Shirtless Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams (born Robert Peter Williams on February 13, 1974 in Newcastle-under-Lyme, United Kingdom) is an English singer. His career started as a member of the pop band Take That in 1990, which he left in 1995 to begin his solo career. Since then, Robbie Williams has sold more albums in the UK than any other British solo artist in history. His album as sales stand at nearly 50 million worldwide and has sold approximately 15 million singles around the world. This brings his total sales to nearly 65 million records. In the UK alone he has sold nearly 5.5 million singles and about three times that many albums. He appears in the list of the all-time Top 100 biggest selling albums in the UK six times, more than any other person or group. He has had eight number 1 albums and six number 1 singles in the UK, and has been the recipient of many awards including more Brit Awards than any other artist. It is also estimated that he is currently the best-selling non-Latino artist in Latin America at the moment.
Williams has left the UK and now lives in Los Angeles, California.
Despite Williams' immense popularity worldwide, he has yet to become a major chart or concert success in the United States or Canada. His first U.S. single, "Millennium," made it to only #72 on the U.S. Billboard charts, and his second, "Angels," hit #41 (becoming the more commonly known Robbie Williams song to America.) "Rock DJ" was also released, but failed to chart. With the release of Escapology, Williams did a huge promotional tour in America, with EMI hoping that this would be the album that brought big success for Williams in the States. However, after performing the lead song "Feel" on such shows as Good Morning America and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the song and album failed to catch fire in America, though "Feel" became a good sized hit just north of the U.S. in Canada, where Robbie has enjoyed a warmer reception. However, more recent singles (particularly from Rudebox) have performed somewhat better, particularly in dance clubs. Williams has sold just under a million albums in the USA.
Williams seemed to struggle with depression, insecurity, and self-loathing. When at the beginning of his solo career Robbie received lots of criticism from critics which led him to depression, drink and drugs. Robbie tried heroin once and vowed never to try it again and labelled it "the devil's drug". He has been clean from illegal drugs and alcohol for more than 6 years. In his fly-on-the-wall documentary Nobody Someday (2001) he repeatedly mocked his flamboyant but puppet-like behaviour on stage and felt that the persona and 'brand' of Robbie Williams Popstar was a fake that he increasingly felt uncomfortable with. In more recent documentaries he yearns to become a credible artist in the eyes of the serious music press. In 2006 he appeared in "The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive", a BBC documentary on bipolar disorder hosted by Stephen Fry where he spoke about his own experiences with depression. However, he said that the manic behavior shown onstage was a persona, saying he'd been diagnosed as being "dead upset" and started taking anti-depressants 13 months after becoming sober. He also said that his first addiction was to fantasy.
Williams has been the subject of tabloid rumors that he is homosexual, but he has repeatedly denied the rumours. He appears to question his own sexuality in some well-known songs, such as "Old Before I Die", where he sings, "Am I straight or gay?" In the video for his 2003 song, "Come Undone", he appeared in a graphic orgy scene simulating sex with both men and women. In his documentary, Nobody Someday, he said he'd never had sex with a man, but also said that he'd "try anything once."
Williams won a libel case against MGN and Northern & Shell in December 2005 relating to articles which had reported he was a secret homosexual. In the libel action that resulted from this, Williams accepted substantial damages and the publishers accepted that the stories were untrue. His counsel, Tom Shields QC, told the court: "Mr Williams is not, and has never been, homosexual". Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell called for any damages paid out from the libel case to be donated to gay charities, claiming Williams' legal actions had created the impression that it is "shameful to be gay". Williams openly alleged that he was not bothered about being labelled gay, and he would have taken the same action had it been about a female relationship. He also publicly vowed that he would have sex with a guy in order to save a rabbit's life. What is also relevant is that in the months following the case, Williams' record sales have shown a noticeable decline [citation needed]. The court case has led some to draw comparisons between Williams and Australian actor/pop star Jason Donovan, who also once made a successful libel claim against a publication concerning his sexuality. Donovan won the case, but the act of his litigation alienated his many gay fans and he effectively destroyed his own career in the process. In a sky documentary he said that he would be happy if he ended up with a man or a women.
