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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 with Robbie Williams.

Education

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

Career

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In December 1985, Chambers joined The Waterboys, touring with them on a tour supporting Simple Minds until the end of the year.[2][3] Chambers joined World Party in 1986. He co-wrote "Love Street" with Karl Wallinger, who he had replaced in The Waterboys, on the band's album Goodbye Jumbo. He appeared on the Mission's album Carved in Sand, providing the orchestral arrangement and piano for the song "Grapes of Wrath", and was producer for the short-lived group Stress with their debut album.

In 1992, Chambers formed his own band the Lemon Trees and 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 with Cathy Dennis on Am I the Kinda Girl? and other albums before meeting Robbie Williams in 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 Winning and Escapology. Following 2002's Escapology, both Williams and Chambers went on to collaborate with other writers and artists for the next ten years, eventually reuniting for 2013's Swings Both Ways, 2017's The Heavy Entertainment Show and 2019's The Christmas Present.

In 2016, Chambers and Williams teamed up with Chris Heath to compose the music and lyrics for the Royal Shakespeare Company's musical adaptation of David Walliams’ book The Boy in the Dress, which opened in 2019-20 at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon. In 2018, Chambers wrote a children’s folk opera based on the Oscar Wilde short story "The Selfish Giant". He released his debut solo piano album Go Gentle Into the Light on 3 May 2019. It reached number 49 on the UK Albums Chart.[4] In 2021, he composed the score and wrote original songs for Sky 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 the O2 Arena.

The release of Swings Both Ways was announced by Williams in September 2013. It was released in the UK by Island Records on 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 Ways also featured duets between Williams and Lily Allen, Michael Bublé, Kelly Clarkson, Olly Murs and Rufus Wainwright.[6] In 2014, Chambers and Williams toured Swings Both Ways, covering Europe, Asia and Australia.

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

Other collaborations and projects

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In 2002, Chambers wrote "Staring Into Space" for BBMak's second album. In 2003, he co wrote "Melt" with Melanie C on the album Reason, which he co-produced along with Richard Flack.

In 2004, Chambers worked with Beverley Knight, co-writing the songs "Affirmation" (also the title track of the 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 album 100% and co-wrote the title track "Soul Survivor" that Knight duetted on with Chaka Khan. That same year he co-wrote "Shine" with Kara DioGuardi for Hilary Duff. He also co-wrote and co produced "Silent Movie" with Natasha Bedingfield for her album Unwritten. In the same year, he co-produced American singer-songwriter Aslyn's debut album Lemon Love, and co-wrote the song "Here", and co-wrote 7 songs on Brian 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 on Anastacia's fourth album Heavy Rotation. He teamed up with Christophe Willem on his second record Cafeine, co-wrote with Matt Hales from Aqualung on the single "Heartbox" and with Cathy Dennis on "Sensitized", a duet with Kylie Minogue, for Willem's record, released in 2009. Additional work that year involved new work with British artists Julian Perretta, Katie Melua, Random Impulse, Marlon Roudette and Taio Cruz.

In 2010, Chambers began working on the single "World Behind My Wall" released by pop/rock band Tokio Hotel. Chambers also co-wrote Tokio Hotel's track, "Pain of Love" which featured on their album, Humanoid. Katie Melua's album The House, released 24 May 2010, included five co-written songs for her new album produced by William 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 with Armin van Buuren for his 2010 album, Mirage.

In 2011, Chambers worked on new material with English singer-songwriters Katy B and Charlene Soraia. He also teamed up with Example, 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 with Julian Lennon titled "Never Let You Go" was released on Lennon's album Everything Changes. Chambers collaborated with BBC2 for two three-part programmes: Goldie's Band: By Royal Appointment airing in April and Secrets of a Pop Song which aired throughout July. Through the series, Chambers worked alongside Mark Ronson to create a single, singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright to create a ballad, and British band Noisettes to compose an anthem. Chambers & Wainwright's "World War III" features on the digital version of Wainwright's album Out of the Game.

Chambers has collaborated with Sophie Hunter on two studio albums: the French-language The Isis Project (2005) and the English-language Songs for a Boy (2011).

In 2013, Chambers collaborated with Maverick Sabre in 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" with Miles Kane, a track from Kane's second studio album Don'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 with John Newman.

In 2019 Chambers collaborated with Robbie Williams on the music and lyrics for RSC stage show The Boy in the Dress, the stage adaptation of David Walliams's book of the same name.

In 2022, Chambers collaborated with the Austrian musician Trickster on the single Thank Fuck It's Christmas, an expletive-ridden song reflecting the tensions and stress of that year, performed by Trickster alongside the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.[7] They also released a clean version titled Praise 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, like Still Kicking and "Silent Night" vs "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town".[9]

Chambers will be portrayed by Australian actor Tom Budge in the 2024 biographical film Better Man, based on Robbie Williams' life and career.[10]

Charity work

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On 25 October 2012, Chambers, Steve Rotheram MP and Kenny Dalglish called a press conference in the Houses of Parliament to announce the release of the charity single "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" – a cover of the Hollies track which was aiming to raise funds and awareness for the campaign for justice for the Hillsborough families 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. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Chronology 1978-85". 2 September 2012. Archived from the original on 2 September 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  3. ^ "The Waterboys 1985". The Waterboys. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Guy Chambers | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  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, retrieved 12 February 2024
  6. ^ Corner, Lewis (12 September 2013). "Robbie Williams announces new album 'Swings Both Ways' – video". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  7. ^ Varvaris, Mary (26 November 2022). "Sweary Single Up For UK Christmas #1 Written By Robbie Williams' Songwriter". The Music. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  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. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  9. ^ "Eclectic Austrian Music Artist Trickster To Release New Single 'Still Kicking'". Top40-Charts. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  10. ^ Better Man (2024). Retrieved 10 October 2024 – via IMDb.
  11. ^ "Hillsborough single is Christmas number one". Daily Telegraph UK. 23 November 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  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. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  13. ^ Fragile | Frances Ruffelle
  14. ^ Roberts, David. Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums. Guinness World Records Ltd 18th edition (May 2005), p. 608 ISBN 1-904994-00-8
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