Robbie Williams details the impact that fame had on Take That’s mental health
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Robbie Williams has detailed the impact fame had on Take That’s mental health.
The singer, 48, opened up the dark side of what being in a boy band “really does,” telling how he and his bandmates Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Jason Orange suffered from depression, eating disorders, addiction and suicidal thoughts.
In a candid new interview with Zane Lowe about his Apple Music 1 show on Wednesday, Robbie also predicted that One Direction may face their own demons in the future, adding that he plans to make a documentary to reveal “what’s really happening.”
Opening: Robbie Williams describes the impact fame had on Take That’s mental health
Take That was formed in 1989 and achieved 12 number one singles on the UK Singles Chart along with eight number one albums and are currently the most successful boy band in UK chart history.
But despite their success, the boys fought their demons behind closed doors, with Robbie explaining how their massive fame affected them.
The Angels hitmaker, who walked out of the band in July 1995, told Zane, “When you go through every boy band and girl band that ever existed. With Take That, Gary Barlow leaves the band, his career should and it didn’t.
‘He suffered from bulimia, didn’t come out of his house, went to sleep under his piano because he had forgotten how to write songs. Extremely depressed. He changed his name on his credit card because he didn’t want people to see Barlow.
Candid: The singer, 48, shared how he and his bandmates suffered from depression, eating disorders, addiction and suicidal thoughts (LR Jason Orange, Howard Donald, Mark Owen, Gary Barlow and Robbie in 1993)
Howard Donald wanted to kill himself after he left Take That. Mark Owen has been to rehab and Jason Orange just can’t. And then there’s me, the mental health, the rehab, the addiction, that’s all. So that’s what being in a boy band really does.”
Robbie went on to say that One Direction – which went on hiatus in 2015 – may suffer in the wake of their massive fame.
He said, ‘And I’m sure in 5 or 10 years if you sit on a guy with One Direction, they’ll all have their isms caused by this machine.
‘I want to make a documentary about it. Maybe we should do it together. About boy bands and girl bands and what really happens. Why do you boast that.’
Chat: In a candid new interview with Zane Lowe at his Apple Music 1 show on Wednesday, Robbie also predicted that One Direction may face their own demons in the future
Meanwhile, in the same interview, Robbie compared girl band and boy band fans to football supporters for their unwavering loyalty.
He explained: “What I think it is when a boy band or a girl band reaches a certain place or a certain status, because there are many who have fallen by the wayside and cannot come back and, God bless them, for having of that kind standing on top of the mountain at such a young age and then they have to go away and figure out how to live.
“But what I think it is with the Spice Girls, One Direction, Take That, NSYNC, New Kids on the Block, all those people who get to that place, it’s them, the football team of the fans. So it’s Liverpool or Manchester United. Do you know what I mean?
Success: Formed in 1989, Take That achieved 12 number one singles on the UK Singles Chart along with eight number one albums and are currently the most successful boy band in UK chart history (Take That pictured in 1992)
Candid: ‘The mental health, the rehab, the addiction, that’s all. So that’s what being in a boy band really does’
“And you just never stop supporting Liverpool. It’s etched into it. So it’s primarily a young girl’s soccer team.’
It comes after Robbie came under fire after it was announced that he will be performing at the World Cup in Qatar.
FIFA’s decision to hold the World Cup in Qatar has been surrounded by controversy, especially regarding migrant workers and the LGBTQ+ community.
Thoughts: Robbie went on to say that One Direction – who went on hiatus in 2015 – may suffer in the wake of their massive fame (pictured in 2014)
The chart-topper that previously performed at the opening ceremony of the 2018 World Cup in Russia was revealed at a press conference in Doha as one of the music acts scheduled to play at the Qatar Live concerts.
Robbie will play at Doha Golf Club on December 8, along with Maroon 5 and Post Malone, who are also reportedly set to make appearances to coincide with the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Fans expressed their “disappointment” after learning the news on the Robbie Williams Fanfest page.
One wrote: ‘Sorry, but the World Cup in Qatar is wrong in many ways and I am disappointed that Robbie finds it acceptable to support it so blatantly.’
Another said: ‘I love him, but this is disappointing.’
A third wrote: ‘Hope that’s not true’ with another addition: ‘That’s sad, really sad.’
Response: It comes after Robbie came under fire after it was announced that he would be performing at the World Cup in Qatar