Williams has received a record 18Brit Awards, winningBest British Male Artist four times, Outstanding Contribution to Music twice, an Icon Award for his lasting impact on British culture, eight GermanECHO Awards, and threeMTV European Music Awards.[3][4] In 2004, he was inducted into theUK Music Hall of Fame after being voted the Greatest Artist of the 1990s. According to theBritish Phonographic Industry (BPI), he has been certified for 20.36 million albums and 10.4 million singles in the UK as a solo artist.[5] Five of his albums have also topped theAustralian albums chart, and he has sold an estimated 75 million to 80 million records worldwide, making him one of thebest-selling music artists of all time. He also topped the 2000–2010 UK airplay chart. His threeconcerts at Knebworth in 2003 drew over 375,000 people, the UK's biggest music event to that point.[6] In 2014, he was awarded the freedom of his hometown ofStoke-on-Trent and had a tourist trail created and streets named in his honour. Williams' latest compilation album,XXV, was released on 9 September 2022.[7][8]
After 15 years, Williams rejoined Take That in 2010 to co-write and perform lead vocals on their albumProgress, which became the second-fastest-selling album in UK chart history[9] and the fastest-selling record of the century at the time.[10] Thesubsequent stadium tour, which featured seven songs from Williams' solo career, became the biggest-selling concert in UK history when it sold 1.34 million tickets in less than 24 hours. In 2011, Take That frontmanGary Barlow confirmed that Williams had left the band for a second time to focus on his solo career, although he stated that the departure was amicable and that Williams was welcome to rejoin Take That in the future.[11] Williams has since performed with Take That on three separate television appearances,[12][13][14] and collaborated with Barlow on a number of projects[15] such as theWest End musicalThe Band.[16] A film based on Williams' life,Better Man, was released in 2024.[17]
Early life
Robert Peter Williams was born on 13 February 1974 inStoke-on-Trent, the son of Janet (née Farrell) and Peter Williams (also known as Pete Conway), who ran a pub called the Red Lion inBurslem before becoming the licensee at thePort Vale Social Club.[18] His maternal grandfather was an Irishman fromKilkenny.[19] He attendedSt Margaret Ward Catholic School inTunstall[20] and participated in several school plays, most notably in the role of theArtful Dodger in a production ofOliver![21]
In 1990, the sixteen-year-old Williams was the youngest member to join Take That. According to the documentaryTake That: For the Record, his mother read an advertisement seeking members for a new boy band and suggested that he try out for the group. He met fellow memberMark Owen on the day of his audition/interview withNigel Martin-Smith. Although the majority of the group's material was written and performed byGary Barlow, Williams performed lead vocals on three hits "Could It Be Magic", "I Found Heaven", and "Everything Changes". Williams' use of alcohol and cocaine brought him into conflict with Martin-Smith over the behaviour rules for Take That members.[22]
In November 1994, Williams's drug use had escalated; he nearly had a drug overdose the night before the group was scheduled to perform at theMTV Europe Music Awards.[23] According to the documentaryFor the Record, he was unhappy with his musical ideas not being taken seriously by Martin-Smith and lead singer Barlow; his desire to explore hip hop and rap conflicted with Take That's usual ballads. Barlow stated in interviews that Williams had given up trying to offer creative input.
Noting Williams's increasingly belligerent behaviour and poor attendance at rehearsals, and worried that he might leave the group during their upcoming tour, Barlow andJason Orange took their concerns to Martin-Smith. During one of the last rehearsals before the tour commenced, the three confronted Williams about his attitude and stated they wanted to do the tour without him. He agreed to quit and left the group in July 1995; it would be the last time for twelve years that they were all together. Despite the departure of Williams, Take That completed theirNobody Else Tour as a four-piece. They later disbanded on 13 February 1996, Williams's 22nd birthday.[24]
Shortly afterwards, Williams was photographed by the press partying with the members ofOasis atGlastonbury Festival. Following his departure, he became the subject of talk shows and newspapers as he acknowledged his plans to become a solo singer, and he was spotted partying withGeorge Michael in France. A clause in his Take That contract prohibited him from releasing any material until after the group was officially dissolved, and he was later sued by Martin-Smith and forced to pay $200,000 in commission. After various legal battles over his right to a solo career, Williams succeeded in getting released from his contract withBMG. On 27 June 1996, he signed withChrysalis Records.
2006–2011: Second stint
Williams performing in Take That'sProgress Live tour in 2011. He rejoined the group in July 2010 and has said he is open to another reunion in the future.
By March 2009, Williams had shown interest in rejoining Take That;[25] the band completed their tour,The Circus Live, without him. In spite of rumours that Williams was working in New York with Take That in September that year,[26] by the day of theChildren in Need charity concert at theRoyal Albert Hall in November they were still performing separately. Both did join with the other acts in the final song of the evening, with Williams putting his arm around Gary Barlow and singing "Hey Jude".
