Wikipedia / Guy Chambers
Wikipedia / Guy Chambers
Guy Antony Chambers (born 12 January 1963) is an English songwriter, musician and record producer. He has collaborated with Robbie Williams, Tina Turner, Kylie Minogue, Will Young, Scissor Sisters, Busted, Melanie C, Diana Ross, Tom Jones, James Blunt, Marlon Roudette, Rufus Wainwright, and Mark Ronson.
Early life
Guy Chambers was born in 1963 in Hammersmith, London, England. He attended Quarry Bank Comprehensive School sixth form in Liverpool. From the age of 18, he studied composition and piano at the Guildhall School of Music, London, where he won the 1985 composition prize.
Career
In December 1985, Chambers joined the Waterboys rock band as a keyboardist, touring with them supporting Simple Minds until the end of the year. He joined the group World Party in 1986, co-writing "Love Street" with Karl Wallinger, whom he had replaced in the Waterboys, on the band's album Goodbye Jumbo (1990). In the same year, Chambers 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.
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.
Robbie Williams
Chambers collaborated, both as a songwriter and producer, on Robbie Williams' first five albums, all of which reached number one in the UK and achieved global sales of more than 40 million copies. The songs they co-wrote include "Rock DJ", "Feel", "Millennium", "Let Me Entertain You", and "Angels".
Their first work together, Life thru a Lens, was released in September 1997, with singles "Angels" and "Let Me Entertain You". In the next five years, they produced four more number-one albums: I've Been Expecting You, Sing When You're Winning, Swing When You're Winning, and Escapology.
Chambers featured in the 2023 documentary about Williams on Netflix.
Other collaborations
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 with Richard Flack.
In 2004, Chambers worked with Beverley Knight, co-writing the title track of Affirmation, "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. Chambers 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, co-wrote the song "Here", and co-wrote seven songs on Brian McFadden's debut album Irish Son, 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" by pop rock band Tokio Hotel. He also co-wrote Tokio Hotel's track "Pain of Love", which featured on their album Humanoid. Katie Melua's album The House, released on 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 and 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 2024 Chambers co-wrote and produced the single "Falling Back" for Matteo Bocelli and Polish sensation Sanah which received critical acclaim, being described as "a captivating pop anthem" (Total Entertainment).
Chambers was portrayed by Australian actor Tom Budge in the 2024 biographical film Better Man, based on Robbie Williams' life and career.
Film composing
In 2024, Chambers wrote the score and songs, including five in collaboration with Amy Wadge, for the animated film The Night Before Christmas In Wonderland, the debut feature film by Academy Award and BAFTA-winning animation director Peter Bayton. The soundtrack features the voices of Gerard Butler, Emilia Clarke, Mae Muller, and Mawaan Rizwan. This was the second time Chambers worked with Lupus Films, having previously written the score and original songs for Sky Cinema's original film A Christmas Number One.
Charity work
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 that 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.
In March 2026, Chambers was announced by Tomorrow's Warriors – a music education and artist development charity founded in 1991 – as one of the organisation's 12 inaugural patrons, the others being Baroness Amos, Margaret Busby, Robert Elms, Nick Hornby, Lizzie Ridding and John Ridding, Michael Watt, Richard Wyatt, Femi Koleoso, Eska and Moses Boyd.
Discography
Solo albums
Go Gentle Into the Light (2019) No. 49 UK
Production work Chambers has contributed as a musician, producer and/or writer to the following:
Albums
Fragile (1994) – Frances Ruffelle
The Christmas Present (2019) – Robbie Williams
Under the Radar Volume 3 – (2019) Robbie Williams
Under the Radar Volume 2 (2017) – Robbie Williams
The Heavy Entertainment Show (2016) – Robbie Williams
Under the Radar Volume 1 (2014) – Robbie Williams
Swings Both Ways (2013) – Robbie Williams
Don't Forget Who You Are (2013) – Miles Kane
The Shocking Miss Emerald (2013) – Caro Emerald
