Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams' close encounter with programme-maker Ronson

BBC Radio 4 is to air a documentary about UFOs co-presented by the unlikely pairing of the pop star Robbie Williams and the documentary-maker Jon Ronson.

The pair have collaborated on Robbie Williams and Jon Ronson Journey to the Other Side, in which they visit a UFO conference in Laughlin, Nevada, for three days.

Radio 4 will broadcast the 30-minute documentary on May 6.

A Radio 4 source said that Williams and Ronson "formed a close and, some would say, unlikely friendship" during the course of making the programme earlier this year.

The source added that Williams approached the station with the idea because of his interest in the subject of extraterrestrial life and because he was a "fan of Radio 4".

Radio 4 listeners will hear Williams and Ronson meet a doctor who claims to have 15 metallic objects that are "not earthly". They also encounter a British woman, Ann Andrews, who believes that her youngest son, Jason, is an "indigo child" - an infant abducted by extraterrestrials while in the womb and sent back to Earth to save the planet.

The documentary was recorded on location over three days in Los Angeles, where Williams lives, and Nevada. Ronson will be writing about his adventures with Williams exclusively in next week's Guardian Weekend magazine.

Journey to the Other Side's subject matter is familiar territory for Ronson. But his choice of a celebrity sidekick marks a departure for the programme-maker, who made his name with his television documentaries, mainly for Channel 4, about bizarre aspects of human life.

These have included the Channel 4 documentaries The Double Life of Jonathan King in 2002 and Crazy Rulers of the World, which Ronson made in 2004.

Williams, a former singer with the boyband Take That, has enjoyed global chart success as a solo artist since he left the group in 1995 with hit songs such as Millennium, Rock DJ and Angels.

Robbie Williams and Jon Ronson Journey to the Other Side was made by White Pebble Media, the independent production company run by Laura Parfitt, wife of Radio 1 controller Andy Parfitt.

Source Guardian Newspaper

RudeBox

Robbie Williams launches new single "Rudebox". Some are saying this could be hist best single yet! Check it out for yourself here: Here

06/04/06 - Khaleej Times
Robbie Williams concert organisers say no sale of "fake tickets"

The organisers of the Robbie Williams Concert scheduled on April 21 at the Nad Al Sheba Race Course, have denied the report published in a local daily yesterday saying that fake tickets for the ‘sold out’ show are circulating in the UAE.

A spokesman of Midas, the concert promoters, told Khaleej Times that there is no evidence so far regarding the forged tickets circulation and the report in the newspaper is baseless.

“I was surprised to see a report like this. I contacted the newspaper office and they failed to give any kind of proof for the circulation of forged tickets,” he said, stating there is no evidence to the newspaper claim.

He pointed out that this kind of propaganda only causes confusion and has nothing to do with the fact. “The arrangements for the show are continuing. We do not think there are any forged tickets circulating in the market. If we get any evidence, we will inform the authorities concerned in the UAE and necessary action will be taken,” he disclosed.

The official urged the fans of Robbie Williams who have already purchased the show tickets not to panic. “Nobody with the show tickets will be locked out. The fans of Robbie in Dubai will have a great day,” he assured.

Meanwhile, the Midas spokesperson confirmed that about 2,500 tickets of the Robbie William Concert will go on sale from today. The tickets belong to one of the sponsors of the show who has decided to put on sale his quota of tickets received by his company against the sponsorship for the event. The 2,500 tickets are part of the total 25,000 tickets printed for the show.

He pointed out that the sponsor’s decision to sell his quota of tickets to the general public is in the wake of a big demand from the fans of Robbie Williams who were unable to get any tickets that went on sale last month, and were a complete sellout within a few hours on the first day.

05/04/06 - Daily News SFA
Robbie Williams tickets selling fast

Gird your loins Robbie Williams fans, if you have one of those precious golden circle tickets for Monday night's concert and you are planning on being up close and really personal against the crash barrier of the pit, you'd better come up with a good excuse to take Monday off.

At the time of writing, sales of tickets stand at 39 844. Capacity is 40 000. Due to the huge interest in the concert and all those fans just dying to get to the front to see their idol, "holding areas" for those queueing early will be open outside the Absa Stadium from 10am on Monday

The areas will have toilet facilities and catering and arm bands will be issued to help those who get there early to claim their rightful position once they get in the stadium.

Gates open at 5pm. Support act Wire Daisies, from Cornwall, go on at 6.30pm followed by Freshly Ground at 7.45pm and the man himself will take it away at 9pm.

Williams has been rehearsing this week in Cape Town, while, reportedly partying with the likes of model Minki van der Westhuizen, at the Mount Nelson Hotel.

03/04/2006 E17: 'ROBBIE WILLIAMS WAS TOO SOFT FOR US'

Former EAST 17 star TONY MORTIMER insists pop rival ROBBIE WILLIAMS would never have lasted in his boyband - because they were too hardcore. The STAY ANOTHER DAY hitmaker, who will perform a comeback gig with his East 17 bandmates in London on 30 May (06), claims the group's outrageous rock 'n' roll lifestyle would have been too much for their tamer 1990s rivals TAKE THAT. And he reveals his frantic years in the band had a severe effect on both his mental and physical health. He says, "Robbie and the other Take That boys would not have lasted five minutes in East 17 - it was that full on we nearly didn't make it. "We killed off boybands. But East 17 almost destroyed me. "Three days of working seven days a week and not knowing where you are and what day it is takes its toll. At the end I was anorexic. I was over 6 foot tall and weighed nine stone but I didn't think I looked skinny. "East 17 almost ruined me, which is why I kept saying no to reuniting. "Towards the end I hid away after gigs and when the band split up I became really agoraphobic. If you walk out of the house every day and hundreds of people mob you it has a mental effect."

