Historical Figure
Robbie Williams
b. 1974
English pop singer (born 1974)
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Biography
Robert Peter Williams is an English singer and songwriter. He found fame as a member of the pop group Take That from 1990 to 1995, launching a solo career in 1996. His debut studio album, Life thru a Lens, was released in 1997, and included his best-selling single "Angels". His second album, I've Been Expecting You, featured the songs "Millennium" and "She's the One", his first and second number one singles. His discography includes seven UK No. 1 singles, and all but one of his 14 studio albums have reached No. 1 in the UK. Six of his albums are among the top 100 biggest-selling albums in the UK, with two of them in the top 60, and he gained a Guinness World Record in 2006 for selling 1.6 million tickets in a single day during his Close Encounters Tour.
In Their Own Words (5)
Oh I haven't got a clue what to do with you,Jesus all the things my head is going through.
How Peculiar , 2002
I'm glad that spending a night with me,Guaranteed you celebrity.
Monsoon , 2002
I've sung some songs that were lame,I've slept with girls on the game.
Monsoon , 2002
Well tonight I'm gonna live for today, so come along for the ride,I hope I'm old before I die.
Old Before I Die , 1997
I met Courtney Love and she said she'd like to sleep with me, but she couldn't cos of my "pop-star thing"… so I said to her I couldn't sleep with her either - cos of her 'ugly thing'...
Interview with Chris Moyles, Radio One (2005) , 2005
Timeline
The story of Robbie Williams, told in moments.
Born Robert Peter Williams in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. His father was a pub comedian and singer. His mother worked in a flower shop. His parents split when he was three. He grew up performing in local theatre and school musicals.
Joined Take That at age 16. The boy band became the biggest pop group in Britain. Five No. 1 singles. Eight No. 1 albums by the time they eventually ended their original run. Williams was the wild card. He left in 1995 under a cloud of drinking and drugs.
Released his solo debut Life thru a Lens. "Angels" became his best-selling single and a karaoke staple worldwide. His second album I've Been Expecting You followed in 1998 with two No. 1 singles. The solo career took off faster than anyone predicted.
Played three nights at Knebworth to over 375,000 people, the UK's biggest music event at that time. He holds a Guinness record for selling 1.6 million tickets in a single day. A record 18 Brit Awards across his career.
Better Man, a biographical film about his life, was released. He rejoined Take That in 2010 for the album Progress, which became the second fastest-selling album in UK history. 75 to 80 million records sold worldwide. Seven UK No. 1 singles. Fourteen No. 1 albums.
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