News of March 2005
25/03/05
Robbie Williams is attempting to lose
weight by selling his kitchen gadgets on the internet. The pop heartthrob's
latest effort to shed the pounds will see him auction his snack makers on the
trading site e-Bay. Robbie is quoted by Britain's Daily Star as saying: "I have
a bread maker, a popcorn maker and all sorts. But these things make you fat so
they are all going."
A friend made clear he was selling the items to remove temptation rather than
because of money problems. He said: "He doesn't need the cash, but the
appliances are likely to fetch a pretty penny from Robbie fans trying to outbid
each other."
The 31-year-old singer once dubbed "the fat dancer from Take That" by Oasis star
Noel Gallagher, has suffered several problems with his weight. A friend said: "It's
well documented that Robbie has been in an inch war for a number of years."
At the end of last year, Robbie controversially admitted the only reason he
stopped taking drugs was because of the affect it had on his weight. The star
said: "I'd still be doing it if I didn't blow up to the size of an aircraft
hangar, you know, because it was a great time."
14/03/05
Robbie Williams came close to replacing
Freddie Mercury as Queen's new vocalist, two of the band's surviving members
have admitted. Robbie, who recorded a version of Queen's We Are The Champions
for the 2001 movie A Knight's Tale, was keen to tour the US with the band,
drummer Roger Taylor has revealed.
"I think America appealed to him and he... I think he was sort of quite keen on
the idea at one point, and it did seem like a good idea, and then I think we all
sort of drew back a little - thought about it a little harder, and then thought
'Maybe not', you know," Taylor told Capital Gold radio. Guitarist Brian May said:
"We got close with Robbie... yeah. Absolutely. Yeah, we talked to him, but not
in an auditioning kinda way. We just thought 'Wouldn't it be fun if we did
something'.
"We kind of talked about it and talked about it and came close but..." Former
Free and Bad Company vocalist Paul Rodgers will front Queen when the veteran
group tour for the first time since Mercury's death from an Aids-related illness
in 1991. Queen's third surviving member bass player John Deacon has not rejoined
the band because he doesn't want the "stress" of touring, May said. Rodgers says
they are currently rehearsing Free's Alright Now and Feel Like Makin' Love and
Bad Company's Can't Get Enough Of Your Love in their set. Last week Queen
announced they will play Hyde Park on Friday, July 8. Queen begin their first UK
tour in 19 years at the Newcastle Arena on May 3.
10/03/05
Mel C has slammed Robbie Williams' claim that
he's slept with all but one of the Spice Girls.Despite having a brief fling with
the Angels singer, Mel hinted that she knew at least two members of the former
girl band hadn't had sex with him...Former Sporty Spice also claimed that
although she was linked with Robbie for about a month in the late 90s she didn't
sleep with him. She went on to say that after chatting about it with Victoria
Beckham recently, she knew Robbie was all talk when he revealed his Spice Girls'
conquest at the end of last year, when he claimed:
"I've only got one left to have had all the Spice Girls."
But Melanie told Closer magazine: "Victoria asked me about that and said: 'Well,
I know I've not slept with him.'" Sporty then went on to reveal: "And I know
Emma's not slept with him." Before concluding: "I'd like to ask Robbie about
this because, to my knowledge, there are a few of the Spice Girls he didn't
sleep with."
Robbie and Geri Halliwell - former Ginger Spice - enjoyed a holiday romance some
five years ago and there's no word from Mel B (Scary Spice) who went out with
one of Robbie's mates, actor Max Beesley, for about four years.
10/03/05
Robbie Williams has topped the UK funeral
music chart, leaving Mozart trailing in his wake, according to a survey Thursday.
Williams' "Angels" was the record most Britons would like played at their
funeral, with Mozart's "Requiem" coming in at five in digital broadcaster Music
Choice's poll of top 10 British funeral songs. Frank Sinatra's "My Way" was
second, just ahead of Monty Python's "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life."
The rest of Europe favored a more soft rock approach. Queen's "The Show Must Go
On" topped the European chart, with Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" and AC/DC's
"Highway to Hell" in second and third place. Over 45,000 music fans from across
Europe were polled, with 20,000 Britons taking part.
