Robbie Williams facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robbie Williams
Williams at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival
Background information
Birth name	Robert Peter Williams
Born	(1974-02-13) 13 February 1974 (age 51) Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
Genres	Pop pop rock soft rock electronic dance alternative rock
Occupations	Singer songwriter
Years active	1990–present
Labels	Columbia Island/Universal Virgin EMI/Chrysalis

Robert Peter Williams (born 13 February 1974) is an English singer and songwriter. He became famous as a member of the pop group Take That from 1990 to 1995. He then started his solo music career in 1996. His first solo album, Life thru a Lens, came out in 1997. It included his very popular song "Angels".

His second album, I've Been Expecting You, featured songs like "Millennium" and "She's the One". These were his first two songs to reach number one in the UK. Robbie Williams has had seven number one singles in the UK. Almost all of his 14 studio albums have also reached number one in the UK. Six of his albums are among the top 100 best-selling albums in the UK. Two of these are even in the top 60. In 2006, he set a Guinness World Record for selling 1.6 million concert tickets in just one day for his Close Encounters Tour.

Williams has won a record 18 Brit Awards. He won Best British Male Artist four times. He also received the Outstanding Contribution to Music award twice. An Icon Award recognized his lasting impact on British culture. He has also won eight German ECHO Awards and three MTV European Music Awards. In 2004, he joined the UK Music Hall of Fame. People voted him the Greatest Artist of the 1990s. The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) says he has sold over 20 million albums and 10 million singles in the UK as a solo artist. Five of his albums have also topped the Australian album charts. He has sold 75 million records worldwide. This makes him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He was also the most played artist on UK radio from 2000 to 2010. His three concerts at Knebworth in 2003 had over 375,000 people. This was the UK's biggest music event at that time. In 2014, his hometown of Stoke-on-Trent honored him. They created a tourist trail and named streets after him. His latest collection album, XXV, was released on 9 September 2022.

After 15 years, Williams rejoined Take That in 2010. He helped write and sang lead vocals on their album Progress. This album became the second-fastest-selling album in UK chart history. It was also the fastest-selling record of the century at that time. The tour that followed included seven of Williams' solo songs. It became the biggest-selling concert tour in UK history. It sold 1.34 million tickets in less than 24 hours. In 2011, Take That's lead singer Gary Barlow confirmed Williams had left the band again. This was so Williams could focus on his solo career. Barlow said the split was friendly. He also said Williams was welcome to rejoin Take That later. Williams has performed with Take That on TV three times since then. He has also worked with Barlow on other projects. One project was the West End musical The Band. A film about Williams' life, Better Man, was released in 2024.

Contents Early Life and Beginnings Time with Take That First Time with the Band (1990–1995) Rejoining Take That (2006–2011) Robbie's Solo Career Early Solo Success (1996–1998) Continued Success (1999–2001) Major Deals and Tours (2002–2005) New Sounds and Comebacks (2006–2009) Milestones and New Albums (2010–2012) New Directions (2013–2014) More Albums and TV Appearances (2016–2018) Christmas Album and Recent Work (2019–2023) Recent Projects (2024–Present) Other Creative Projects Working with Other Artists Other Work and Interests Video Games and Football Musical Theatre Musical Influences Robbie's Legacy and Impact Influence on Other Artists Personal Life Homes and Health Interests and Hobbies Family Life Wealth and Giving Back Awards and Recognitions Music Albums Concert Tours Solo Tours Take That Tours Concert Series Robbie Williams Band Members Timeline of Band Members See also

Early Life and Beginnings

Robert Peter Williams was born on 13 February 1974. His parents are Janet and Peter Williams. His father, also known as Pete Conway, ran a pub. Robbie grew up in Stoke-on-Trent, England. His maternal grandfather was from Kilkenny, Ireland. He went to St Margaret Ward Catholic School. He acted in several school plays. One of his notable roles was the Artful Dodger in Oliver!

Time with Take That

First Time with the Band (1990–1995)

In 1990, Robbie Williams was 16 years old. He was the youngest member to join Take That. His mother saw an ad looking for members for a new boy band. She suggested he try out. He met Mark Owen on the day of his audition. Most of the group's songs were written by Gary Barlow. However, Williams sang lead on three hits: "Could It Be Magic", "I Found Heaven", and "Everything Changes". Williams faced some challenges during this time.

