Editing Robbie Williams (section)

===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]].