Robbie Williams: From Take That to solo pop star
He's had a varied career!
Robbie Williams was the first member of Take That to embark on a solo career, and he became an international superstar who is the very personification of pop music. The singer has released 12 studio albums — 11 of which went to Number 1 — as well as scoring seven Number 1 singles and 31 Top 10 singles!
Despite reuniting with Take That a couple of times, Robbie's solo career continues to flourish and it's clear he isn't stopping anytime soon - especially after embarking on a world tour and releasing an album called 'XXV'!
Now as we are just months away from the release of his new biopic Better Man, and he's started to tease new music, we've decided to take a look at the pop star's life from his early beginnings as a cheeky teenager to an X Factor judge and beyond.
Where’s Robbie Williams from?
Robbie wasn’t always the roguish pop star we’ve come to know and love. Robbie was born in Stoke-on-Trent on 13th February 1974, making him currently 50-years-old. His dad, Peter Williams, also known as Pete Conway, is a former comedian. You can see why Robbie was drawn to showbiz!
Robbie Williams in Take That
Robbie Williams, along with Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, joined Take That when Robbie was just 16-years-old, making him the youngest member of the group when they formed in 1989.
Right from the beginning, he was known as the joker in the pack; extroverted and fun, he loved practical jokes, so it was little wonder that he was the most popular member of the mega-successful group.
After his departure in 1995, when he shocked the music world and his fans, he made a name for himself as a solo pop star with songs such as 'Rock DJ' and 'Millennium'.
Which Take That songs did Robbie sing the lead on?
Even though Gary Barlow wrote and performed on most of Take That’s hits, it was Robbie who took the lead vocals on ‘Could It Be Magic’, ‘I Found Heaven’ and ‘Everything Changes’.
Why did he leave Take That?
There were all sorts of reasons why Robbie left Take That, but it boiled down to a few crucial factors. He was unhappy with being told what to do by the group’s management. There were the usual musical differences, and tensions began to escalate in the band when Robbie started to miss rehearsals due to his excessive partying. He quit Take That in July 1995.
Robbie Williams’ early solo success
Robbie’s first two singles, a cover of George Michael’s ‘Freedom’ and his own ‘Old Before I Die’, both hit Number 2 in the UK singles chart. Amazingly, his next singles, ‘Angels’ and ‘Let Me Entertain You’ only made it to Number 4 and 3 in the charts, but there was plenty of consolation to be had, knowing that the former went Platinum twice and the latter Gold.
The parent album, ‘Life Thru A Lens’ has gone to sell over four million copies worldwide and has been certified 8x Platinum in the UK.
His second album, ‘I’ve Been Expecting You’, was released in October 1998 and it entered the charts at Number 1. The album’s first single, ‘Millennium’, sampled the James Bond theme tune and became Robbie's first solo Number 1 single in the United Kingdom. ‘She’s The One’ also hit the top spot.
WATCH: Robbie Williams - 'She's The One' (Official Video)
Robbie's superstardom
Robbie hit superstardom when, in 2003, he played to some 125,000 on each of the three nights that he played at Knebworth. To put that into some kind of context, those audiences were bigger than the ones for Queen, Led Zeppelin and Oasis!
He’s also won 12 solo BRIT Awards including Best British Single for ‘Angels’, ‘She’s The One’, and ‘Rock DJ’ as well as Best British Male Solo Artist in 2001, 2002 and 2003. It’s little wonder when the albums Robbie was releasing during that period were ‘Sing When You’re Winning’ and its jazz sister record ‘Swing When You’re Winning’ as well as ‘Escapology’.
During that period, he also scored Number 1 singles with ‘Rock DJ’ and ‘Somethin’ Stupid’, a duet with Nicole Kidman.
WATCH: The music video to 'Somethin’ Stupid'
Robbie's swing album
Robbie Williams’s fourth album 'Swing When You're Winning' in 2001 was a highly successful collection of swing covers of artists such as Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole among others. Going straight to Number 1, it was swiftly followed by the DVD version of his 2001 swing gig at the Royal Albert Hall, which went 6 x Platinum in the UK alone!
He followed it up in 2013 with a second swing album, ‘Swings Both Ways’, a mix of standards and originals. Did you see what he did there? Anyway, it featured a heap of guest appearances including Lily Allen, Olly Murs, Rufus Wainwright, Kelly Clarkson, and Michael Bublé.
What is Robbie Williams' most recent album?
Robbie released compilation album 'XXV' in September 2022 to celebrate 25 years of being a solo artist. The album features re-recorded and newly orchestrated versions of his greatest hits recorded with the Metropole Orchestra, with a few surprises.
