REWRITE MY FIRE
By Victoria Ward 28/09/2009 EXCLUSIVE: Robbie works on new songs with Take That in secret studio reunion
Robbie Williams has embraced one of the most talked about reunions in pop history in a studio on the other side of the Atlantic.
The star seems to have buried the hatchet with his old Take That mates and it is believed they are back working on songs together.
The boys had arranged to meet in New York for Mark Owen's stag do.
But they also had a hush-hush reunion on Saturday and Sunday at the Electric Lady Studios, built for Jimi Hendrix.
It is the first time all five have been at work together as a group since Robbie left to pursue a solo career in 1995.
A source said: "He is back with Take That in the studio and they're all writing together again. Robbie wouldn't be happy performing old Take That songs that he has had no part in.
"But if they can pen new tracks that they're all happy with, they'll record them and he'll be back with them on stage."
Robbie flew from Los Angeles to New York with his girlfriend, American actress Ayda Field, on Wednesday. That night he joined Mark, Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Jason Orange for dinner.
They got on brilliantly during the boozy get-together over steak and chips at private members' club Soho House. Mark, who will marry his long-term girlfriend Emma Ferguson this winter, was thrilled to see Robbie - hugging him and saying: "I can't believe you're here."
On Saturday they joined forces again as a band - ending 14 years of separation.
Robbie, 35, was spotted arriving at the studio, in Manhattan's West Village, at 2.30pm. The other four left together, with a bodyguard at 9.20pm and walked back to Soho House, where they are believed to be staying.
And the boys were back at the studio yesterday, Robbie arriving at 2.15pm - two hours after first arrivals Gary and Howard. The band are in the studio putting the final touches to a forthcoming live double album - but are expected to write new songs with Robbie. The source revealed: "The lads really did want to celebrate Mark's stag do. But they thought it was the best place to hook up and start writing again without attracting too much attention. They are nowhere near recording anything. This was a writing session to see how they go."
Rumours of a reunion have been circulating for months, with Robbie making it clear he would like to join the band on stage. He has a new single, Bodies, and will play his first UK gig in three years at the Roundhouse, London, next month.
He told the Mirror the five might be back as one for a special appearance at next month's Children In Need charity event at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Robbie said: "Something will definitely happen. Me and Gary have been hanging out a lot lately, talking things over."
And he told Radio 1's Chris Moyles: "I thought I'll just hold off and get my album out and then go and play with my mates."
The massive U-turn followed years of bitter public spats during which the five saw their fortunes rise and fall.
Gary had initial success but was eventually dropped by his record label.
Robbie went on to make eight No1 albums. But his luck began to change and in October 2006 Rudebox, his 10th album overall, had a cool reception.
The other four re-formed Take That in 2005 and met with extraordinary success.
Sales of their album Beautiful World overtook Rudebox. And the four-man Take That have gone on to sell more than six million albums.
Last year Robbie revealed they had all spent time together in the summer.
He said: "The differences we've had have just melted away."
In March, Robbie began recording the album Reality Killed the Video at the same West London studios where Gary Barlow was working. Producer Trevor Horn said they got on "brilliantly well".
2.15PM Robbie and his girlfriend Ayda Field arrive at the New York studio
12PM Gary and Howard are the first at the studio yesterday
1.20PM Jason turns up for the get-together
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news....1705843