31/03/06 - The Sun
Star Rob's sin-song along

HERE’S ROBBIE WILLIAMS filming a Sin video – for his new single, of course.

The pop god was snapped nestling in bushes with a cluster of stunning women on the shoot in Cape Town, South Africa.

Rob was decked out in a white silk tunic and shades as he made praying gestures to the heavens.

Either that or he was thanking his lucky stars.

I’m sure most blokes would agree, there are worse ways to make a living.

30/03/06 - Bizcommunity
Motorola sponsors Robbie Williams tour

Motorola South Africa announced yesterday, 29 March, that it is sponsoring The Robbie Williams South African Tour, bringing South African audiences the biggest selling artist of the 21st century in concert. The tour pre-empts Motorola's launch of the next generation Motorola ROKR E2 handset, which offers the ultimate fusion of music and mobility, the brand says.

"Music is one of the pillars which Motorola stands for. We strive towards delivering solutions that make anytime, anywhere and always-on entertainment and communication a personal reality for consumers. Robbie Williams is not only one of the world's leading entertainers but perhaps one of the most fascinating personalities today. So it is only fitting that we at Motorola support such an iconic artist," said Sarit Reouveni, Motorola's Head of Marketing in South Africa.

Kicking off in Durban on Monday, April 10 and continuing in Cape Town on Thursday, April 13 and Pretoria on Monday, April 17, The Robbie Williams South African Tour promises to be the musical concert experience of 2006.

Already the concert has broken box office records, with 16 000 tickets sold within the first 25 minutes on the self-appointed new King of Pop's website, while tickets to the Cape Town and Pretoria legs of the tour sold out within five hours of going on sale - breaking all records according to the tour organisers.

In fact, globally Robbie Williams' World Tour is no stranger to breaking records, with tickets in every country on the forthcoming tour sold-out within a few hours, earning him a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records.

29/03/06 - RTE Ireland
Williams hypnotised for piercing stunt

Pop singer Robbie Williams has allowed hypnotist Derren Brown to insert 14 needles into his arms while in a trance.

Williams agreed to undergo the extreme form of body piercing as part of the Easter special of Brown's 'Trick of the Mind' show.

The singer said that he didn't feel any pain while Brown was performing the stunt but reportedly turned green as the spikes were going through his flesh.

Brown said: "By the end, Robbie is looking quite sickened and troubled. To be fair, they were massive needles."

The stunt took place at an abandoned location in London, where Williams had his arms suspended out to his sides in chains. He was also told to chant 'Three Blind Mice' for the duration of the stunt, in order to keep him in a trance.

Afterwards, the singer said: "I want to decorate my body like that. Perhaps Derren can come on tour with me and insert them."

Brown said: "He had no idea what was going to happen beforehand, which was great. I kind of imagined someone of his calibre would need to know every single detail in advance but, no, he was just up for it."

Channel 4's 'Derren Brown: Trick of the Mind' will air on 16 April, Channel 4.

29/03/06 - Daily News SFA
Robbie Williams flies in amid rumours

United Kingdom mega pop star Robbie Williams arrived in South Africa yesterday and is in Cape Town getting ready for his three-city tour, which starts in Durban at the Absa Stadium on Monday, April 10.

Needless to say, with the tour only two weeks away, Robbie Williams fever is hotting up in KZN with the rumour wheel twirling away with all sorts tales in some newspapers and on some radio stations, in particular pertaining to Williams's so-called demands for his South African tour.

A newspaper story earlier this week stated that Williams had said he would not have time to meet Nelson Mandela - most overseas celebs usually have meeting Mandela on top of their wish list.

Asked for comment, Big Concerts marketing manager Michael Anetakis told the Daily News he was misquoted.

"I was asked if Robbie was going to meet with Mandela while he was in South Africa, to which I answered 'not at this stage but depending on if his schedule allows for it I am sure he will ask us to set this up."

As for demands for luxuries in his dressing room, Williams, who would be the first to admit that he is a recovering boozer of note, has stipulated simply that there must be no alcohol in his room, although the band, who have a separate dressing room, will have wine and some champagne.

Says Anetakis: "I have looked through his rider and there is nothing out of the ordinary on his dressing room requirements. Everything asked for are items that are necessities that any one of us would ask for in a dressing room."

Durban is the only venue in the world not to have sold out tickets for the Robbie Williams tour. Not that there are many left now - a few hundred only.

Meanwhile, six German couples, who could not buy tickets for Williams's concert in their own country, but managed to nab some for the Durban leg, are flying in to see the man rock this city.

So, word so far from those in the know - Williams is very down to earth and not big on demands.

28/03/06 - IOL
Robbie visits the Pet Shop

British pop hunk Robbie Williams is set to team up with chart veterans Pet Shop Boys for a musical collaboration.

British pop hunk Robbie Williams is set to team up with chart veterans Pet Shop Boys for a musical collaboration.

The Rock DJ hitmaker will cover one of the Pet Shops Boys' tracks in a forthcoming BBC Radio 2 retrospective of their 21-year chart career.

British newspaper The Sun reports Williams and frontman Neil Tennant discussed a duet at London restaurant Luciano's last week.