Music News
Robbie Williams' 'Rudebox' payout
Dec 4, 2007, 11:30 GMT
Robbie Williams must pay a £500,000 court bill after blasting former boss Nigel Martin-Smith on his 'Rudebox' album.
The 'Angels' singer is expected to apologise at Manchester High Court tomorrow (05.12.07) and settle the huge sum after accusing Martin-Smith of stealing money from Take That's tour payments in his track 'The 90s'.
Robbie also sang about gouging the 49-year-old music mogul's eyes out on the song which was removed from the 2006 album when Martin-Smith launched legal action.
Martin-Smith - who assembled Take That in 1990 - told Britain's Manchester Evening News newspaper: "Robbie has agreed to make a public apology and will pay damages. That will be the end of the matter. I told him I didn't want damages and would happily waive them if he would meet me for a chat and put all this negativity behind us.
"I said we should be friends again, but he refused to meet me. So now he has to pay me damages. It's a shame it's come to this. They say there's nothing worse than a woman scorned, but there is. The worst thing is a pop star scorned.
"I have no idea why Robbie created this idea that I was horrible to him. Did I lock him in a cage or stick pins in his eyes? I'm not bitter, but it still hurts. It's funny what fame does to human beings.
"They were all such lovely lads. Howard still is absolutely salt of the earth, Mark is still lovely and Gary is like my younger brother."
The pair have already had dealings in court - in 1997, Nigel sued Robbie for breach of contract after he left Take That.
(C) BANG Media International
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Older Talkback
page: 1
Good for Robbie. If I had the money I would do exactly what he did. Nigel Martin-Smith is a baby and seems to make most his money from suing Mr. Williams every so many years. Granted, Robbie needs to let bygones be bygones. By bringing up his beef with Martin-Smith all the time he is going to keep having to donate to the Nigel Martin-Smith Retirement Fund indefinitely if he's not careful.
We get and appreciate there is bad blood between them. Move on Mr. Williams. Having said that, I think it's great he didn't give Martin-Smith the satisfaction of a meet-greet which for some reason this guy is deluded enough to think he's going to get.
page: 1
Steve USADec 4th, 2007 - 20:53:02
Did it ever occur to Robbie that since this was a business deal where his percentage was based on sales, that he could legally have an independent audit of the accounts and make sure he was treated fairly.? That seems like a fair and reasonable business practice for a situation like this. Certainly nothing is gained from finger pointing and name calling unless of course
you happen to be 10 years old.
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