ROBBIE WILLIAMS had a furious bust-up with rocker GAVIN ROSSDALE - the new man in the life of his ex-lover, All Saints beauty NICOLE APPLETON.

Robbie and Gavin met backstage at a gig in New York and instantly started a war of words. Robbie (pictured above), who split from Nicole six months ago, started things off by hurling abuse at the Bush lead singer.

Gavin, 31, replied with a tirade of insults. As the shouting continued, they squared up to each other but were pulled apart and calmed down by friends.

An on-looker tells me: "Things got pretty heated between the two of them and it was very ugly at one point.

"As soon as they saw each other it just seemed to kick in and they began slagging each other off.

"Some of the comments were a bit near the knuckle. Obviously there is a bit of bad blood between the two of them. Kissing

"Luckily they had their mates nearby to step in and make them both see sense."

Millionaire Gavin, whose band is huge in America yet has had comparatively little little success in Britain, started dating Nicole, 24, last month.

I exclusively revealed the pair were an item after they were spotted kissing and cuddling at a concert at a London club.

Gavin split with No Doubt singer GWEN STEFANI in June following a year-long romance.

Taken from People Online