On 15 July 2010, Williams reconciled with his former colleagues and rejoined Take That. In November 2010 the Take That albumProgress was released, becoming the fastest selling album since 2000 and the second fastest selling album in UK history.[27] The group travelled across the UK on theirProgress Live tour, which included eight nights atWembley Stadium in London,[28] then continued across Europe. The tour was the fastest selling in UK history with ticket hotlines and websites crashing under the demand.[28]
In August 2012, Take That performed at theclosing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics. Williams was due to perform with Take That but missed the performance because his wife gave birth at around the same time; the group performed as a four-piece.[29]
Although still officially part of Take That,[30] Williams chose not to return for group'sseventh andeighth studio albums and their accompanying tours, focusing instead on his solo commitments. He continued to write music with his colleagues and has performed with the group on several occasions since 2011's Progress tour[31] and planned to return for a full tour to celebrate Take That's 30th anniversary in 2019.[32]
Solo career
1996–1998:Life thru a Lens andI've Been Expecting You
Williams launched his solo career in 1996 with a cover ofGeorge Michael's "Freedom", which reached number two in theUK Singles Chart.[33] Recordings for Williams's first album began at London's Maison Rouge studios in March 1997. Shortly after his introduction to songwriter and producerGuy Chambers, Williams released "Old Before I Die", the first single from his debut album. The single reached number two on the UK Charts;[33] it was largely ignored on international charts. His debut album,Life thru a Lens, was released in September 1997. The album launched with his first live solo gig at theÉlysée Montmartre theatre in Paris, France. The album debuted at number eleven on theUK Albums Chart.
"Angels", the fourth single, is Williams' best-seller in the United Kingdom.[34] The song, apart from becoming a hit around Europe and Latin America, caused sales of his album to skyrocket. The album remained in the British top ten for forty weeks and spent 218 weeks there altogether, making it the 58th best selling album in UK history with sales of over 2.4 million.[35] The album eventually managed to sell over three million copies in Europe.[36]
Williams and Chambers started writing the second album,I've Been Expecting You, in Jamaica in early 1998. The first single, "Millennium", accompanied with a music video featuring Williams parodyingJames Bond, complete withtuxedo and references to Bond films likeThunderball andFrom Russia with Love, became Williams' first solo number one single in the United Kingdom.[37] It also became a top twenty hit in many European countries, Latin America and Australia.[38]
I've Been Expecting You was released in late October 1998 and debuted at number one in the UK Albums Chart.[37] The album received more attention outside the United Kingdom, leaving its mark in the European and Latin American markets with hits such as "No Regrets", a collaboration with thePet Shop Boys' singerNeil Tennant andthe Divine Comedy'sNeil Hannon. "She's the One", a cover of aWorld Party track written byKarl Wallinger, became Williams' second UK number-one single.[37] Williams finished the year with a European Tour late in 1999.I've Been Expecting You sold almost 3 million copies in the UK and was certified 10× Platinum by the BPI.[39] In Europe, the album sold over 4 million copies.[40]
1999–2001:Sing When You're Winning andSwing When You're Winning
In 1999, Williams was signed toCapitol Records in the United States, a part ofEMI. He embarked on a United States promotional tour and released his first United States and Canadian single, "Millennium". The compilation albumThe Ego Has Landed was released in July 1999 in the United States and Canada. In the middle of promotion and the tours in 1999, Williams began work on his third studio album.
Williams, alongsideSteve Furst, in London in 2000,gesturing to a paparazzi photographer
The first single taken from the album was "Rock DJ", a song inspired by Williams'sUNICEF mentor, the lateIan Dury. The video created by Fred & Farid[41] showed Williams in an attempt to get noticed by a group of women, first stripping and then tearing chunks of skin and muscle from his body, and caused controversy in the United Kingdom and many other countries. The video was edited byTop of the Pops for its graphic content and many other channels followed suit.[42] The song became an instant hit, reaching number one in the UK (becoming his third number one single as a solo artist) and New Zealand. The song went on to win "Best Song of 2000" at theMTV Europe Music Awards, "Best Single of the Year" at theBrit Awards and anMTV Video Music Award for Best Special Effects.[43]
When the album,Sing When You're Winning was released in August 2000, it topped the charts in many different countries.[44] In the UK the album was certified 2× Platinum on its first week of release.[45] After the success of his third album, Williams wanted to take another musical direction. He took two weeks off from his tour to recordSwing When You're Winning, his fourth studio album. Born from his lifelong love forFrank Sinatra – combined with the success of the track "Have You Met Miss Jones?" that he recorded for the filmBridget Jones' Diary in 2001 – the album was recorded atCapitol Studios in Los Angeles.