He has also started to tease another album, which would be his 13th studio album, however he hasn't revealed when it will be released.
Upcoming collaboration with Black Sabbath's Tony Lommi
According to Robbie Williams’ drummer and musical director Karl Brazil, the singer has recruited Black Sabbath legend Tony Iommi for a new song called ‘Rocket.’
Karl Brazil recently sat down for a chat with the Percussion Discussion Podcast when he made the surprise revelation, telling listeners that after the release of Williams’ 2024 biographical film, Better Man, this December, the former Take That star will release a new studio record.
“He’s got an album to follow that we’ve been working on,” Brazil told Percussion Discussion host Matty Roberts. “One of the tracks, actually, he’s done a track called ‘Rocket’ with Tony Iommi, which is very random. It’s great! It’s a rocker, and it’s really, really cool.
“There’s some great collaborations on this record. (Supergrass’) Gaz Coombes is on there.”
Reflecting on the direction of the album, he added: “It’s predominately a guitar record, a bit of a throwback to his old 90s sound but mixed with a bit of modern-day pop as well. Let’s face it, (Robbie) can do what he wants can’t he?!”
Is Robbie Williams on tour?
In 2022, Robbie embarked on his 'The XXV Tour' in support of the record of the same name. The tour took him across the world, with shows across Europe, Australasia, the UK and Ireland.
After announcing an initial seven dates across the UK in October, he added another three dates, and went on to reschedule one of his Glasgow shows.
While on tour in the UK in August 2023 he brought out Mark Owen for a mini reunion on stage, where the pair performed the Take That song 'Greatest Day'.
While on tour in Budapest, Robbie picked out a fan from the crowd. He later posted about the gig saying that he had picked the same fan 20 years before! He shared details on Instagram, along with two photos of him with the fan saying: 'So this happened two nights ago in Budapest - I chose someone from the audience to come down to the front and, amazingly, I chose the same guy that I picked out from the audience in Budapest 20 years ago!
'The odds of that happening? 174,240,000 to 1. Nice to see you again, sir. Love from Rob x'.
Did Robbie Williams reunite with Take That?
Yes he did! Robbie returned to Take That in 2010 and then left again when they took a break the following year. Concentrating on his solo career, he released the albums ‘Take The Crown’ in 2012 and then ‘The Heavy Entertainment Show’ in 2016.
Despite reuniting with Take That briefly over the years, Robbie has continued to be a successful solo artist, however 2018 saw him move onto the role of a judge on The X Factor alongside his wife Ayda Williams, One Direction's Louis Tomlinson and Simon Cowell.
When did Robbie Williams reunite with Take That for Compare The Meerkat?
Robbie reunited with Take That for a one-off virtual concert on Friday 29th May 2020! The gig took place on both Compare The Meerkat's Facebook page and YouTube page.
In a statement, the band said, "This is a world first for us. Reuniting with our old friend online for a one-off performance! It’s always great getting back together with Robbie and we are really excited to be part of this unique show that everyone can enjoy from home."
When was Robbie Williams on The X Factor?
Robbie joined The X Factor panel as a judge for the 2018 series of the show, alongside his wife Ayda Field, former One Direction star Louis Tomlinson and Simon Cowell. Robbie made it through to the semi-finals with the groups, with his final group Acacia & Aaliyah being eliminated.
Louis' act Dalton Harris eventually won the series in the Boys category, with Simon's act Scarlett Lee coming second and Louis' other act Anthony Russell coming in third. Robbie and Ayda announced their decision to step back from the show in April 2019, taking to Instagram with a photo of the pair.
They wrote: 'Sadly though it’s impossible to do everything … and we’re gutted to tell you we won’t be able to return to The X Factor this year. We will, however, be working on projects with Simon going forward - and as huge fans of the show, we will still be tuning into The X Factor, voting and winding Simon up…x'
Has Robbie Williams done any film work?
Robbie voiced Dougal in the film version of the popular kids’ TV show The Magic Roundabout. It also starred the vocal talents of Kylie Minogue, who he'd previously worked with on 2000 track 'Kids'.
Most recently, Robbie's biopic called Better Man has been in production. The film had its premiere in August 2024, where it was revealed that Robbie was played by a CGI monkey in the film, which is voiced and narrated by the singer.
The Robbie Williams documentary
In August 2022, Netflix announced they would be doing a documentary about Robbie. It includes 25 years' worth of intimate, never-before-seen archive footage as well as exclusive access to the 'Angels' singer.
The documentary landed on the streaming platform in November 2023.
What else does Robbie Williams have planned for the future?
