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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
Entertainment
Abbie Meehan

Robbie William's life in music as Take That star to visit Glasgow for first time in five years

Having produced some of the most catchy, entertaining songs in pop history, icon Robbie Williams has been kicking about for decades.

With his 25-year anniversary in solo music coming up, the singer has announced a brand new album and tour that will stop off in Glasgow on its way around the UK.

In light of this, here at Glasgow Live, we thought we'd give our own run down of all there is to know about the popstar; from humble beginnings to boyband stardom.

READ MORE - Still Game star tries to convert billionaire Elon Musk into fan of Scottish show

Humble beginnings

Robbie grew up in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, where he spent many years at the Red Lion pub. The watering hole has had a mural of the star for years.

A life-long supporter of local football club, Port Vale, Robbie moved away from his hometown aged 16 when he became the youngest member of boyband Take That in 1990.

Anyone heard of them?

Take That: Vol 1 and 2

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Robbie first found fame with Take That in 1990 alongside Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Howard Donald.

After leaving in 1995 to embark on a solo career, he re-joined in 2006. Robbie left for a second time, in 2001, but he is still regarded a band member to this day.

Focusing more on his solo career Robbie has more creative creative control over his records, as whereas fellow crooner, Gary Barlow was the main front for Take That.

Trouble with addiction

Robbie has not hidden away from his issues with addiction, having reportedly battled mental illness, obesity, self-esteem issues, alcoholism, and substance abuse throughout his life.

He has since been put in recovery for his substance abuse and other addictions. He once revealed that, while he was still in Take That, Elton John booked him into a rehab clinic as his issues were getting so troubling.

The singer speaks openly about online gambling and, in a 2020 interview with Weight Watchers Magazine, revealed that he had developed an addiction to online golf games.

Huge solo success

Robbie achieved huge success as a solo artist; starting with debut record, Life Thru a Lens in 1997 which sold 77 million records worldwide.

Williams has received a record-breaking 18 Brit Awards, winning Best British Male Artist four times, Outstanding Contribution to Music twice, an Icon Award for his lasting impact on British culture, eight German ECHO Awards, and three MTV European Music Awards.

In 2004, he was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame after being voted the Greatest Artist of the 1990s.

Robbie's discography includes seven UK number one singles, and all but one of his 12 studio albums have reached number one in the UK, now that's some achievement.

Six of Robbie's albums are among the top 100 biggest-selling albums in the UK, with two of them in the top 60, and he gained a Guinness World Record in 2006 for selling a whopping 1.6 million tickets in a single day during his Close Encounters Tour.

So, solo life has suited the singer extremely well.

He is now still shining in his older age! (2022 Mike Marsland)

Loving family and home life

Robbie married model, actress and Loose Women panellist, Ayda Field in 2010.

The pair have four children together - Teddy, nine, Charlton, seven, Coco, three and Beau, two.

Robbie admitted that he and Ayda broke up three times - without her knowledge in the early part of their relationship, when he was still battling addiction problems.

He has many homes across the world but spends most of his time at the £17 million family home in Kensington, bought in 2016.

Other homes include a £6.75m 'mega mansion' in Compton Bassett, Wiltshire, a £37 million Los Angeles pad and a second residency in L.A; a brand new estate which includes a main home as well as three separate guest houses.

Raking in the big bucks

As of 2022, Robbie's net worth is estimated to be $300 million, or just under £240 million.

At one point he was also the largest shareholder of Port Vale Football Club, before the club went into administration in 2012.

You can book tickets to see the infamous Robbie Williams on his UK tour on Friday, June 17 at Ticketmaster, here.

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