Williams took the chance to duet with his long-time friendJonathan Wilkes,Little Voice starJane Horrocks,Saturday Night Live starJon Lovitz,Rupert Everett and actressNicole Kidman. The first single released from the album was a duet with Kidman, on "Somethin' Stupid". Originally a hit forFrank andNancy Sinatra, the song became Williams' fifth number one hit in the UK.[46] It eventually went on to become one of the biggest hits of 2001.[47] "Beyond the Sea" was featured over the credits of the filmFinding Nemo in 2003 and was also released on the film's soundtrack CD. A DVD,Robbie Williams Live at the Albert Hall, was released in December of that year and has become one of the best selling music DVDs in Europe, being certified 6× Platinum in the United Kingdom[48] and 2× Platinum in Germany.[49]
In 2002, Williams signed a record-breaking £80 million contract with EMI.[50] The contract included a number of provisos, including the label ceding greater creative control to the artist and a commitment to breaking Williams into the US market. It remains thebiggest music deal in British history. The deal was brokered byIngenious Media, a UK corporate finance advisory business. Williams began working on what would be his fifth studio album, spending a year in the recording studio. The album heralded a new era for Williams. He had taken a more active role in the making of this album. "One Fine Day", "Nan's Song", and "Come Undone" were the first songs that Williams wrote without the input of Guy Chambers. Most of the songs were recorded in Los Angeles.
"For the first time in my life, I'm speechless."
—Williams addresses the crowd during his three record-breakingconcerts at Knebworth playing to 375,000 people, the biggest event in UK music history.[6]
The album's first single, "Feel", written by Williams and Chambers, was recorded as a demo. When they started working on the album and were trying to re-record the vocals, Williams felt dissatisfied with it, so he decided to include the demo version and then release it as the first single. When the single was released in late 2002, it became Williams' biggest international hit, going number one in The Netherlands and Italy and reaching the top ten in many European countries.[51] When Williams' fifth studio album,Escapology, was released in late 2002, it hit number one in at least 10 countries around the world. In the United States, it failed to make such an impact.Escapology sold almost 2 million copies by the end of 2003 in the United Kingdom.[52] On 1–3 August 2003, Williams played three consecutiveconcerts at Knebworth to 125,000 people each night, making it the biggest event in UK music history.[6] Memorable performances included "Come Undone" where he interjected with "Britain, I'm Your Son", and further interacted with the audience when he brought a girl up on stage.[53] In October 2003, Williams released a live album of the concerts,Live at Knebworth.[54]
In October 2004, Williams releasedGreatest Hits, a retrospective of his career, which also contained new tracks he had been working on with then-new collaboratorStephen Duffy. "Radio", the compilation's first single, debuted at number one in theUK Singles Chart,[37] becoming Williams' sixth number-one hit. When the compilation was released, it debuted at number one in the UK[37] and was the best selling album of the year in the UK[55] and Europe.[56] Eight years after the release of "Angels", the British public voted it as the "Best Single of the Past Twenty-Five Years" at the2005 Brit Awards.[57]
After touring Latin America in late 2004 for the promotionGreatest Hits, Williams started working on his sixth studio album. Recorded at his house in theHollywood Hills, the album was co-written byStephen Duffy over the course of 24 months. The albumIntensive Care was launched in Berlin on 9 October. It became an international hit. In November 2005, Williams took home theMTV Europe Music Award for 'Best Male', but also, entered inThe Guinness Book of World Records when he announced his World Tour for 2006, selling1.6 million tickets in one single day.[58] Williams kicked off hisClose Encounters World Tour in South Africa in April 2006; when he finished his European leg of the tour, 2.5 million people had seen the show and, after touring Latin America and Australia, the numbers went up to 3 million.[59]
2006–2009:Rudebox andReality Killed the Video Star
Williams released his much anticipated dance/electro album,Rudebox, on 23 October 2006. It featured collaborations with thePet Shop Boys,William Orbit, Soul Mekanik,Joey Negro,Mark Ronson, Chris Grierson, and The Orr Boys. It received mixed reviews: Allmusic gave it a four star rating, theNME 8 out of 10, and Music Week and MOJO were equally positive,[60] but it received much weaker reviews from some of the British press. The album sold 2× Platinum in Europe with sales of over 2 million making it the fastest platinum-selling album of 2006.[61] To promote his album, Williams commissioned a series of short films.[62]Goodbye to the Normals was directed byJim Field Smith and features "Burslem Normals" by Williams.
