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Guy Chambers

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Guy Chambers
Birth nameGuy Antony Chambers
Born(1963-01-12)12 January 1963(age 61)
Hammersmith,London, England
Occupations
  • Musician
  • record producer
  • songwriter
InstrumentKeyboards
Websiteguychambers.co.uk

Guy Antony Chambers(born 12 January 1963) is an English songwriter, musician and record producer, best known for his work withRobbie Williams.

Education

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Chambers attendedQuarry Bank Comprehensive Schoolsixth form in Liverpool. From 18, he studied composition and piano at theGuildhall School of Music,London, where he won the 1985 composition prize.[1]

Career

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In December 1985, Chambers joinedThe Waterboys,touring with them on a tour supportingSimple Mindsuntil the end of the year.[2][3]Chambers joinedWorld Partyin 1986. He co-wrote "Love Street" withKarl Wallinger,who he had replaced in The Waterboys, on the band's albumGoodbye Jumbo.He appeared onthe Mission'salbumCarved in Sand,providing the orchestral arrangement and piano for the song "Grapes of Wrath", and was producer for the short-lived groupStresswith their debut album.

In 1992, Chambers formed his own bandthe Lemon Treesand wrote, produced and performed with them until they disbanded in 1995. The band only released one album -Open Book.Following the end of The Lemon Trees, Chambers wrote withCathy DennisonAm I the Kinda Girl?and other albums before meetingRobbie Williamsin January 1997. Their first work together,Life thru a Lens,was released in September 1997. In the next five years, they produced four other albums:I've Been Expecting You,Sing When You're Winning,Swing When You're WinningandEscapology.Following 2002'sEscapology,both Williams and Chambers went on to collaborate with other writers and artists for the next ten years, eventually reuniting for 2013'sSwings Both Ways,2017'sThe Heavy Entertainment Showand 2019'sThe Christmas Present.

In 2016, Chambers and Williams teamed up with Chris Heath to compose the music and lyrics for theRoyal Shakespeare Company's musical adaptation ofDavid Walliams’ bookThe Boy in the Dress,which opened in 2019-20 at theRoyal Shakespeare Theatre,Stratford-Upon-Avon. In 2018, Chambers wrote a children’s folk opera based on theOscar Wildeshort story "The Selfish Giant".He released his debut solo piano albumGo Gentle Into the Lighton 3 May 2019. It reached number 49 on theUK Albums Chart.[4]In 2021, he composed the score and wrote original songs forSky Cinema's 'A Christmas Number One'.[5]

Collaboration with Robbie Williams

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Chambers co-wrote a number of Williams' tracks, including "Rock DJ","Feel","Millennium","Let Me Entertain You"and"Angels".

In November 2012, Chambers and Williams were reunited onstage for the latter's shows at theO2 Arena.

The release ofSwings Both Wayswas announced by Williams in September 2013. It was released in the UK byIsland Recordson 18 November. The album featured cover versions of well known songs, as well as six new tracks written by Williams and Chambers, who also produced the album.Swings Both Waysalso featured duets between Williams andLily Allen,Michael Bublé,Kelly Clarkson,Olly MursandRufus Wainwright.[6]In 2014, Chambers and Williams touredSwings Both Ways,covering Europe, Asia and Australia.

In 2015, Chambers joined Williams on the road for theLet Me Entertain You Tour.The tour began inSpainand travelled through Europe and Asia, reaching Australia in October. They also played at various festivals throughout the summer. In 2016, Williams and Chambers collaborated onThe Heavy Entertainment Showwhich precededThe Heavy Entertainment Show Tour,and in 2019, they collaborated once again onThe Christmas Present.Chambers co-wrote and produced tracks offUnder the Radar Volume 1,2 and 3comprising demos, B-sides and rarities.

Other collaborations and projects

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In 2002, Chambers wrote "Staring Into Space" forBBMak's second album. In 2003, he co wrote "Melt"withMelanie Con the albumReason,which he co-produced along with Richard Flack.