Williams has also had romantic relationships with several well-known female celebrities, including Geri Haliwell and Rachel Hunter. He was engaged to former All Saints member Nicole Appleton, who said in her autobiography Together that she had aborted his baby during their relationship. Williams' official biography, Feel, written by Williams' friend and Daily Mail writer Chris Heath, details Williams' many sexual conquests during his European tour in 2003. Williams is also known to have once asked Georgian singer Katie Melua for a date, but she turned him down.
Williams has left the UK and now lives in Los Angeles, California.Despite Williams' immense popularity worldwide, he has yet to become a major chart or concert success in the United States or Canada. His first U.S. single, "Millennium," made it to only #72 on the U.S. Billboard charts, and his second, "Angels," hit #41 (becoming the more commonly known Robbie Williams song to America.) "Rock DJ" was also released, but failed to chart. With the release of Escapology, Williams did a huge promotional tour in America, with EMI hoping that this would be the album that brought big success for Williams in the States. However, after performing the lead song "Feel" on such shows as Good Morning America and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the song and album failed to catch fire in America, though "Feel" became a good sized hit just north of the U.S. in Canada, where Robbie has enjoyed a warmer reception. However, more recent singles (particularly from Rudebox) have performed somewhat better, particularly in dance clubs. Williams has sold just under a million albums in the USA.
Williams seemed to struggle with depression, insecurity, and self-loathing. When at the beginning of his solo career Robbie received lots of criticism from critics which led him to depression, drink and drugs. Robbie tried heroin once and vowed never to try it again and labelled it "the devil's drug". He has been clean from illegal drugs and alcohol for more than 6 years. In his fly-on-the-wall documentary Nobody Someday (2001) he repeatedly mocked his flamboyant but puppet-like behaviour on stage and felt that the persona and 'brand' of Robbie Williams Popstar was a fake that he increasingly felt uncomfortable with. In more recent documentaries he yearns to become a credible artist in the eyes of the serious music press. In 2006 he appeared in "The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive", a BBC documentary on bipolar disorder hosted by Stephen Fry where he spoke about his own experiences with depression. However, he said that the manic behavior shown onstage was a persona, saying he'd been diagnosed as being "dead upset" and started taking anti-depressants 13 months after becoming sober. He also said that his first addiction was to fantasy.Williams has been the subject of tabloid rumors that he is homosexual, but he has repeatedly denied the rumours. He appears to question his own sexuality in some well-known songs, such as "Old Before I Die", where he sings, "Am I straight or gay?" In the video for his 2003 song, "Come Undone", he appeared in a graphic orgy scene simulating sex with both men and women. In his documentary, Nobody Someday, he said he'd never had sex with a man, but also said that he'd "try anything once."Williams won a libel case against MGN and Northern & Shell in December 2005 relating to articles which had reported he was a secret homosexual. In the libel action that resulted from this, Williams accepted substantial damages and the publishers accepted that the stories were untrue. His counsel, Tom Shields QC, told the court: "Mr Williams is not, and has never been, homosexual". Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell called for any damages paid out from the libel case to be donated to gay charities, claiming Williams' legal actions had created the impression that it is "shameful to be gay". Williams openly alleged that he was not bothered about being labelled gay, and he would have taken the same action had it been about a female relationship. He also publicly vowed that he would have sex with a guy in order to save a rabbit's life. What is also relevant is that in the months following the case, Williams' record sales have shown a noticeable decline [citation needed]. The court case has led some to draw comparisons between Williams and Australian actor/pop star Jason Donovan, who also once made a successful libel claim against a publication concerning his sexuality. Donovan won the case, but the act of his litigation alienated his many gay fans and he effectively destroyed his own career in the process. In a sky documentary he said that he would be happy if he ended up with a man or a women.
Williams has also had romantic relationships with several well-known female celebrities, including Geri Haliwell and Rachel Hunter. He was engaged to former All Saints member Nicole Appleton, who said in her autobiography Together that she had aborted his baby during their relationship. Williams' official biography, Feel, written by Williams' friend and Daily Mail writer Chris Heath, details Williams' many sexual conquests during his European tour in 2003. Williams is also known to have once asked Georgian singer Katie Melua for a date, but she turned him down.
Category: Singers
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