Williams at a concert in Vienna, Austria, in 2006
In February 2009, it was confirmed that Williams had written material with Guy Chambers andMark Ronson. A spokesman said that Williams was planning to begin the recording sessions in March and that the new album would be released in late 2009. This will probably be the last Williams album released by EMI.[63] On his official website, Williams confirmed that he was working with producerTrevor Horn on his new album, which would eventually be titledReality Killed the Video Star,[64] a reference to the song "Video Killed the Radio Star" by Horn's former bandthe Buggles. The album was released on 9 November 2009 in the United Kingdom.[65]
On 11 October 2009 Williams published a 12-track compilation album, titledSongbook, as a free CD for the newspaperThe Mail on Sunday. That same evening, Williams made his "comeback" onThe X Factor results show, performing his new single "Bodies" for the first time live.[66] On 20 October 2009 Williams opened the BBC Electric Proms at the LondonRoundHouse.[67] It was his first live concert for 3 years and was broadcast across 200 cinemas worldwide.[68] Accompanied by a string section, horn section, full band and producer Trevor Horn, Williams performed several new tracks fromReality Killed the Video Star and older tracks.[68]
Reality Killed the Video Star was previewed in the UK on theSpotify music streaming service on 6 November 2009, and official released on 9 November.[69] In a high-profile chart battle, Williams' album was pitted againstX Factor 2008 runners-upJLS who released theirdebut album the same day. JLS beat Williams to the number one spot by 1500 sales. The album was also released in the United States (Williams' first album to be released there since 2002'sEscapology). In late November 2009, Williams travelled to Australia to perform at theARIA Music Awards of 2009.[70]
2010–2012:In and Out of Consciousness andTake the Crown
In October 2010, Williams released his second greatest hits album,In and Out of Consciousness: The Greatest Hits 1990–2010, to celebrate 20 years as a performing artist. A single, "Shame", was also released, which was written and sung by Williams and Barlow.
On 21 October 2011 Williams signed withIsland Records (Universal Music), following his departure from his previous record label EMI in 2010.[71]
Williams was the opening act at theDiamond Jubilee Concert, which was co-organised byGary Barlow, held outsideBuckingham Palace on 4 June 2012.[72] During the end of August his official website began a countdown to the release of information regarding his latest solo material, with an image of his face and his mind unveiled daily as the countdown expired.[73] TitledTake the Crown, the album debuted at number one on theUK Albums Chart making it Williams' tenth number one album. It also marked the second time that Williams had a number one single ("Candy") and album at the same time on the chart. The first time was in 2001 when "Somethin' Stupid" andSwing When You're Winning were number one on the singles and albums chart respectively.[74]
The album's lead single, "Candy", premiered on 10 September 2012 and was released on 11 September in most countries and 29 October in the UK. In the UK, "Candy" became Williams' first number one single since "Radio" (2004) and his seventh solo number one single. In its first week the song had sold 137,000 copies becoming the fastest-selling male artist single of the year.[75] On 26 November 2012 Williams announced a17 date stadium tour of Europe.[76][77] Williams also confirmed that the support act for the tour would beOlly Murs who also duets with him on "Kids". Universal and EMI merged in 2012, bringing Williams' Chrysalis/Virgin recordings full circle to Universal.
2013–2014:Swings Both Ways andUnder the Radar Volume 1
Williams released a compilation album entitledUnder the Radar Volume 1 on 1 December 2014 through his website, featuring leftovers and unreleased songs.[80] "[These are] loads and loads of songs that I have written that I am incredibly passionate about, I want you to hear them, otherwise they are just going to remain in my computer!"[81] Williams said that Guy Chambers was "not happy" about these songs being released online: "He thinks I am a lunatic for not putting them on an album that we have promoted with TV performances and at radio stations and a big tour," Williams said. "But I am an impetuous bugger, and I want them out now, now, now!"[82]
2016–2018:The Heavy Entertainment Show, andThe X Factor
In May 2016, it was announced that Williams had signed a recording contract withSony Music. In a statement, Williams said: "They're [Sony Music] inspired, I'm inspired. I'm more ready than I ever have been and I'm totally convinced I'm in the right place. I look forward to working on this album, which is an album I'm immensely proud of, in this exciting new partnership with Sony Music."[83]The Heavy Entertainment Show became his12th UK number-one album, putting him level withMadonna.[84] In July 2017, Williams announced a new album,Under the Radar Volume 2, which was released in November 2017.[85] A third edition in the Under the Radar series was released on Valentine's Day of 2019.[86]