In 2004, Chambers worked withBeverley Knight,co-writing the songs "Affirmation" (also the title track ofthe album), "No-One Ever Loves in Vain", "Under the Same Sun" and the top ten single "Come As You Are". He reunited with Knight on the 2009 album100%and co-wrote the title track "Soul Survivor"that Knight duetted on withChaka Khan.That same year he co-wrote "Shine" withKara DioGuardiforHilary Duff.He also co-wrote and co produced "Silent Movie" withNatasha Bedingfieldfor her albumUnwritten.In the same year, he co-produced American singer-songwriterAslyn's debut albumLemon Love,and co-wrote the song "Here", and co-wrote 7 songs onBrian McFadden's debut album — including the single "Real to Me", and the follow-up singles "Irish Son" and "Demons".

In 2007, he co-wrote four songs onAnastacia's fourth albumHeavy Rotation.He teamed up withChristophe Willemon his second recordCafeine,co-wrote withMatt HalesfromAqualungon the single "Heartbox" and withCathy Dennison "Sensitized", a duet withKylie Minogue,for Willem's record, released in 2009. Additional work that year involved new work with British artistsJulian Perretta,Katie Melua,Random Impulse,Marlon RoudetteandTaio Cruz.

In 2010, Chambers began working on the single "World Behind My Wall"released by pop/rock bandTokio Hotel.Chambers also co-wrote Tokio Hotel's track, "Pain of Love" which featured on their album,Humanoid.Katie Melua's albumThe House,released 24 May 2010, included five co-written songs for her new album produced byWilliam Orbit,including "I'd Like to Kill You", "The Flood" (first single), "A Happy Place", "A Moment of Madness" and "Tiny Alien". Chambers also worked on the track "Virtual Friend", co-written withArmin van Buurenfor his 2010 album,Mirage.

In 2011, Chambers worked on new material with English singer-songwritersKaty BandCharlene Soraia.He also teamed up withExample,co-writing the song "Microphone" which featured on Example's album,Playing in the Shadows.In the same year, Chambers worked with Marlon Roudette, producing and co-writing her single "New Age".A track Chambers had written withJulian Lennontitled "Never Let You Go" was released on Lennon's albumEverything Changes.Chambers collaborated with BBC2 for two three-part programmes:Goldie's Band: By Royal Appointmentairing in April andSecrets of a Pop Songwhich aired throughout July. Through the series, Chambers worked alongsideMark Ronsonto create a single, singer-songwriterRufus Wainwrightto create a ballad, and British bandNoisettesto compose an anthem. Chambers & Wainwright's "World War III" features on the digital version of Wainwright's albumOut of the Game.

Chambers has collaborated withSophie Hunteron two studio albums: the French-languageThe Isis Project(2005) and the English-languageSongs for a Boy(2011).

In 2013, Chambers collaborated withMaverick Sabrein his new West London studio on new material for the artist, as well as working on new material with Rufus Wainwright, and co-writing "Out of Control" withMiles Kane,a track from Kane's second studio albumDon't Forget Who You Are.In 2014, Chambers wrote "Crying for No Reason"with Katy B. In 2016, Chambers collaborated again with Kylie Minogue, Marlon Roudette, and Rufus Wainwright, and wrote and recorded withJohn Newman.

In 2019 Chambers collaborated with Robbie Williams on the music and lyrics for RSC stage showThe Boy in the Dress,the stage adaptation ofDavid Walliams'sbook of the same name.