Femme Schmidt (2012) – SCHMIDT
Out of the Game (2012) – Rufus Wainwright
A Holiday Carole (2011) – Carole King
Battleground (2011) – The Wanted
Playing in the Shadows (2011) – Example
Matter Fixed (2011) – Marlon Roudette
Songs for a Boy (2011) – Sophie Hunter
100% (2011) – Beverley Knight
The Wanted (2010) – The Wanted
In and Out of Consciousness: Greatest Hits 1990–2010 (2010) – Robbie Williams
Mirage (2010) – Armin van Buuren
The House (2010) – Katie Melua
Caféine (2010) – Christophe Willem
Reality Killed the Video Star (2009) – Robbie Williams
Humanoid (2009) – Tokio Hotel
Love Is Dead (2009) – Kerli
Boombox (2009) – Kylie Minogue
Tina!: Her Greatest Hits (2008) – Tina Turner
Heavy Rotation (2008) – Anastacia
e2 (2008) – Eros Ramazzotti
X (2007) – Kylie Minogue
Music City Soul (2007) – Beverley Knight
This Time (2007) – Melanie C
Welcome to Reality (2007) – Ross Copperman
The Orange Album (2007) – Stefy
Forever Begins Tonight (2006) – Patrizio Buanne
What Love Is (2006) – Erin Boheme
Voice (2006) – Beverley Knight
The Isis Project (2005) – Sophie Hunter
Beautiful Intentions (re-release) (2005) – Melanie C
Tissues and Issues (2005) – Charlotte Church
Catching Tales (2005) – Jamie Cullum
Lemon Love (2005) – Aslyn
Back To Bedlam (2004) – James Blunt
Affirmation (2004) – Beverley Knight
Irish Son (2004) – Brian McFadden
Unwritten (2004) – Natasha Bedingfield
Mistaken Identity (2004) – Delta Goodrem
Hilary Duff (2004) – Hilary Duff
Andrea (2004) – Andrea Bocelli
Ultimate Kylie (2004) – Kylie Minogue
Greatest Hits (2004) – Robbie Williams
Save Yourself (2004) – Speedway
A Present For Everyone (2003) – Busted
Careful What You Wish For (2003) – Texas
Reason (2003) – Melanie C
Fleshwounds (2003) – Skin
Funky Dory (2003) – Rachel Stevens
SoulO (2003) – Nick Lachey
Live at Knebworth (2003) – Robbie Williams
From Now On (2002) – Will Young
Into Your Head (2002) – BBMak
Escapology (2002) – Robbie Williams
Love & Life (2001) – Diana Ross
Swing When You're Winning (2001) – Robbie Williams
Jardin Secret (2001) – Axelle Red
Light Years (2000) – Kylie Minogue
Sing When You're Winning (2000) – Robbie Williams
I've Been Expecting You (1998) – Robbie Williams
Life Thru a Lens (1997) – Robbie Williams
Egyptology (1997) – World Party
Am I the Kinda Girl? (1996) – Cathy Dennis
Bang! (1993) – World Party
Stress (1991) – Stress
Goodbye Jumbo (1990) – World Party
Singles
"Only When We're Naked" (2017) – Zak Abel
"Dream A Little Dream" (2013) – Robbie Williams
"Go Gentle" (2013) – Robbie Williams
"Tangled Up" (2013) – Caro Emerald
"He Aint Heavy ... He's My Brother" (2012) – The Justice Collective
"Single Tear" (2012) – Tyler James
"New Age" (2011) – Marlon Roudette
"Soul Survivor" (2010) – Beverley Knight
"A Happy Place" (2010) – Katie Melua
"The Flood" (2010) – Katie Melua
"World Behind My Wall" (2010) – Tokio Hotel
"Why Not Us" (2008) – Monrose
"Naïve" (2007) – Axelle Red
"Together We Are One" (2006) – Delta Goodrem
"Pretty Vegas" (2005) – INXS
"First Day of My Life" (2005) – Melanie C
"Come As You Are" (2004) – Beverley Knight
"Real To Me" (2004) – Brian McFadden
"Irish Son" (2004) – Brian McFadden
"Out of the Blue" (2004) – Delta Goodrem
Let's Take Our Time (2004) – Ryan Cabrera
"I'll See It Through" (2003) – Texas
"Sexed Up" (2003) – Robbie Williams
"Something Beautiful" (2003) – Robbie Williams
"Feel" (2002) – Robbie Williams
"Somethin' Stupid" (2001) – Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman
"Better Man" (2001) – Robbie Williams
"Eternity/The Road to Mandalay" (2001) – Robbie Williams
"Let Love Be Your Energy" (2001) – Robbie Williams
"Your Disco Needs You" (2001) – Kylie Minogue
"Supreme" (2000) – Robbie Williams
"Kids" (2000) – Robbie Williams & Kylie Minogue
"Rock DJ" (2000) – Robbie Williams
"Win Some Lose Some" (1999) – Robbie Williams
"She's the One/It's Only Us" (1999) – Written by Karl Wallinger
"Strong" (1999) – Robbie Williams
"No Regrets" (1998) – Robbie Williams
"Millennium" (1998) – Robbie Williams
"Angels" (1997) – Robbie Williams
"South of the Border" (1997) – Robbie Williams
"Lazy Days" (1997) – Robbie Williams
"Old Before I Die" (1997) – Robbie Williams
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
Julian Cope – "Sunspots" (Fried 1984)
Julian Cope – "Sunshine Playroom" (World Shut Your Mouth 1984)
References
External links
"Guy Chambers Interview" in International Songwriters Association's Songwriter Magazine