On 14 June 2018, Williams performed at the2018 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony held at theLuzhniki Stadium inMoscow,Russia.[87] Williams sang "Let Me Entertain You" and "Feel" before he performed a duet of "Angels" with Russian sopranoAida Garifullina.[87][88] Williams then performed an encore with "Rock DJ", during which he gavethe finger.[89]Fox in the U.S. apologised for the incident which they had broadcast live.[89] The incident was not shown onITV in the UK who had cut away prior to the encore.[89] Williams appeared onThis Morning on 19 June and explained what happened, "It was one minute to kick off, I was under a lot of pressure, because there was one minute left and I didn't know how I was going to do half a minute, so I just did a one-minute countdown [using his middle finger]." Asked by presenterPhillip Schofield whether he regrets it, he said: "Yeah, of course, yeah. I cannot trust me. I don't know what I'm going to do at any time. There's no, sort of, plan. The plan was, sing in key, don't fall over. That was the plan and 99% of the plan, I pulled off." When asked did the idea just enter his head he responded, "Nothing actually pops into my head. There's a block between me and sense... then something happens and then five minutes later, I'm like, 'Did I? Yeah, I did, didn't I?".[90]
On 22 November, Williams released his first Christmas album,The Christmas Present, with guest appearances from boxerTyson Fury,Rod Stewart,Jamie Cullum,Helene Fischer andBryan Adams. It debuted at number two on the UK Charts behindColdplay'sEveryday Life. The album sold over 67,000 copies, matchingThe Heavy Entertainment Show. Williams also sold over 10,000 cassettes in seven days, the most in two decades. The following week saw Williams' album go to number one in the UK, outselling the nearest competitor,Rod Stewart, by 5,000 copies. This was Williams'13th UK number-one album, tyingElvis Presley for the most UK number-one albums.[92] Williams released the promotional single "Hey Tiger" in December 2019, for the new version ofThe Tiger Who Came to Tea.[93]
On 25 February 2022, it was revealed that Williams had teamed up with his regular collaborators Tim Metcalfe and Flynn Francis to record the trance track "Sway" under the new alias 'Lufthaus'.[94] In April 2022,The Guardian wrote that while Williams "remains a big draw", he was no longer guaranteed hits and was "now more likely to be playlisted onSmooth Radio thanBBC Radio 1". Williams said he was working on more experimental music, which he likened toDavid Bowie andLou Reed, but said: "Do I unashamedly want to still be one of the biggest artists in the world? Yeah, I do ... I've had an interesting first half of my life. I'd like an interesting second half, too."[95] In May 2022, Williams performed at theRod Laver Arena inMelbourne, Australia, during the filming of hisBetter Man biopic which was produced atDocklands Studios Melbourne.[96]
On 7 June 2022, Williams announced that his tenth compilation album,XXV, would be released on 9 September 2022.[97] It will feature new, reimagined versions of his hit songs, plus new material. On the same day as this announcement, Williams released "Angels XXV", a reworked version of "Angels".[98][99] On 10 June 2022, "Angels (XXV)" reached number 92 on the UK Official Singles Sales Chart,[100] rising to 74 a week later.[101] On 5 August 2022, Williams released the single "Lost", also taken fromXXV.[102][103]XXV was released on 9 September 2022[7][8] and debuted a week later at number 1 on the UK Official Albums Chart.[104] In doing so, Williams broke all previousOfficial Chart records with his fourteenth solo number one album.[105] On 24 September 2022, Williams performed at the2022 AFL Grand Final held at theMelbourne Cricket Ground inMelbourne,Australia.[106] Williams sang "Let Me Entertain You", "Rock DJ", "Lost" and "Feel" before he performed"Angels" which Williams dedicated to Australian cricketerShane Warne, who had died in March 2022. Williams then coveredJohn Farnham's "You're the Voice" stating "The next song is the unofficial national anthem of Australia! Let's all send our love to John and his family". Just two days prior on 22 September 2022, John Farnham had released a statement outlining that he was to undergo immediate surgery after being diagnosed with cancer.[107] Williams then performed "Kids" with Australian singerDelta Goodrem.[108][109]