In 2022, Chambers collaborated with the Austrian musicianTricksteron the singleThank Fuck It's Christmas,an expletive-ridden song reflecting the tensions and stress of that year, performed by Trickster alongside theRoyal Philharmonic Orchestra.[7]They also released a clean version titledPraise Be It’s Christmas,which went viral, with several million views on YouTube.[8]Chambers continued to collaborate with Trickster in producing subsequent music tracks, likeStill Kickingand"Silent Night" vs "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town".[9]

Chambers will be portrayed by Australian actorTom Budgein the 2024biographical filmBetter Man,based on Robbie Williams' life and career.[10]

Charity work

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On 25 October 2012, Chambers,Steve RotheramMP andKenny Dalglishcalled a press conference in theHouses of Parliamentto announce the release of the charity single "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"– a cover ofthe Holliestrack which was aiming to raise funds and awareness for the campaign for justice for theHillsboroughfamilies who lost 96 loved ones in the football disaster of 1989. The single was released on 17 December 2012 and went on to take the Christmas number one position for 2012 on the UK Singles Chart.[11]

Discography

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Solo albums

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  • Go Gentle Into the Light(2019)[12]No. 49 UK[4]

Production work

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Chambers has contributed as a musician, producer and/or writer to the following:

Albums

Singles

Films

  • Walk Like a Panther(2017)
  • What a Man(2012) – "New Age" –Marlon Roudette
  • Arthur(2011) – "Can't Buy You" –Mark Ronson&Daniel Merriweather
  • Kinky Boots(2005)
  • Fantastic Four(2005) – "Always Come Back To You" –Ryan Cabrera
  • Raise Your Voice(2004) – "Shine" – Hilary Duff
  • Love Actually(2003) – "I'll See It Through" –Texas
  • Finding Nemo(2003) – "Beyond The Sea" –Robbie Williams
  • Bridget Jones's Diary(2001) – "Have You Met Miss Jones?", "Not of This Earth" – Robbie Williams
  • A Knight's Tale(2001) – "We Are the Champions" – Robbie Williams
  • Bend It Like Beckham(2002) – "Dream The Dream" –Shaznay Lewis
  • Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels(1998) – "Man Machine" – Robbie Williams
  • Nobody Someday(2002) – "Nobody Someday" – Robbie Williams
  • Mean Machine(2001) – "Let Me Entertain You" – Robbie Williams

Orchestral arrangements

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References

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  1. ^Parton, Jim (21 March 1999)."Who's that guy with Robbie?".The Guardian.Retrieved14 September2024.
  2. ^"Chronology 1978-85".2 September 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 2 September 2012.Retrieved14 March2024.
  3. ^"The Waterboys 1985".The Waterboys.Retrieved21 September2024.
  4. ^ab"Guy Chambers | full Official Chart history".Official Charts Company.Retrieved11 May2019.
  5. ^Cottam, Chris (10 December 2021),A Christmas Number One(Comedy, Romance), John Novotny, Freida Pinto, Debi Mazar, Genesius Pictures, Lupus Films, Space Age Films,retrieved12 February2024
  6. ^Corner, Lewis (12 September 2013)."Robbie Williams announces new album 'Swings Both Ways' – video".Digital Spy.Hearst Magazines UK.Retrieved12 September2013.
  7. ^Varvaris, Mary (26 November 2022)."Sweary Single Up For UK Christmas #1 Written By Robbie Williams' Songwriter".The Music.Retrieved14 November2023.
  8. ^"Trickster Supports UK Biggest Food Bank Network in 'Tsunami of Need' With Record-breaking Donations of Food & £10,000 Cash During 2022's Winter of Discontent".London Daily News.20 December 2022.Retrieved14 November2023.
  9. ^"Eclectic Austrian Music Artist Trickster To Release New Single 'Still Kicking'".Top40-Charts.2 June 2023.Retrieved14 November2023.
  10. ^Better Man (2024).Retrieved10 October2024– via IMDb.
  11. ^"Hillsborough single is Christmas number one".Daily Telegraph UK.23 November 2012.Retrieved4 December2013.
  12. ^Garner, George (19 March 2019)."Guy Chambers partners with BMG to release debut solo album, Go Gentle Into The Light, in May | Talent".Musicweek.com.Retrieved13 April2020.
  13. ^Fragile | Frances Ruffelle
  14. ^Roberts, David.Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums.Guinness World Records Ltd 18th edition (May 2005), p. 608ISBN1-904994-00-8
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