Los Angeles when the girl
bounded over, locked Robbie in a bear hug and closed in for the kill with
her lips.
Rachel kept her head down and marched to their car where she adopted a
“girlfriend with a face like thunder” pose.
When Robbie released himself from the fan’s grip he sheepishly made his way
to the car to join Rachel.
I wouldn’t swap Robbie’s £80million deal with EMI to be in his shoes when
she got him home.