In an interview with The Telegraph, Robbie revealed he has a lot of plans for the future including another album inspired by 1995, a TV show, his own clothing line and building a hotel!
In January 2023, he was announced to be the new voice of cat food company Purina, performing new song 'It’s Great To Be a Cat' for the new campaign. He said: "The cat is out of the bag, I’m the new voice of Felix. I’ve been a long-time fan of cats, I’ve had many feline friends over the years and after studying their fascinating behaviour, I can confidently say, It’s Great To Be a Cat."
Then in August 2024 at the premiere of his biopic he told fans that he has plans for a hotel and some other big projects. He told his fans: "I've got an album coming too, we have been waiting to know when exactly the film is coming out before we put it out.
"I am building hotels, I want to build a university, I have got my own clothing line coming out, I have got drinks.
"I am going to be busier than I have ever been."
Family life
Robbie Williams and actress Ayda Williams (née Field) have been together since 2006 after meeting on a blind date. They wed in 2010 and their daughter, Theodora ‘Teddy’ Rose was born in 2012 and their son, Charlton ‘Charlie’ Valentine was born two years later. Daughter Coco and son Beau were both born via surrogate in 2018 and 2020 respectively.
Now take a look at Robbie's greatest moment in pictures:
1989: Career beginnings with Take That
Starting with a line-up of five young men, Take That consisted of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Robbie Williams, with the original (short lived) name of Kick It.
1991: Early days in the band
Take That's original line-up of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Robbie Williams. Thankfully they changed their name and after a few unsuccessful songs in the early 90s Take That's breakthrough hit 'It Only Takes A Minute' was released. The song was a cover of a 1975 song by Taveres and reached Number 7 in the charts.
1992: Take That in their prime
In 1992 Take That had hits with 'A Million Love Songs' and 'Could It Be Magic'. The boys' follow-up single 'Could It Be Magic' quickly propelled them to super-stardom with a string of number 1s not far away. Take That's success continued in 1993 with 'Pray', 'Relight My Fire' (featuring Lulu) and 'Babe'.
1994: BRITs performance
The band's success continued in 1994 with 'Everything Changes' and 'Sure'. Here they are performing at The BRITs 1994.
1995: Robbie left Take That
However, in July 1995 after countless hits, fans heard the devastating news; Robbie Williams would be leaving the band following friction with other band members. Robbie later admitted in a TV documentary in 2005, that he did some "stupid stuff" after parting ways with the band over 20 years ago, but said he didn't regret it because he was young.
In 1997, Robbie released his first album 'Life Thru a Lens'. The album included the single, 'Angels' which is still his best-selling single of all time.
2000: 'Rock DJ' and BRIT Award win
At the start of the millennium Robbie released his third solo album, 'Sing When You're Winning'. The album included the single 'Rock DJ' which had quite a controversial music video. The video involved Robbie trying to impress a group of women by stripping down but, when the clothes didn't work he starts removing his skin and muscle until he's just a dancing skeleton. Many TV networks edited the video because of this.
However, the single was still a great success with it being the UK's fourth-best selling single of 2000. The song also went on to win best British single and best music video of the year at the BRIT Awards as well as best special effects at the VMAs.
2001: Swing album
Having grown up loving the music of Frank Sinatra, Robbie went in a new musical direction in 2001 when he released the album 'Swing When You're Winning'. With the title being a pun on his previous album, Robbie called 'Swing While You're Winning' "the big band album he had always dreamed of making".
The album includes guest performances from Rupert Everett, Nicole Kidman, Jon Lovitz and Jane Horrocks as well as Frank Sinatra posthumously duetting with Robbie. Despite not being his usual style, the album was still a success and made it to Number 1 on the UK albums chart.
2002: EMI deal
In 2002 Robbie signed a whopping £80 million deal with EMI which was the biggest music deal for a British artist. The record was only broken in 2016 by Adele. The deal included a promise from EMI that they'd help him break into the United States. While his next album, 'Escapology', did perform better internationally than his previous albums, it still didn't perform as well as he'd hoped in the US.
2005: Move to LA
From the mid noughties Robbie Williams started calling Los Angeles home, early on he started his own football club called Los Angeles Vale F.C. The club played in the LA premiere league in Santa Monica. The team is named after his hometown club, Stoke-on-Trent's Port Vale F.C.
2006: The 'Close Encounters' Tour
In 2006, Robbie embarked on his 'Close Encounters' Tour where he performed over 50 shows across the globe. The tour got him into the Guinness Book of World Records after he sold a whopping 1.6 million tickets in a single day!