On 7 October 2022, Lufthaus released the single "Soul Seekers".[110] Williams' XXV tour started on 9 October 2022 inThe O2 Arena, supported by Lufthaus.[111] In November 2022, Williams performed inQatar as part of the country'sFIFA World Cup 2022 celebrations. His appearance attracted criticism due to Qatar's human rights abuses and strict LGBT laws.[112][113][114] After the criticism, Williams stated, "I don't condone any abuses of human rights anywhere [...] if we're not condoning human rights abuses anywhere, then it would be the shortest tour the world has ever known: I wouldn't even be able to perform in my own kitchen [...] Anybody leaving messages saying 'no to Qatar' are doing so on Chinese technology [...] the hypocrisy there is that if we take that case in this place, we need to apply that unilaterally to the world. Then if we apply that unilaterally to the world, nobody can go anywhere."[115]
On 5 May 2023, Williams was featured on the bilingual single "Une Tahitienne á Paris" by the French singerMareva Galanter.[116][117] On 21 August 2023, Williams was featured with a cameo performance on the single "Punk's Dead", by the English duoSoft Play.[118] Lufthaus' debut album,"Visions, Volume 1" was released on 6 October 2023. The single "Immortal", featuringSophie Ellis-Bextor, was released the day before.[119]
2024–present:Better Man andBritpop
On 2 May 2024, Williams was featured on the duet version ofLucy Spraggan's 2020 single "Sober".[120][121][122] In September 2024, he featured on the track "Danny" with the Israeli singerNoga Erez on her album,The Vandalist.[123] The pair previously performed together at his June 2023 concert inTel Aviv.[124]
On 29 November 2024, Williams released the first single from theBetter Man soundtrack, "Forbidden Road"; it reached number 20 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart one week later.[132] It was nominated for Best Original Song at the82nd Golden Globe Awards and the14th AACTA Awards.[133][129] It was initially shortlisted for theAcademy Award for Best Original Song at the97th Academy Awards but was disqualified a few days later after it was found it incorporated material from another song, "I Got A Name", as performed byJim Croce.[134] Williams was a headline performer for Australia's nationally broadcast New Year's Eve concert, screened annually on theABC from in front of theSydney Opera House.[135] A portion of his performance from Sydney also appeared inDick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve in the United States broadcast, hosted byRyan Seacrest.[136] On 3 January 2025, the soundtrack album toBetter Man debuted at number 1 on the UK Albums Downloads Chart, and at number 4 on the UK Soundtrack Albums Chart; on 24 January 2025, after the album was released on CD, it debuted at number 1 on the main UK Albums Chart.[137]
In May 2025, an exhibition of Williams' artwork opened in London. TheGuardian gave it one out of five, saying it comprised "line drawings filled withtherapy speak, greeting-card banter and meaningless affirmations".[138] On 21 May 2025, he announced the release of his upcoming thirteenth studio album,Britpop; on the same day, he released the album's lead single, "Rocket", which featuresTony Iommi.[139][140] On August 21, 2025, Williams released the single "Human", whoch freatures Mexican sibling pop-duoJesse & Joy.[141][142]
In October 2025, Williams'Istanbul concert was cancelled over his alleged support for Israel, after social media users accused him of being aZionist. Williams has not publicly commented on theGaza war.[143]
In 2002, Williams appeared on the track "My Culture" on the1 Giant Leap album, alongside rapperMaxi Jazz (which features lyrics from the hidden track "Hello Sir" fromLife thru a Lens). Williams also features on a double CD titledConcrete which was released on the same day asRudebox. The CD features a concert recorded for the BBC featuring the Pet Shop Boys and Williams singing their classic hit "Jealousy". Their joint effort, "She's Madonna", was released as a single in March 2007. On 13 August 2007, aDean Martin duets album was released, on which Williams sings "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone".
In 2019, he collaborated with British comedianJimmy Carr,[147] co-writing the lyrics for "Live in Las Vegas" – the opening song of Williams's residency at theWynn Las Vegas. A studio version of the song has been recorded[148] excerpts of which have been used in promotional material for the show, but the song is not yet available for download.
Other work
In 2005 Williams provided the voice of Dougal in thefilm adaption ofThe Magic Roundabout. On 26 August 2010, it was announced Williams would become a guest vocal coach on the ninth series of German reality television showPopstars: Girls forever to teach candidates for a girl group.[149]
On 20 September 2010, Williams released his second book calledYou Know Me in collaboration with Chris Heath. The book features a collection of photographs of Williams from the past 20 years of his career and discussion of them by Williams as transcribed by Heath. Williams launched a radio show titledRadio Rudebox on 6 October 2011 where he played music and interviewed Gary Barlow.