By November 1994, Williams was having a difficult time. He was unhappy that his musical ideas were not being taken seriously. He wanted to explore different music styles. These ideas did not fit with Take That's usual songs. Barlow said Williams had stopped trying to offer creative ideas.

Williams' behavior and attendance at rehearsals became a concern. Barlow and Jason Orange talked to their manager. They decided to do the upcoming tour without him. Williams agreed to leave the group in July 1995. This was the last time all five members were together for 12 years. Take That finished their Nobody Else Tour as a four-member group. They later broke up on 13 February 1996. This was Williams' 22nd birthday.

Soon after, Williams was seen with members of Oasis. He announced his plans to become a solo singer. He was also seen with George Michael in France. His contract with Take That prevented him from releasing solo music right away. He was later sued and had to pay a fee. After legal discussions, Williams was released from his contract. On 27 June 1996, he signed with Chrysalis Records.

Rejoining Take That (2006–2011)

By March 2009, Williams showed interest in rejoining Take That. The band had completed their tour, The Circus Live, without him. There were rumors that Williams was working with Take That in New York. However, they performed separately at the Children in Need concert in November. Both joined other artists for the final song, "Hey Jude". Williams put his arm around Gary Barlow during the song.

On 15 July 2010, Williams reunited with his former bandmates. He officially rejoined Take That. In November 2010, the Take That album Progress was released. It became the fastest-selling album since 2000. It was also the second fastest-selling album in UK history. The group toured the UK and Europe with their Progress Live tour. This included eight nights at Wembley Stadium in London. The tour sold tickets faster than any other in UK history. Ticket hotlines and websites crashed due to high demand.

In August 2012, Take That performed at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics. Williams was supposed to perform with them. However, he missed it because his wife gave birth around that time. The group performed as a four-piece.

Williams was still officially part of Take That. But he chose not to return for their seventh and eighth studio albums. He focused on his solo career instead. He continued to write music with his bandmates. He has performed with the group several times since the 2011 Progress tour. He had planned to return for a full tour in 2019. This tour would celebrate Take That's 30th anniversary.

Robbie's Solo Career

Early Solo Success (1996–1998)

Williams started his solo career in 1996. His first solo song was a cover of George Michael's "Freedom". It reached number two in the UK Singles Chart. He began recording his first album in March 1997. Soon after meeting songwriter Guy Chambers, Williams released "Old Before I Die". This was the first song from his first album. The song reached number two in the UK. His first album, Life thru a Lens, came out in September 1997. He launched the album with a live show in Paris, France. The album first appeared at number eleven on the UK Albums Chart.

"Angels" was the fourth song released from the album. It became Williams' best-selling song in the UK. The song was a hit across Europe and Latin America. It also made his album sales soar. The album stayed in the British top ten for forty weeks. It spent 218 weeks on the charts in total. This makes it the 58th best-selling album in UK history. It sold over 2.4 million copies. The album eventually sold over three million copies in Europe.

Williams and Chambers started writing the second album, I've Been Expecting You, in Jamaica in early 1998. The first song, "Millennium", came with a music video. In the video, Williams pretended to be James Bond. He wore a tuxedo and referenced Bond films. This song became Williams' first solo number one hit in the UK. It also reached the top twenty in many European countries and Australia.

I've Been Expecting You was released in late October 1998. It debuted at number one in the UK Albums Chart. The album gained more attention outside the UK. It became popular in Europe and Latin America. Hits included "No Regrets". This song featured Pet Shop Boys singer Neil Tennant and the Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon. "She's the One", a cover of a World Party song, became Williams' second UK number-one single. Williams ended 1999 with a European Tour. I've Been Expecting You sold almost 3 million copies in the UK. It was certified 10 times Platinum by the BPI. In Europe, the album sold over 4 million copies.

Continued Success (1999–2001)

In 1999, Williams signed with Capitol Records in the United States. He went on a promotional tour in the US. He released his first US and Canadian single, "Millennium". The album The Ego Has Landed was released in July 1999 in the US and Canada. While promoting and touring in 1999, Williams started working on his third studio album.

The first song from the album was "Rock DJ". The music video for "Rock DJ" caused some discussion. It showed Williams trying to get attention from women. The video was edited by Top of the Pops and other channels. The song became an instant hit. It reached number one in the UK and New Zealand. It was Williams' third number one solo single. The song won "Best Song of 2000" at the MTV Europe Music Awards. It also won "Best Single of the Year" at the Brit Awards. It received an MTV Video Music Award for Best Special Effects.

