b. Robert Peter Williams, 13 February 1974, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England. Williams was the cheeky chappie in hugely successful UK boy band Take That, and at the time appeared to be the only one who could be badly behaved (or normal). When Take That broke up the predictions were that Mark Owen (the nice one) and Gary Barlow (the voice and marketability) would succeed. Little hope was given to Williams, who immediately set about stirring up the media with anti-Barlow tales. While Barlow was being groomed as the UK's new George Michael, Williams caused mayhem. He partied, he overindulged (drink and drugs) and he seemed to pay little attention to the music. Fittingly, August 1996's debut single was a cover version of Michael's "Freedom". Following a spell in a clinic for detoxification, a seemingly wiser Williams stepped out into the glare of the sunshine, blinked, and set about recording an album that eclipsed Barlow's debut both musically and critically. Life Thru A Lens was a joy throughout and contained the symbolic "Old Before I Die", which followed "Freedom" to number 2 in the UK charts. The comparative failure of follow-up singles "Lazy Days" and "South Of The Border' cast doubt on Williams" staying power, before the Christmas single "Angels" almost single-handedly revived his ailing career. His album, which had slumped, entered the UK Top 10 for the first time and eventually climbed to number one 28 weeks after it was first released. Never before had so many pundits and critics been proved so wrong.
Williams' renaissance continued with "Millennium" entering the UK singles chart at number 1 in September 1998, and I've Been Expecting You topping the album chart two months later. Williams was also announced to be the biggest selling album artist of 1998. Featuring backing vocals by Neil Tennant (Pet Shop Boys) and Neil Hannon (Divine Comedy), "No Regrets', one of Williams" finest songs to date, surprisingly stalled at number 4 in December. The wonderfully self-deprecating "Strong" debuted at the same position in March. In 1999, Williams set about trying to woo America, touring in support of The Ego Has Landed, a selection of the best tracks from both albums. In November, he returned to the top of the UK charts with the double a-side, "She's The One"/"It's Only Us'. The former song was written and previously recorded by Karl Wallinger of World Party, ironic considering Williams" songwriting partner Guy Chambers was at one time a member of that band.
The first airing of new material came in August 2000 with the release of Williams' third UK chart-topper, "Rock DJ', which was promoted by a controversial but award-winning video featuring the singer tearing lumps of flesh from his body. Sing When You're Winning proved beyond all doubt that Williams had won over the UK tabloids, music press and record buying public. Rarely has a dark horse enjoyed such a sweet victory, and Williams" fortunes were buoyed further when a new track, "Eternity", went to the top of the UK charts in summer 2001. Of more dubious musical value was the Frank Sinatra-worshipping Swing When You're Winning, which included a beyond-the-grave duet with ole blue eyes himself on "It Was A Very Good Year" and an entertaining collaboration with actress Nicole Kidman on the chart-topping "Somethin' Stupid". Nevertheless, the album was another huge bestseller, and Williams was able to fulfil a lifetime's dream by appearing in a one man showcase at London's Royal Albert Hall.
In October 2002, Williams signed a record-breaking £50 million contract with his label, EMI Records. The contract featured a number of provisos, including the label ceding greater creative control to the artist and a commitment to breaking Williams in the US market. In return, EMI affirmed they would benefit from a cut of Williams' non-recording activities, including touring, publishing, and merchandising, thus protecting the company from any commercial downturn in the singer's album sales. Williams claimed to be ecstatic and "rich beyond my wildest dreams". The new Escapology duly topped the UK charts the following month, but aside from the gorgeous first single "Feel' there was little on the album to rival Williams" best work. The expected American breakthrough was not forthcoming but the singer's UK popularity showed no signs of diminishing, with further hit singles including "Come Undone" and "Something Beautiful".
A potentially crucial split with songwriting partner Guy Chambers came about when the duo argued over royalties and the fact that Chambers had begun to write more songs for other artists, including Natalie Imbruglia, Will Young and Natasha Bedingfield. A few eyebrows were raised in the press when Williams announced he had begun writing new songs with cult UK artist Stephen Duffy. In August 2003, Williams staged the biggest live show ever in the UK when around 375,000 people attended his three Knebworth concerts. He stormed to the top of the book charts the following September with the publication of his new official biography, Feel.
Williams returned to the top of the UK singles chart at the end of 2004 with a new track ("Radio"), taken from his greatest hits set. The album was made available in memory card format for mobile phones and hand-held computers, a first for a major artist. The following autumn saw extensive radio play for his new single, "Tripping', the lead-off single from the bitty Intensive Care. The dance influenced follow-up Rudebox also demonstrated that there are lots of new ideas (and many lyrics) in Williams" head.