In 2011, Williams announced he was working withentrepreneur Peter Jones in developing a clothing line called Farrell in honour of his grandfather Jack Farrell.[150] Although the business had filed for bankruptcy, it was relaunched in 2014 with support of clothing companyPrimark.[151]
Video games
Williams recorded the song "It's Only Us" as the theme for theFIFA video gameFIFA 2000.[152] As part of the agreement to license the trackEA Sports includedPort Vale, the football club Williams supports, in the game, despite only being in the third tier of the English football league system.[152]
Williams features in his own karaoke video game,We Sing Robbie Williams, which was released on 12 November 2010 by Nordic Games Publishing AB.[153]
Football
In 2005, Williams founded afootball team called Los Angeles Vale F.C. Williams formed the club with other celebrity friends after building his own soccerpitch at his home in Los Angeles.[154][155] The club was named after Williams' hometown club,Port Vale, and its logo was very similar.[156] The club was disbanded in 2007, reportedly after Williams discovered two players had swindled him out of £200,000.[157][158]
Robbie Williams’s solo career has been shaped by a succession of major songwriting and production collaborators whose input defined his evolving sound from the late 1990s onward. From his debutLife thru a Lens (1997) throughEscapology (2002), Williams worked primarily withGuy Chambers. According to interviews and retrospective articles, Chambers served as Williams’s “musical director” during this era and the two produced a string of hits including “Angels”, “Feel” and “Let Me Entertain You”.[162][163]
For the 2005 albumIntensive Care, Williams partnered with Stephen Duffy, which marked a move toward more mature, guitar-driven songwriting and adult-contemporary pop rock.[164] The following year, withRudebox (2006), Williams embraced a diverse set of collaborators from across dance, hip-hop and electronic pop — includingMark Ronson,William Orbit andPet Shop Boys — and the resulting album stands as his most experimental.[165] In 2009, Williams worked with producerTrevor Horn forReality Killed the Video Star, combining classic pop songwriting with rich electronic production.[166]
Beginning in 2012, Williams entered into a sustained writing and production relationship with Tim Metcalfe and Flynn Francis; the team shaped the anthemic pop-rock sound ofTake the Crown (2012).[167]The Heavy Entertainment Show, which introduced elements of theatrical pop, andThe Christmas Present (2019) saw a reunion with Guy Chambers[168]
Parallel to his solo work, Williams launched the electronic project Lufthaus with Tim Metcalfe and Flynn Francis, culminating inVisions, Vol. 1 (2023) and described as “the pulse of electronic music fused with classic songwriting”.[169][170] In his forthcoming albumBritpop, Williams worked with Guy Chambers while retaining Metcalfe and Francis, in what he described as a return to his guitar-based British pop/rock roots.[171]
Collectively, these partnerships trace Williams’s journey from Britpop-inspired pop rock, through adult-contemporary and electronic experimentation, and back to the melodic, guitar-based sound that originally defined his solo identity.[172][173][174][175][176][177]
As a singer, his influences includeGeorge Michael,Tom Jones,[179]Elvis Presley andBono.[180] He worked with Jones several times throughout his career: They performed together at the Brit Awards in 1998; the following year, they recorded a cover of the song "Are You Gonna Go My Way" for Jones' albumReload; and in 2012, Williams and Jones worked together again on the song "On My Own", b-side of his single "Different".
Williams also feels great admiration forFreddie Mercury[181] and Queen. In 2001, Williams,Brian May andRoger Taylor released a new version of "We Are the Champions" for the movieA Knight's Tale. He also revealed that he was once asked to be the new frontman of Queen, but that he turned down the offer because of his "very low self-esteem". He said: "I just thought I'd save them the audacity of me even trying to step on a stage and be in the same echelon as Freddie Mercury. Because he, to me, is angelic. He's godlike. It was just too scary."[182]
Williams has revealed that he does the "Elvis Prayer" before going on stage at every concert. In 2000, he got a tattoo of the phrase "Elvis Grant Me Serenity"[183] and he also played as an Elvis impersonator in the music video for his song "Advertising Space" (2005).
Speaking to BBC Radio 2 in February 2021, Williams citedIan Dury as his biggest inspiration as a lyricist.[184] He sings on "You're the Why", the final track of the posthumously released albumTen More Turnips from the Tip (2002).[185]
"It's hisself-deprecating sense of humour — in person and in his lyrics — that helps explain his wide appeal in Australia. Perhaps onlyPink andEd Sheeran have such a wide mix of demographics at their concerts; that's why Williams will play to nearly 60,000 people in Victoria alone."
Caroline Sullivan ofThe Guardian wrote that Williams is "a perfect meeting of ego, self-deprecation and hits", adding "there really is nobody else, in pop music anyway, who combines monumental hamminess and bone-deep vulnerability quite so effectively."[192]
Williams has won significantly moreBrit Awards than any other artist, a record eighteen—Best British Male Artist four times, two awards for Outstanding Contribution to Music and the 2017 Brits Icon for his "lasting impact on British culture", and eight GermanECHO awards.[4][193][194] In 2004, he was inducted into theUK Music Hall of Fame, after being voted as the Greatest artist of the 1990s.[195] He appeared in the 2009 edition of theGuinness Book of World Records when his sell-out show at the BBC Electric Proms at London's Roundhouse was screened by more than 250 cinemas across 23 countries to set a new record for the most simultaneous cinematic screenings of a live concert.[196] Williams appears in the list of the all-time Top 100 biggest selling albums in the UK six times–withfour albums in the top 60.[55]
In 2005, the British public voted "Angels" the song they would most like played at their funeral.[197] In October 2009, it was announced that he would receive the Outstanding Contribution to British Music award at the2010 Brit Awards.[198] In September 2010, Williams switched on theBlackpool illuminations, stating that it was one of the greatest honours he had achieved.[199] In October,Media Control named Williams the most successful album-artist of the millennium due to the fact that he had spent No. 1 on theGerman Albums Chart for 38 weeks since 2000. He also reached that chart's Top Ten 135 times.[200] He was ranked at No. 11 the greatest frontman of all time in a reader poll byQ.[201]
Influence on other artists
Contemporary artists have expressed their admiration for Williams and cited him as one of their influences. The English rapperExample admitted his obsession with Williams and how he had been inspired by Williams' performances when he was younger. He described his own performance on stage as "a combination of rap, rock and Robbie Williams".[202][deprecated source?]
