Robbie Williams: From Take That to solo pop star and X Factor judge
He's performing at Hits Radio Live
Last updated 12th Feb 2021
Robbie Williams has been announced as a special guest at Hits Radio Live, taking to the stage at Manchester Arena on Sunday 17th November. Tickets are still available for Hits Radio Live where you can see Robbie along with Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Mabel, Mark Ronson, Anne-Marie, Tom Walker, Zara Larsson and Jonas Blue.
Don't miss your chance to buy tickets now!
Hits Live Liverpool
Hits Live Liverpool takes place on Friday 15th November. This year the line-up includes James Arthur, Sigala and Jax Jones.
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 superstar will be turning 47-years-old this weekend, and after having a recent lockdown reunion with Take That, it's clear he isn't stopping anytime soon! To celebrate, let's take a look at the pop star from his early beginnings as a cheeky teenager to an X Factor judge....
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. 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'.
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.
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. His dad, Peter Williams, also known as Pete Conway, is a former comedian. You can see why Robbie was drawn to showbiz.
When did Robbie Williams join Take That?
Robbie Williams was just 16-years-old when he joined Take That in 1990. 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.
Even though Gary Barlow wrote and performed on most of Take That’s hits, it was Robbie Williams who took the lead vocals on ‘Could It Be Magic’, ‘I Found Heaven’ and ‘Everything Changes’.
Why did Robbie Williams leave Take That?
There were all sorts of reasons by 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.
WATCH: The music video for Robbie Williams' 'Angels':
The parent album, ‘Life Thru A Lens’ has gone to sell over 4 million copies worldwide and has been certified 8 x 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’, became Williams' first solo Number 1 single in the United Kingdom. ‘She’s The One’ also hit the top slot.
When did Robbie Williams reach 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’, ‘Swing When You’re Winning’ and ‘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:
Has Robbie Williams done any swing music?
Robbie Williams’s fourth album 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.
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.
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.
Is Robbie Williams married?
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. The couple have now welcomed a third child via a surrogate called Coco.
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