I've just had a rep. in from one of my suppliers who, on seeing the Empeg, said "Is that an Empeg? - Robbie Williams has one of them, doesn't he?

Is this true, does anybody know, not that I have more than a passing interest?

<game show announcer voice>

"Will the real Robbie Williams please stand up!"

...sorry. It is early in the morning, and the caffeine has not kicked in yet.

Unless Robbie's an avid Ebay'er, Rob V may be able to tell you wether an empeg was bought by an R Williams at some point in the past. I bet he's still running 1.03 though

.... or maybe we've discovered d33zys true identity?

Nah - Robbie's feet are nowhere near as hairy as D33zy's.

When, and for what reason, have you seen Robbie Williams's feet, close up?

not that I have more than a passing interest?

/me settling my bill at Dublin hotel Monday eve....

[front desk phone rings]

Clerk: "No, sorry, we're all full up that night due to Robbie Williams"

[front desk phone rings]

Clerk: "Damn that Robbie Williams!!"

Is this an oblique reference to the fact that he isn't big in the US, as I read somewhere, or am I looking too deep?

How was that wedding? Was Dublin up to your expectations? Are you now a Guinness drinker? Did Robbie Williams sing at the wedding or is it just a coincidence? Why does he need a whole Hotel, he's only a much lesser than average pop singer with too many tattoes and too high an opinion of himself

Robbie Willaims is virtually unknown in the US, but I know that he is huge in the UK and such. I thought he was some kind of Backstreet Boys-type act. When I got to Amersfoort, "Come Undone" was being played constantly on the radio. I was surprised to hear whore, shit, and fuck in his lyrics. What's the deal with that guy?

Robbie Williams used to be in Take That, arguably one of the first manufactured boy bands.

There used to be five of them, but then he quit/was pushed, leaving four. Take That folded shortly afterwards. I doubt this was entirely down to missing Robbie. More likely he'd seen something coming and had the good sense to get out first.

He's since been extremely successful (in the UK at least) as a solo singer/performer.

whore, [censored], and [censored] in his lyrics

Really? Wow! You mean the "Millenium" guy? I think that's as famous as he got over here, and I suppose that was almost 4 years ago now. I liked the song, though. I think I have the video on my computer.

When I got to Amersfoort, "Come Undone" was being played constantly on the radio. I was surprised to hear whore, [censored], and [censored] in his lyrics. What's the deal with that guy?

He was thrown out of manufactured squeaky-clean boy band "Take That", ostensibly for an interview he did which included some mild non-disapproval of recreational drug-taking. Instead of going quietly, he launched a solo career which became hugely more successful than Take That ever was, both in terms of popular appeal and (most agree) in terms of talent: such Williams songs as "Let Me Entertain You", "Strong", "Angels", "She's The One", and "Millennium" are still credible nowadays, whereas Take That's repertoire lasted until the screaming teenage girls stopped and then dropped out of popular consciousness without trace.

I was surprised to hear whore

I stuck the telly on last night, and that terrible "How Clean Is Your House" programme came on. So I brought up the teletext listings to see what else was on, but they don't have many characters for the programme names, and the name appeared as "How Clean Is Your Ho". Now that's a programme I'd watch.

Peter

> one of the first manufactured boy bands.

I think you'll find that the Sex Pistols hold that acolade a bit before Take That's time.

a bit before Take That's time

A bit before my time, too. You're saying the Sex Pistols are a manufactured boy-band? At the time, did they qualify on both counts?

I would argue it goes back way further than that, to at least Phil Spector.

Yup, the Sex Pistols were both manufacturerd and boys at the time, therefore qualify.

I heard once that Orgy was manufactured. Does anyone know if that's true? I kinda like their stuff, but I'd feel like a tool if it actually is manufactured.

From the article I read...that's an urban legend. Can't find a link to it now though. It may have been in print media.

Hmm, the Monkees were manufactured too actually. Not sure who came first though.

How was that wedding? Was Dublin up to your expectations?

The wedding was great. Bride and bridesmaids all pretty much glowed with youth, beauty, all that (and the groom and groomsmen weren't too shabby either!). Hmm, I should do a little travelogue for my sisters, but the short version:

- After camping at Henrick's in Bedford (playing Ringo to Paul and George...thanks Henrick!) I paused in London for a day, rode The Eye (nice day and view) and then, *yes* I took the train to Holyhead and crossed to Dublin on the Irish Ferries Ulysses. The trip was fine. What can I say. I love trains and ferries.

- Weather in Dublin was fine for the most part and our B&B Hotel was just a block south of Saint Stephen's Green. Easy walking everywhere. They hired a double-decker bus to get us all to the wedding and reception. Couldn't be easier.

- Lots of Guiness. The only related disappointment is that the Guiness "tour" really isn't a tour at all, more like an artsy museum walk with a beer at the end. Nice view from the bar, but an expensive "free" beer at Eur 13.50!

- OK, the best part: Monday, with most of the wedding party dispersed, I rented a little Suzuki from Avis and drove west to Grange, Stradbally, Portlaoise, Laois and found the 78 year-old historian of Stradbally (a Ms. O'Dooley) who put me in her Toyota, drove me around the Grange (a spot that exists on no maps but only in the mind of the postman) and pointed out the tumbledown thatched huts and gravestones of Hogans Past. That was a kick.

- Trip back was fine, but no custom in-flight entertainment having left Empeg #2 with Rob....

(edit: oh, and I don't think that Robbie had booked up this hotel, rather that a bunch of folks coming from outside of Dublin for an upcoming Robbie show had booked it full)

My wife swears that's where she was looking once at T In The Park. Okay, he had his boots off but was also wearing a kilt at the time, so I'm not so sure...she may have made the description of his feet up.