Robbie Williams Born: Britain's Pop Showman

Robbie Williams was fired from Take That by fax in 1995. The official statement said he had left by mutual agreement. He was 21, without a solo contract, with a reputation for being difficult, and with a substance abuse problem that was rapidly escalating. Born on February 13, 1974, in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, Williams had joined Take That at 16 after answering a newspaper ad for boy band auditions. The group became one of the biggest pop acts in British history, but Williams chafed against the manufactured format and the dominance of songwriter Gary Barlow. His departure was acrimonious. What followed was one of the most remarkable comebacks in British popular music. "Angels," released in 1997, became the most-played song at both British funerals and weddings for a decade. The song was written in a single afternoon with co-writer Guy Chambers, and its sweeping, emotional arrangement connected with audiences in a way that transcended the pop genre. His solo career produced a string of massive albums: "Life thru a Lens," "I've Been Expecting You," "Sing When You're Winning," and "Escapology." He holds the record for most albums simultaneously charting in the UK and has sold over 80 million records worldwide. He won a record 18 Brit Awards, more than any other artist. His concerts were events: the 2003 Knebworth shows drew 375,000 people over three nights, the largest music event in British history at the time. His relationship with the British press was volatile, marked by periods of tabloid fascination and personal crisis, including well-documented struggles with depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. He has been candid about his mental health in interviews and in the biographical film "Better Man" released in 2024.