When the album, Sing When You're Winning, was released in August 2000, it topped charts in many countries. In the UK, the album was certified 2 times Platinum in its first week. After his third album's success, Williams wanted to try a different musical style. He took two weeks off his tour to record Swing When You're Winning. This was his fourth studio album. He had always loved Frank Sinatra. He also had success with "Have You Met Miss Jones?" for the film Bridget Jones' Diary in 2001. The album was recorded at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles.

Williams sang duets with friends and famous people. These included Jonathan Wilkes, Jane Horrocks, Jon Lovitz, Rupert Everett, and actress Nicole Kidman. The first song from the album was a duet with Kidman, "Somethin' Stupid". This song was originally a hit for Frank and Nancy Sinatra. It became Williams' fifth number one hit in the UK. It was one of the biggest hits of 2001. "Beyond the Sea" was played during the credits of the film Finding Nemo in 2003. It was also on the film's soundtrack. A DVD, Robbie Williams Live at the Albert Hall, was released in December that year. It became one of the best-selling music DVDs in Europe. It was certified 6 times Platinum in the UK and 2 times Platinum in Germany.

Major Deals and Tours (2002–2005)

In 2002, Williams signed a huge £80 million contract with EMI. This was a record-breaking deal. The contract gave Williams more creative control. It also aimed to make him more popular in the US. It remains the biggest music deal in British history. Williams started working on his fifth studio album. He spent a year recording it. This album marked a new phase for Williams. He was more involved in making this album. "One Fine Day", "Nan's Song", and "Come Undone" were the first songs Williams wrote without Guy Chambers. Most songs were recorded in Los Angeles.

The album's first single was "Feel". Williams and Chambers wrote it. Williams decided to use the demo version for the single. When it was released in late 2002, it became Williams' biggest international hit. It reached number one in The Netherlands and Italy. It also made the top ten in many European countries. Williams' fifth studio album, Escapology, was released in late 2002. It reached number one in at least 10 countries. In the United States, it did not have the same impact. Escapology sold almost 2 million copies in the UK by the end of 2003. From 1–3 August 2003, Williams played three concerts at Knebworth. Each night, 125,000 people attended. This made it the biggest event in UK music history. In October 2003, Williams released a live album of the concerts, Live at Knebworth.

In October 2004, Williams released Greatest Hits. This album looked back at his career. It also had new songs he worked on with Stephen Duffy. "Radio", the first single from the album, debuted at number one in the UK Singles Chart. It became Williams' sixth number-one hit. When the album was released, it debuted at number one in the UK. It was the best-selling album of the year in the UK and Europe. Eight years after "Angels" was released, the British public voted it the "Best Single of the Past Twenty-Five Years" at the 2005 Brit Awards.

After touring Latin America in late 2004, Williams started his sixth studio album. He recorded it at his house in the Hollywood Hills. Stephen Duffy co-wrote the album over 24 months. The album Intensive Care was launched in Berlin on 9 October. It became a worldwide hit. In November 2005, Williams won the MTV Europe Music Award for 'Best Male'. He also entered The Guinness Book of World Records. This was for selling 1.6 million tickets in one day for his 2006 World Tour. Williams started his Close Encounters World Tour in South Africa in April 2006. By the end of his European tour, 2.5 million people had seen the show. After touring Latin America and Australia, the total reached 3 million.

New Sounds and Comebacks (2006–2009)

Williams released his dance/electro album, Rudebox, on 23 October 2006. It included collaborations with the Pet Shop Boys and Mark Ronson. The album received mixed reviews. Some critics liked it, while others were less positive. The album sold 2 times Platinum in Europe. It sold over 2 million copies. This made it the fastest platinum-selling album of 2006. To promote the album, Williams made short films.

In February 2009, it was confirmed that Williams had written new music. He worked with Guy Chambers and Mark Ronson. A spokesperson said Williams planned to start recording in March. The new album would be released in late 2009. On his website, Williams confirmed he was working with producer Trevor Horn. The new album was titled Reality Killed the Video Star. This name was a nod to the song "Video Killed the Radio Star". The album was released on 9 November 2009 in the UK.

On 11 October 2009, Williams released a 12-song album called Songbook. It was given away for free with The Mail on Sunday newspaper. That evening, Williams made his "comeback" on The X Factor. He performed his new single "Bodies" live for the first time. On 20 October 2009, Williams opened the BBC Electric Proms. This was at the London RoundHouse. It was his first live concert in three years. It was broadcast in 200 cinemas worldwide. Williams performed new songs from Reality Killed the Video Star and older hits.

