As Robbie Williamsapproaches his 50th birthday we reflect on his stellar career, addiction issues and resentment towards Take That bandmate Gary Barlow
WORDS: RHONA MERCER PHOTOS: ALL ACTION, BBC, GETTY, PA, MICHEL LINSSEN/REDFERNS, NETFLIX, REX/SHUTTERSTOCK
LESSONS IN LIFE
How time flies. While the original teen Take That fans may now find themselves in the throes of the menopause, it may be some comfort for them to know that their pop idol Robbie Williams is going through the male equivalent. The Rock DJ singer, who turns 50 on 13 February, admitted, “Hair’s thinning, testosterone has left the building, the serotonin is not here and the dopamine said goodbye a long time ago. I’ve used up all of the natural good stuff. I’ve got the manopause.”
But while the star is open about signs of ageing, Robbie is still one of the most lusted-after entertainers in showbiz.
Ever since he shot to fame in Take That – alongside Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Jason Orange – at the tender age of 18, Robbie has stolen hearts across the world, from the time they burst onto the scene with Do What U Like in 1991.
While lead singer Gary was dubbed the “sensible” one, Robbie made everybody laugh with his sense of fun. But we now know that Robbie was deeply unhappy as the band’s success grew. As well as his addiction issues and alcoholism, Robbie’s resentment towards Gary got so unbearable that he quit the band in 1995. Fans were left so devastated that the Samaritans set up a dedicated suicide helpline to offer support.
Reflecting on this time in recent four-part Netflix docuseries Robbie Williams, he said, “When I turned about 19 I started to have a think about what was happening. Too many interviews, performances, countries to visit and repeat.
“Take That’s fandom was intense. On top of that there was an assurance about Gaz and his ability mixed with a coldness. And it seemed like there was one person being managed in Take That, and it was Gary Barlow.
“It was all geared around him and as a young person, I would’ve been jealous. A lot of me resented him.”
Outspoken Robbie didn’t hold back when it came to his anger towards Gary, labelling him a “clueless w****r”. But that bitterness also motivated Robbie’s solo career. He admitted, “I wanted to crush him. I wanted to crush the memory of the band and I didn’t let go. Even when he was down, I didn’t let go.”
Entertainment expert Mark Boardman recalls how Robbie’s feelings a