Ed Sheeran, in an interview withEl Hormiguero, revealed that the first album he ever bought wasLife Thru a Lens.[203]Olly Murs paid tribute to Williams' "Angels" music video in the music video for his single "Hand on Heart". One ofLouis Tomlinson's earliest influences was Williams, of whom he declared he is a big fan.[204]
Personal life
Residence
In 2006, Williams emigrated toLos Angeles.[205] He briefly moved back to the UK in 2009 when he bought an £8.5 million mansion inCompton Bassett, but sold the property a year later to move back to Los Angeles.
One of Williams' tattoos, the spectacles logo ofThe Two Ronnies, visible on his neck
Williams has a keen interest inUFOs and relatedparanormal phenomena, and researched the subject during his 2007–2008sabbatical.[218] He participated in a documentary forBBC Radio 4 withJon Ronson about the paranormal. The documentary followed them to a UFO convention inNevada, during which Williams linked his obsession in the paranormal with the desire to understand his childhood fears of his mother's belief in "theworld's mysteries,elves,demons, [and]witchcraft".[219]
Williams featured in a 2018 TV documentaryHunt for the Skinwalker byJeremy Corbell,[220][221] and revealed that his partner Ayda Field dissuaded him from buying theSkinwalker Ranch when it became for sale.[222]
Williams became an ordained minister with the Universal Ministries to officiate the wedding of friends.[223]
At a February 2025 auction of memorabilia and personal items, belonging toEric Morecambe, long-time fan Williams bought his distinctive imitation tortoiseshellMetzler spectacles and pipe for £20,000, much more than their £2,000 to £4,000 estimate.[233]
In 1997, Williams was in a month-long relationship withSpice Girls singerMelanie Chisholm;[234] also in 2000, Williams was in a short-term relationship withGeri Halliwell, another member of Spice Girls.[235]
In December 1997, he metAll Saints singerNicole Appleton while filmingTop of the Pops.[236] The following year, they started a on-and-off relationship, and at one point got engaged.[237] In an autobiography she co-authored with her sisterNatalie titledTogether, Appleton revealed that sheterminated the pregnancy of her and Williams' baby after pressure from her record company, causing an immense emotional strain on their relationship. They broke up by 1999.[237][238] Williams would state in later interviews that he was ashamed of his actions during their relationship, citing himself as a "fucking awful boyfriend" [to Appleton]. Their relationship was portrayed heavily in the 2024 biopicBetter Man.
In May 2006, Williams started dating American actressAyda Field. She was featured in the UFO documentary that Williams did for BBC Radio 4[239] and took part in a field investigation he did inTrout Lake, Washington, in 2008.[240] Williams and Field wed at his home inMulholland Estates inBeverly Hills on 7 August 2010.[241][242] They have four children: daughters Theodora and Colette,[243] and sons Charlton and Beau.[244] Williams's wife isAshkenazi Jewish.[245] Williams said in June 2023 that he and his wife are raising their children in accordance with Jewish customs.[143]
Williams has spoken of confusion regarding past comments he has made about his sexuality.[246] He also said he is "sad" about the related tabloid conjecture, yet does not fear being perceived as homosexual: "You want to be an ally while at the same time protecting your own authenticity."[247]
Wealth
In the 2011Sunday Times Rich List of wealthiest people in the British music industry, his wealth was estimated at £90 million. Williams is a lifelong supporter of football clubPort Vale, based in his home town ofStoke-on-Trent, and in February 2006 he bought £240,000 worth of shares in the club, making him the largestshareholder.[248] However, the club enteredadministration on 9 March 2012, and as a result Williams lost all of his shares in the club and received only a fraction of his original investment back.[249]
Charity
Williams warming up for the 2006 edition ofSoccer Aid
Williams has set up a charity in his home town of Stoke-on-Trent entitledGive It Sum, its goal being to "improve local conditions and strengthen community life by giving money to those who are disadvantaged."[211][250]
Williams has been the Patron of the children's charity the Donna Louise Trust, based in Stoke-on-Trent, since 2002. The charity offers respite and palliative care toterminally ill and life-limited children who are not expected to live past the age of 16.[252]
Williams has won various awards, with some of his more recognised accolades being theBrit Awards. He has won a record eighteen Brit Awards, which also include the Brits he won withTake That, making him the most successful artist in the history of the awards.[3] He has also won 8 Echo Awards from the German music industry.[194]
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