Reality Killed the Video Star was available on Spotify on 6 November 2009. It was officially released on 9 November. Williams' album competed with JLS's debut album for the number one spot. JLS's album was released on the same day. JLS beat Williams by 1500 sales. The album was also released in the US. In late November 2009, Williams traveled to Australia. He performed at the ARIA Music Awards of 2009.

Milestones and New Albums (2010–2012)

In October 2010, Williams released his second greatest hits album. It was called In and Out of Consciousness: The Greatest Hits 1990–2010. This celebrated his 20 years as a performer. A new song, "Shame", was also released. Williams and Barlow wrote and sang this duet.

On 21 October 2011, Williams signed with Island Records. This was after he left EMI in 2010.

Williams was the opening act at the Diamond Jubilee Concert. Gary Barlow helped organize this concert. It was held outside Buckingham Palace on 4 June 2012. In late August, his official website started a countdown. It showed an image of his face. Each day, more of his mind was revealed. The album was called Take the Crown. It debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart. This made it Williams' tenth number one album. It was also the second time Williams had a number one song ("Candy") and album at the same time. The first time was in 2001. That was when "Somethin' Stupid" and Swing When You're Winning were both number one.

The album's main song, "Candy", came out on 10 September 2012. It was released in most countries on 11 September. In the UK, it came out on 29 October. "Candy" became Williams' first number one song since "Radio" (2004). It was his seventh solo number one single. In its first week, the song sold 137,000 copies. This made it the fastest-selling male artist single of the year. On 26 November 2012, Williams announced a 17-date stadium tour of Europe. Olly Murs was the opening act for the tour. Murs also sings with Williams on "Kids". Universal and EMI merged in 2012. This brought Williams' older recordings back to Universal.

New Directions (2013–2014)

In September 2013, Williams announced a new swing album. It was a follow-up to his 2001 swing album. It was called Swings Both Ways and released in November. The album has cover songs and new original songs. It also includes duets with Michael Bublé, Olly Murs, Rufus Wainwright, Lily Allen, and Kelly Clarkson. In November 2013, Williams made a brief appearance in the music video for Murs' song "Hand on Heart".

Williams released a collection album called Under the Radar Volume 1. It came out on 1 December 2014 through his website. It featured songs he had written but not released. Williams said he was "incredibly passionate" about these songs. He wanted people to hear them. He mentioned that Guy Chambers was "not happy" about these songs being released online. Chambers thought they should be on a promoted album. But Williams wanted them out "now, now, now!"

More Albums and TV Appearances (2016–2018)

In May 2016, Williams signed a recording contract with Sony Music. Williams said he was "inspired" and "more ready than ever". He was convinced he was in the "right place". He looked forward to working on the album. He was "immensely proud" of it. The Heavy Entertainment Show became his 12th UK number-one album. This put him even with Madonna. In July 2017, Williams announced a new album, Under the Radar Volume 2. It was released in November 2017. A third album in the Under the Radar series was released on Valentine's Day in 2019.

On 14 June 2018, Williams performed at the 2018 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony. This was held at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia. Williams sang "Let Me Entertain You" and "Feel". He then sang "Angels" with Russian singer Aida Garifullina. Williams then performed "Rock DJ". During this song, he made a gesture. Fox in the U.S. apologized for showing it live. ITV in the UK did not show it. Williams explained on This Morning that he was under pressure. He said he didn't know what he would do. He regretted the gesture.

On 17 July 2018, Williams and his wife, along with One Direction star Louis Tomlinson, became new judges. They joined Simon Cowell on the fifteenth series of The X Factor in the UK.

Christmas Album and Recent Work (2019–2023)

On 22 November, Williams released his first Christmas album, The Christmas Present. It featured guest artists like boxer Tyson Fury, Rod Stewart, Jamie Cullum, Helene Fischer, and Bryan Adams. It debuted at number two on the UK Charts. It was behind Coldplay's Everyday Life. The album sold over 67,000 copies. Williams also sold over 10,000 cassettes in seven days. This was the most in two decades. The next week, Williams' album went to number one in the UK. It outsold Rod Stewart by 5,000 copies. This was Williams' 13th UK number-one album. This tied him with Elvis Presley for the most UK number-one albums. Williams released the song "Hey Tiger" in December 2019. It was for the new version of The Tiger Who Came to Tea.

