Robbie Williams Reflects on His Struggles with Depression During His Time with Take That

Robbie Williams in The Netherlands.
Credit: Michel Linssen/Redferns

Key Points

• Robbie Williams shared insights about a challenging period affected by alcoholism.
• During a new documentary featuring Take That, the singer recounted a time when he consumed a whole bottle of vodka due to depression.
• Williams departed from Take That in 1996.

Robbie Williams recently opened up about a tumultuous chapter in his life during the peak of Take That’s success. In a documentary that premiered on January 27, the singer-songwriter reflected on the struggles he faced in the mid-1990s, particularly concerning mental health and addiction.

The Netflix documentary features Gary Barlow, lead singer of Take That, who expressed regret for not recognizing Williams’ distress earlier. “I’ve always felt embarrassed that I missed the ‘off-the-rails stuff’ that started with Robbie,” he admitted.

Robbie Williams in London in 1990.
Credit: Michael Putland/Getty

Reflecting on the group’s dynamics, Williams noted that members were focused on their forward momentum, often oblivious to each others’ well-being. “No one was looking side-to-side to see how everyone was,” he stated.

Fellow band member Howard Donald recounted witnessing Williams’ transformation on stage, describing him as “jumping up and down” with intense energy. Yet, Donald admitted that Williams seemed to be under the influence at times. Jason Orange, another former bandmate, echoed these sentiments, stating that Williams began to appear “more rebellious and more belligerent,” seemingly losing interest in the band.

At that time, Williams faced significant personal battles. “I was so depressed,” he shared. “I was going back to my hotel, downing a bottle of neat vodka. And I would just drink myself into oblivion.” He recognized that he was “physically and mentally” at his lowest. “I was 19, 20, and I was, you know, in the middle of being a raging alcoholic,” he reflected, describing this period as the worst of his struggles with alcohol.

‘Take That’ Netflix documentary artwork.
Courtesy of Netflix

Williams explained that he relied heavily on alcohol to get through his days, often showing up for rehearsals after nights of heavy drinking. “My body would be full of crap, and my head’d hurt,” he recalled, indicating that he was ill-prepared for his responsibilities. The distress from these habits ultimately led to a pivotal meeting in which he decided to leave the band. “Something just snapped in my head,” he remarked.

This struggle with addiction and mental health issues culminated in Williams’ initial departure from Take That in 1996. He made a return in 2010 after reconciling with his bandmates, but left again in 2011 to pursue a solo career. The new documentary, *Take That*, is currently available on Netflix.