Editing Robbie Williams (section)

==Take That==
{{main|Take That}}

===1990–1995: First stint===
In 1990, the sixteen-year-old Williams was the youngest member to join Take That. According to the documentary ''[[Take That: For the Record]]'', his mother read an advertisement seeking members for a new boy band and suggested that he try out for the group. He met fellow member [[Mark Owen]] on the day of his audition/interview with [[Nigel Martin-Smith]]. Although the majority of the group's material was written and performed by [[Gary Barlow]], Williams performed lead vocals on three hits "[[Could It Be Magic]]", "[[I Found Heaven]]", and "[[Everything Changes (Take That song)|Everything Changes]]". Williams' use of [[Alcoholic drink|alcohol]] and [[cocaine]] brought him into conflict with Martin-Smith over the behaviour rules for Take That members.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1479447/Robbie-Drugs-gave-me-best-times-of-my-life.html "Robbie: 'Drugs gave me best times of my life']. The Telegraph. Retrieved 14 June 2018</ref>

In November 1994, Williams's drug use had escalated; he nearly had a [[drug overdose]] the night before the group was scheduled to perform at the [[MTV Europe Music Awards]].<ref name="Robbie Williams early career">{{cite web|title=Robbie Williams early career|url=http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Williams,_Robbie/Biography/|work=Discographies, biographies, news|publisher=StarPulse.com|access-date=19 March 2013|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221831/http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Williams,_Robbie/Biography/|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to the documentary ''For the Record'', he was unhappy with his musical ideas not being taken seriously by Martin-Smith and lead singer Barlow; his desire to explore [[hip hop]] and [[Rap (music)|rap]] conflicted with Take That's usual ballads. Barlow stated in interviews that Williams had given up trying to offer creative input.

Noting Williams's increasingly belligerent behaviour and poor attendance at rehearsals, and worried that he might leave the group during their upcoming tour, Barlow and [[Jason Orange]] took their concerns to Martin-Smith. During one of the last rehearsals before the tour commenced, the three confronted Williams about his attitude and stated they wanted to do the tour without him. He agreed to quit and left the group in July 1995; it would be the last time for twelve years that they were all together. Despite the departure of Williams, Take That completed their [[Nobody Else Tour]] as a four-piece. They later disbanded on 13 February 1996, Williams's 22nd birthday.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wynne-Jones |first=Ros |date=1996-02-14 |title=Broken promises as Take That can take no more |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/broken-promises-as-take-that-can-take-no-more-1318879.html |access-date=2025-03-11 |work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref>

Shortly afterwards, Williams was photographed by the press partying with the members of [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]] at [[Glastonbury Festival]]. Following his departure, he became the subject of talk shows and newspapers as he acknowledged his plans to become a solo singer, and he was spotted partying with [[George Michael]] in France. A clause in his Take That contract prohibited him from releasing any material until after the group was officially dissolved, and he was later sued by Martin-Smith and forced to pay $200,000 in commission. After various legal battles over his right to a solo career, Williams succeeded in getting released from his contract with [[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]]. On 27 June 1996, he signed with [[Chrysalis Records]].

===2006–2011: Second stint===
[[File:Robbie Williams at Sunderland 2011a crop.jpg|thumb|210px|Williams performing in Take That's [[Progress Live]] tour in 2011. He rejoined the group in July 2010 and has said he is open to another reunion in the future.]]
By March 2009, Williams had shown interest in rejoining [[Take That]];<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/5058174/Robbie-Williams-ready-to-rejoin-Take-That.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401165545/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/5058174/Robbie-Williams-ready-to-rejoin-Take-That.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 April 2009 |title=Robbie Williams ready to rejoin Take That|work=The Daily Telegraph |date=27 March 2009 |access-date=23 December 2009 | location=London}}</ref> the band completed their tour, [[The Circus Live]], without him. In spite of rumours that Williams was working in [[New York City|New York]] with Take That in September that year,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/robbie-williams/47535 |title=Robbie Williams and Take That reunite in New York studio? &#124; News |publisher=Nme.Com |date=28 September 2009 |access-date=24 April 2014}}</ref> by the day of the ''[[Children in Need]]'' charity concert at the [[Royal Albert Hall]] in November they were still performing separately. Both did join with the other acts in the final song of the evening, with Williams putting his arm around Gary Barlow and singing "[[Hey Jude]]".

On 15 July 2010, Williams reconciled with his former colleagues and rejoined Take That. In November 2010 the Take That album ''[[Progress (Take That album)|Progress]]'' was released, becoming the fastest selling album since 2000 and the second fastest selling album in UK history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestudentpocketguide.com/interviews/Take_That |title=Take That Interview &#124; Student Pocket Guide Online |publisher=Thestudentpocketguide.com |access-date=2 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930032541/http://www.thestudentpocketguide.com/interviews/Take_That |archive-date=30 September 2011}}</ref> The group travelled across the UK on their [[Progress Live]] tour, which included eight nights at [[Wembley Stadium]] in London,<ref name="wembleystadium.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.wembleystadium.com/pressbox/pressReleases/take-that-sold-out |title=Wembley Stadium – Press Releases |access-date=6 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228171126/http://www.wembleystadium.com/pressbox/pressReleases/take-that-sold-out |archive-date=28 December 2010}}</ref> then continued across Europe. The tour was the fastest selling in UK history with ticket hotlines and websites crashing under the demand.<ref name="wembleystadium.com"/>

In August 2012, Take That performed at the [[2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony|closing ceremony]] of the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]. Williams was due to perform with Take That but missed the performance because his wife gave birth at around the same time; the group performed as a four-piece.<ref>{{cite web|first=Paul|last=Martinovic|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/news/a386293/take-that-george-michael-to-feature-in-london-2012-closing-ceremony.html |title=Take That, George Michael to feature in London 2012 closing ceremony|website=[[Digital Spy]] |date=9 June 2012 }}</ref>

Although still officially part of Take That,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2017/0319/860909-barlow/|title=Barlow says Robbie can return to Take That any time|date=19 March 2017|work=RTE.ie|access-date=20 May 2018|language=en}}</ref> Williams chose not to return for group's [[III (Take That album)|seventh]] and [[Wonderland (Take That album)|eighth]] studio albums and their accompanying tours, focusing instead on his solo commitments. He continued to write music with his colleagues and has performed with the group on several occasions since 2011's Progress tour<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-37907388|title=Take That join Robbie at Brits gig|last=Savage|first=Mark|date=8 November 2016|work=BBC News|access-date=20 May 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref> and planned to return for a full tour to celebrate Take That's 30th anniversary in 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/lorraine/news/a845330/robbie-williams-take-that-reunion-details-wrong/|title=Robbie reveals he got Take That reunion details wrong|date=13 December 2017|work=Digital Spy|access-date=20 May 2018|language=en}}</ref>