On 25 February 2022, it was announced that Williams had teamed up with Tim Metcalfe and Flynn Francis. They recorded the song "Sway" under the name 'Lufthaus'. In April 2022, The Guardian wrote that Williams was still popular. But he was not guaranteed hits anymore. Williams said he was working on more experimental music. He compared it to David Bowie and Lou Reed. He said he still wanted to be one of the biggest artists. In May 2022, Williams performed in Melbourne, Australia. This was during the filming of his Better Man movie.

On 7 June 2022, Williams announced his tenth collection album, XXV. It was released on 9 September 2022. It features new versions of his hit songs and new material. On the same day, Williams released "Angels XXV". This was a new version of "Angels". On 10 June 2022, "Angels (XXV)" reached number 92 on the UK Official Singles Sales Chart. It rose to 74 a week later. On 5 August 2022, Williams released the song "Lost", also from XXV. XXV was released on 9 September 2022. It debuted at number 1 on the UK Official Albums Chart a week later. Williams broke all previous Official Chart records. This was his fourteenth solo number one album. On 24 September 2022, Williams performed at the 2022 AFL Grand Final. This was held in Melbourne, Australia. Williams sang "Let Me Entertain You", "Rock DJ", "Lost", and "Feel". He then performed "Angels". Williams dedicated this song to Australian cricketer Shane Warne, who had passed away in March 2022. Williams then covered John Farnham's "You're the Voice". He said it was Australia's unofficial national anthem. He asked everyone to send love to John and his family. John Farnham had announced he was having surgery for cancer two days earlier. Williams then performed "Kids" with Australian singer Delta Goodrem.

On 7 October 2022, Lufthaus released the song "Soul Seekers". Williams' XXV tour started on 9 October 2022 at The O2 Arena. Lufthaus supported him. In November 2022, Williams performed in Qatar. This was part of the country's FIFA World Cup 2022 celebrations. His appearance received some criticism. Williams responded that if one avoids places with any issues, they would not be able to perform anywhere.

On 5 May 2023, Williams was featured on the song "Une Tahitienne á Paris". This was a bilingual song by French singer Mareva Galanter. On 21 August 2023, Williams had a cameo performance on the song "Punk's Dead". This was by the English duo Soft Play. Lufthaus' first album, "Visions, Volume 1" was released on 6 October 2023. The song "Immortal", featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor, was released the day before.

Recent Projects (2024–Present)

On 2 May 2024, Williams was featured on a duet version of Lucy Spraggan's 2020 song "Sober". In September 2024, he was featured on the track "Danny". This was with Israeli singer Noga Erez on her album, The Vandalist. They had performed together at his June 2023 concert in Tel Aviv.

In August 2024, Better Man, a movie about Williams' life, was well-received at the Telluride Film Festival. It was shown at the Toronto International Film Festival on 10 September 2024. It premiered in cinemas on 26 December 2024 in Australia and the UK. It had a limited release in the US on 25 December. A wider release was set for 10 January 2025. Better Man received a record 16 nominations at the 2025 AACTA Awards. It won in nine categories, including Best Film. However, it did not do well at the box office. It performed especially poorly in the US.

On 29 November 2024, Williams released the first song from the Better Man soundtrack, "Forbidden Road". It reached number 20 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart a week later. It was nominated for Best Original Song at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards and the 14th AACTA Awards. It was first considered for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. But it was later removed. This was because it used parts of another song, "I Got A Name". Williams was a main performer for Australia's New Year's Eve concert. It is shown annually on the ABC from the Sydney Opera House. Part of his performance also appeared in Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve in the US. On 3 January 2025, the Better Man soundtrack album debuted at number 1 on the UK Albums Downloads Chart. It was number 4 on the UK Soundtrack Albums Chart. On 24 January 2025, after the CD release, it debuted at number 1 on the main UK Albums Chart.

In May 2025, an exhibition of Williams' artwork opened in London. The Guardian newspaper gave it a low rating. On 21 May 2025, he announced his upcoming thirteenth studio album, Britpop. On the same day, he released the album's first song, "Rocket", which features Tony Iommi.