09/03/05
Pop hunk Robbie Williams is devastated George
Micheal is quitting the music industry - because he was planning to record a
duet with the ex-WHAM! star. Williams approached Michael about the collaboration
when they were filming their cameo appearances for a charity episode of British
TV comedy Little Britain. But Faith star Michael has since announced his
decision to step away from the limelight to compose songs for other artists.
The Angels singer complains, "I'm gutted. I wanted to duet with him on my
album."
08/03/05
Top Of The Pops babe Fearne Cotton says she is
desperate for a date with Robbie Williams. Fearne revealed she wants to meet the
Robster - 'just for a coffee' - after hearing that he fancied her. Although what
her current squeeze - Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins - will make of it is
another matter...
The Mirror quotes the sexy telly presenter as saying: "When I met him he was
funny and gorgeous and chatty.
"I'd love to see him again, just for a coffee or something. I really fancy him."
And 22-year-old Fearne, bless her, reckons her fella Ian would be fine with it...
She added: "Me and Ian are sort of 'dating' so it is okay to go out with someone
else. "There's nothing wrong with meeting for coffee is there?"
08/03/05
Pop hunk Robbie Williams has lost out on the
chance to play golf with Catherine - Zeta Jones and Samuel L Jackson after
dropping out of a forthcoming sports competition. The former Take That singer,
31, was set to pick up his clubs alongside the Hollywood stars and fellow Brit
Hugh Grant at British TV network ITV1's summer (05) golf marathon.
Williams has cited promotional activities for his forthcoming new album as the
reason for pulling out, with a friend adding, "He's really upset."
05/03/05
Movie actor Vin Diesel hopes to cast British
pop hunk Robbie Williams in his long-awaited remake of musical classic Guys and
Dolls. The burly hunk has been planning to film a new version of the musical, 50
years after the original version was released. The Pitch Black action star also
plans to star in the musical comedy as New York gambler Sky Masterson, the part
originally played on screen by late movie legend Marlon Brando. Williams, who
created a 'Rat Pack' style image for himself for his 2002 release Swing When
You're Winning, is in the running to play Frank Sinatra's part Nathan Detroit.
Diesel says, "I was thinking of doing Sky Masterson and having Robbie as Nathan
Detroit, which is also a fun part.
"These films take a while to put together, but hopefully the project will happen
sooner rather than later."
05/03/05
Pop hunk Robbie Williams' friends are terrified
he'll kill himself with his new hobby - racing at high speeds on his motorbike.
The Rock Dj singer has developed an obsession with riding his favourite Ducati
996, but his friends fear his passion could cost him his life. Williams explains,
"I get up early these days to go and race my bikes. It's great fun.
"I love my bike. It makes me feel free. In fact, it makes me want to drive 40
miles just to post a letter."
But his best friend Jonathan Wilkes complains, "I keep telling him he's an
absolute fool for doing it, but he won't listen. "He's going to kill himself on
that bike of his one day."
A source adds, "He's spending a lot of time working in the studio and racing his
bike around a track is his way of unwinding. "Yes, it's very dangerous, but
surprisingly his insurers let him do it."
01/03/05
Joss Stone claims she could never fancy Robbie
Williams - despite him describing her as "amazing". The 17-year-old singer, who
performed with the pop heartthrob at this year's Brits, says she used to have a
crush on him but has now grown out of it and is madly in love with her
boyfriend, Beau Dozier.
She said in an interview with Britain's Now magazine: "I can't believe Robbie
said what he did. I'm sure he was only joking - and anyway, I've got an
incredible boyfriend already.
"I think Robbie's brilliant. I actually used to be madly in love with him when I
was about eight years old and a Take That fan, but I'm definitely not now. "I'd
say he's a friend, a really good friend. When I first met him about a year ago
he came over and told me that he hoped everything would go well for me, but that
you have to accept good times come with bad and to call him if I ever needed
anything. "So I did. If I've got a problem I'll call him. He's so open, you feel
you can tell him anything."