2009: 'Reality Killed The Video Star'
In 2009 Robbie was back with his eighth studio album, 'Reality Killed the Video Star'. The album included the singles 'Bodies', 'You Know Me' and 'Morning Sun'. While the album still managed to sell over a million copies in Europe, it wasn't enough to land the top spot on the UK album charts, coming second place to JLS' debut album.
2010: Take That reunion
Robbie Williams made an unexpected return to the Take That in 2010, joining forces with Gary Barlow - the first time since 1995 - with the song 'Eight Letters' appearing on later albums by both Take That and Robbie - 'Progress' and 'Take the Crown'.
Then, later that year, the news that all Take That fans had been waiting for was confirmed, the original line-up would be reforming for the wildly successful album, 'Progress' and its live tour. Their lead single 'The Flood' was released and peaked at Number 2 featuring both Gary and Robbie as lead vocals.
2012: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee
In 2012 Robbie took part in the celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, celebrating her 60 years on the throne. Robbie was the opening act of a concert held in the gardens of Buckingham Palace to commemorate the anniversary.
2013: 'Swings Both Ways'
Robbie returned to the world of swing with his second album in the genre, 'Swings Both Ways'. The album included some original songs written by Robbie, Guy Chambers, and Chris Heath, as well as some covers of some classics including The Jungle Book's 'I Wan'na Be Like You' and The Wizard of Oz's 'If I Only Had a Brain'. The album includes duets with Olly Murs, Michel Bublé, and Kelly Clarkson.
2018: FIFA opening ceremony performance
In the summer of 2018, Robbie performed at the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup that took place in Moscow, Russia. During the performance he sang some of his greatest hits that included 'Let Me Entertain You', and 'Angels'.
2018: The X Factor judging panel
Later on in 2018, it was announced that Robbie would be joining the judging panel of the 15th series of the X Factor on ITV. Robbie was one of three new judges on the panel joining Simon Cowell, the other two were his wife, Ayda Field, and former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson.
2019: The Boy In The Dress
In 2019 Robbie co-wrote the music for the musical adaption of David Walliams' The Boy in the Dress along with Guy Chambers. The musical was produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company and premiered in Stratford-Upon-Avon in late 2019. The show was due to transfer to the Savoy Theatre in London's West End in Autumn 2020, but the Coronavirus pandemic has put those plans on halt.
2019: 'The Christmas Present'
Robbie released his first ever Christmas album in November 2019 called 'The Christmas Present'. The album had some original songs along with some festive classics such as 'Winter Wonderland' and 'The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)'. The album features guest performers including Helene Fischer, Rod Stewart, and Tyson Fury.
The album made it to Number 1 in the UK charts during its second week and knocked Robbie up to joint-second place with Elvis Presley for number of number one albums in the UK.
2020: Lockdown Take That reunion
Robbie reunited with Take That for a very special performance in May 2020 during the lockdown amid the global pandemic of Coronavirus, performing a 40-minute set.
2021: Robbie Williams' biopic Better Man stars production
A film about Robbie Williams called Better Man, after this 2001 singer was announced in 2021. Better Man will be directed my Michael Gracey, who also directed The Greatest Showman. Michael will also be writing the film alongside screenwriters Oliver Cole and Simon Gleeson.
2022: Robbie Williams announces 'XXV' album and tour
Robbie Williams announced a new album and tour called 'XXV'. The album came out on 9th September and includes all of Robbie's biggest hits, re-recorded with a full orchestra.
2022: Robbie Williams performs at Socceraid
Robbie Williams performed at the 2022 Socceraid half time show. The singer performed his hit 'Angels'.
2023: The voice of Felix
Robbie joined forces with cat food company Purina to release a brand new song 'It's Great To Be a Cat' in January 2023. He said: "The cat is out of the bag, I'm the new voice of Felix. I've been a long-time fan of cats, I've had many feline friends over the years and after studying their fascinating behaviour, I can confidently say, It's Great To Be a Cat."
2023: Netflix documentary released
A documentary about Robbie Williams was released on Netflix in 2023. It follows the singer on his ups and downs in both his personal and professional life, and features 25 years' worth of never-before-seen footage.
2024: BST Hyde Park performance
Robbie took to the stage at BST Hyde Park in July 2024 to perform some of his greatest hits, and even a few covers - including 'Parklife' by Blue, for which he brought out Danny Dyer to perform Phil Daniels' verses. It was sensational!
WATCH: Robbie Williams celebrates his incredible and unmatched career
You can hear Robbie Williams' songs on Greatest Hits Radio.
Read more:
Robbie Williams' biggest career moments
10 of Robbie Williams' biggest songs of all time
Take That: Everything you need to know about the 90s heartthrobs