Other Creative Projects

Working with Other Artists

Robbie Williams worked with Australian pop star Kylie Minogue. They sang the song "Kids". The song reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart in 2000. Williams also worked with Australian film star Nicole Kidman. They covered Frank and Nancy Sinatra's "Somethin' Stupid". This song reached number 1 on the UK Singles Chart in 2001. His song "No Regrets" featured Neil Tennant and Neil Hannon on backing vocals. In 2001, Williams recorded "We Are the Champions" with Queen. This was for the 2001 film A Knight's Tale.

In 2002, Williams appeared on the song "My Culture". This was on the 1 Giant Leap album. It also featured rapper Maxi Jazz. Williams is also on a double CD called Concrete. It was released on the same day as Rudebox. The CD has a concert recorded for the BBC. It features the Pet Shop Boys and Williams singing "Jealousy". Their song together, "She's Madonna", was released in March 2007. On 13 August 2007, a Dean Martin duets album was released. Williams sings "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" on it.

In 2010, he announced the release of "Shame". This was a duet with Take That lead singer Gary Barlow. It was the first song from his greatest hits collection, In and Out of Consciousness: The Greatest Hits 1990–2010. This song was certified silver in the UK. It also charted in 19 countries. In 2010, Williams and comedian Russell Brand formed a group called "The Squad". They recorded a new version of "Three Lions". This is the England football team's song. It was for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In 2012, Williams recorded a duet with Mexican artist Thalía. It was for the Spanish song "Te quiero dijiste (Muñequita linda)". This song was on her album Habítame Siempre.

In 2019, he worked with British comedian Jimmy Carr. They co-wrote the lyrics for "Live in Las Vegas". This was the opening song for Williams' shows in Las Vegas. A studio version of the song has been recorded. Parts of it have been used to promote the show. But the song is not yet available to download.

Other Work and Interests

In 2005, Williams provided the voice of Dougal. This was for the film adaptation of The Magic Roundabout. On 26 August 2010, it was announced Williams would be a guest vocal coach. This was for the ninth season of the German TV show Popstars: Girls forever. He taught candidates for a girl group.

On 20 September 2010, Williams released his second book, You Know Me. He wrote it with Chris Heath. The book has photos of Williams from his career. Williams talks about the photos in the book. Williams launched a radio show called Radio Rudebox on 6 October 2011. He played music and interviewed Gary Barlow.

In 2011, Williams announced he was working with Peter Jones. They were developing a clothing line called Farrell. It was named after his grandfather Jack Farrell. The business faced challenges. But it was relaunched in 2014 with support from Primark.

Video Games and Football

Williams recorded the song "It's Only Us". It was the theme for the FIFA video game FIFA 2000. As part of the deal, EA Sports included Port Vale in the game. This is the football club Williams supports.

Williams is featured in his own karaoke video game. It is called We Sing Robbie Williams. It was released on 12 November 2010.

In 2005, Williams started a football team. It was called Los Angeles Vale F.C. He formed the club with celebrity friends. He built his own soccer pitch at his home. The club was named after his hometown club, Port Vale. Its logo was very similar. The club was closed in 2007.

In January 2024, Williams was named president of Port Vale Football Club. This is in Stoke-on-Trent.

Musical Theatre

In 2018, it was announced that Williams and Guy Chambers would write music and lyrics. This was for a stage musical. It was based on David Walliams' children's book The Boy in the Dress. It was for the Royal Shakespeare Company. The musical opened in November 2019. It ran for 18 weeks. It received very good reviews. The musical was planned to move to London's West End in autumn 2020. However, plans were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Musical Influences

When he was a child, Williams was influenced by swing musicians. These included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. The first records he listened to were by Nat King Cole, Sarah Vaughan, and Ella Fitzgerald. These belonged to his mother. At age 10, he became interested in hip hop. He started collecting electro albums. When he started his solo career in the 1990s, he was influenced by Britpop bands. These included Oasis, Blur, and Pulp.

As a singer, his influences include George Michael, Tom Jones, Elvis Presley, and Bono. He worked with Tom Jones several times. They performed together at the Brit Awards in 1998. The next year, they recorded a cover of "Are You Gonna Go My Way". This was for Jones' album Reload. In 2012, Williams and Jones worked together again. This was on the song "On My Own".

Williams also greatly admires Freddie Mercury and Queen. In 2001, Williams, Brian May, and Roger Taylor released a new version of "We Are the Champions". This was for the movie A Knight's Tale. He also shared that he was once asked to be Queen's new lead singer. But he turned down the offer. He said he felt he couldn't compare to Freddie Mercury.

Williams has said he does the "Elvis Prayer" before every concert. In 2000, he got a tattoo that says "Elvis Grant Me Serenity". He also played an Elvis impersonator in the music video for his song "Advertising Space" (2005).

Speaking to BBC Radio 2 in February 2021, Williams named Ian Dury as his biggest inspiration for writing songs. He sings on "You're the Why". This is the last song on the album Ten More Turnips from the Tip (2002).

Robbie's Legacy and Impact

By 2008, Williams had sold more albums in the UK than any other British solo artist. His total record sales are over 77 million worldwide. This makes him one of the best-selling artists of all time. Williams entered The Guinness Book of World Records. This was for selling 1.6 million tickets in one day for his 2006 World Tour.

Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian described Williams as a "perfect meeting of ego, self-deprecation and hits". She added that he combines "monumental hamminess and bone-deep vulnerability" very effectively.

Williams has won more Brit Awards than any other artist. He has a record eighteen awards. This includes the awards he won with Take That. This makes him the most successful artist in the awards' history. He has also won 8 Echo Awards from the German music industry. In 2004, he was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame. He was voted the Greatest artist of the 1990s. He appeared in the 2009 Guinness Book of World Records. His sold-out show at the BBC Electric Proms was screened in over 250 cinemas. This set a new record for the most simultaneous cinematic screenings of a live concert. Williams appears six times in the list of the all-time Top 100 biggest selling albums in the UK. Four of his albums are in the top 60.

In 2005, the British public voted "Angels" as the song they would most like played at their funeral. In October 2009, it was announced he would receive the Outstanding Contribution to British Music award. This was at the 2010 Brit Awards. In September 2010, Williams switched on the Blackpool illuminations. He said it was one of the greatest honors he had received. In October, Media Control named Williams the most successful album-artist of the millennium. This was because he had spent 38 weeks at No. 1 on the German Albums Chart since 2000. He also reached that chart's Top Ten 135 times. He was ranked No. 11 for the greatest frontman of all time in a poll by Q magazine.

Influence on Other Artists

Many modern artists admire Williams. They have said he influenced them. The English rapper Example said he was inspired by Williams' performances. He described his own stage performance as a mix of rap, rock, and Robbie Williams.

Ed Sheeran said in an interview that Life Thru a Lens was the first album he ever bought. Olly Murs paid tribute to Williams' "Angels" music video. He did this in the music video for his song "Hand on Heart". One of Louis Tomlinson's early influences was Williams. He said he is a big fan.

Personal Life

Homes and Health

In 2006, Williams moved to Los Angeles. He briefly moved back to the UK in 2009. He bought a large house in Compton Bassett. But he sold it a year later to move back to Los Angeles.

In 2016, he moved into Woodland House in Kensington, London. His neighbor there is Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page. In 2018, Page delayed Williams' plans for an underground swimming pool. Page said the construction might damage his historic home. In 2017, Williams sold his house in Beverly Hills to DJ Khaled.

Williams has faced health challenges. He has talked about how his friend Elton John helped him. This was to cope with difficulties he experienced while in Take That.

Williams shared in 2011 that he had been feeling tired. This was due to a hormone imbalance. He first thought it was a return of his depression. In a June 2020 interview, he said he had developed an addiction to online golf games. Williams also has dyslexia, dyscalculia, and ADHD.

Interests and Hobbies

Williams is very interested in UFOs and related paranormal topics. He researched this during his break from music in 2007–2008. He was part of a documentary for BBC Radio 4 with Jon Ronson. The documentary followed them to a UFO convention in Nevada. Williams connected his interest in the paranormal to his childhood fears. These fears came from his mother's belief in "the world's mysteries, elves, demons, [and] witchcraft".

Williams appeared in a 2018 TV documentary Hunt for the Skinwalker. He said his partner Ayda Field stopped him from buying the Skinwalker Ranch.

Williams became an ordained minister. This was so he could officiate friends' weddings.

Williams has many tattoos. Many are related to British culture. These include:

• an Ace of Spades, for the band Motörhead.
• a fez, like comedian Tommy Cooper wore.
• the logo of The Saint, honoring Roger Moore.
• the spectacles logo of The Two Ronnies, a comedy show.
• the "skip dance" pose of Morecambe and Wise, another comedy duo.
• a Stafford knot, a symbol of his home county Staffordshire.
• the logo of his former group Take That.
• the coat of arms of Burslem, his hometown.
• the notes and words of the first line of the Beatles' song "All You Need Is Love".

Williams became a fan of his hometown football team Port Vale FC as a child. His father became the licensee of the team's social club. He has played in a special match for club legend Neil Aspin. He also helped design the playing uniform for the 2020–21 season. He also supports the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League.

At a February 2025 auction, Williams bought items belonging to Eric Morecambe. He bought his distinctive glasses and pipe for £20,000.

Family Life

In 1997, Williams had a short relationship with Spice Girls singer Melanie Chisholm. In 2000, he had a short relationship with Geri Halliwell, another Spice Girls member.

In December 1997, he met All Saints singer Nicole Appleton. They had an on-and-off relationship. At one point, they were engaged. Their relationship was shown in the 2024 movie Better Man.

In May 2006, Williams started dating American actress Ayda Field. She was featured in a documentary Williams made about UFOs. She also joined him on a field investigation in Trout Lake, Washington, in 2008. Williams and Field got married at his home in Mulholland Estates in Beverly Hills on 7 August 2010. They have four children: daughters Theodora and Colette, and sons Charlton and Beau. Williams' wife is Ashkenazi Jewish. Williams considers his children to be Jewish.

Williams has talked about his past confusion about his identity. He said he is "sad" about tabloid rumors. But he does not fear being seen in a certain way. He wants to be supportive while staying true to himself.

Wealth and Giving Back

In the 2011 Sunday Times Rich List, his wealth was estimated at £90 million. Williams is a lifelong supporter of Port Vale football club. In February 2006, he bought £240,000 worth of shares in the club. This made him the largest shareholder. However, the club faced financial difficulties in 2012. As a result, Williams lost his shares and received only a small part of his original investment back.

Williams started a charity in his hometown of Stoke-on-Trent. It is called Give It Sum. Its goal is to "improve local conditions and strengthen community life". It does this by giving money to those who need help.

Williams, with his friend Jonathan Wilkes, has organized charity football matches. These are called Soccer Aid. They raise money for UNICEF UK. Many celebrities and professional football players have played in Soccer Aid matches. These have been held at stadiums like Old Trafford and Wembley Stadium.

Williams has been a supporter of the Donna Louise Trust children's charity since 2002. This charity is in Stoke-on-Trent. It helps children with serious illnesses.

Awards and Recognitions

Williams has won many awards. Some of his most famous are the Brit Awards. He has won a record eighteen Brit Awards. This includes the awards he won with Take That. This makes him the most awarded artist in the history of the Brit Awards. He has also won 8 Echo Awards from the German music industry.

Music Albums

Solo Studio Albums

Concert Tours

Solo Tours

• Show Off Must Go On Tour (1997)
• Ego Has Landed Tour (1998)
• One More for the Rogue Tour (1998–99)
• 1999 Tour (1999)
• The Sermon on the Mount Tour (2000–01)
• Weddings, Barmitzvahs & Stadiums Tour (2001)
• 2003 Tour (2003)
• Close Encounters Tour (2006)
• Take the Crown Stadium Tour (2013)
• Swings Both Ways Live (2014)
• Let Me Entertain You Tour (2015)
• The Heavy Entertainment Show Tour (2017–18)
• XXV Tour (2022–23)
• Britpop Tour (2025)

Take That Tours

• Party Tour (1992–93)
• Everything Changes Tour (1993–94)
• Pops Tour (1994–95)
• Progress Live (2011)

Concert Series

• Robbie Williams Live in Las Vegas (2019)

Robbie Williams Band Members

Robbie Williams has had different musicians in his band over the years.

Current Members

• Robbie Williams – lead vocals, guitar, tambourine (1997–present)
• Gary Nuttall – lead guitar, backing vocals (1997–present)
• Jeremy Meehan – bass guitar, backing vocals (2004–present)
• Karl Brazil – drums (2009–present)
• Tom Longworth – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2012–present)
• Owen Parker – keyboard (2022-present)
• Denosh Bennett – backing vocals (2012–present)
• Sara-Jane Skeete – backing vocals (2012–present)
• Nayanna Holley – backing vocals (2012–present)

Brass Section (Atlantic Horns)

• Ben Edwards – trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion (2012–present)
• Mike Kearsey – trombones, sousaphone, keyboards, percussion (2012–present)
• Mark Brown – saxophones, bass clarinet, acoustic guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (2012–present)

Former Members

Timeline of Band Members

See also

In Spanish: Robbie Williams para niños