‘That’s what being in a boyband does’: Robbie Williams details the impact that fame had on Take That’s mental health while hinting that One Direction could face the same struggles

Robbie Williams has detailed the impact that fame had on Take That’s mental health.
The singer, 48, opened up on the dark side of what being in a boyband ‘really does’, sharing how he and his bandmates Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Jason Orange suffered with the likes of depression, eating disorders, addiction and suicidal thoughts.
In a candid new interview with Zane Lowe on his Apple Music 1 show on Wednesday, Robbie also predicted that One Direction may face their own demons in the future, adding that he plans on a documentary to reveal ‘what really happens.’

Opening up: Robbie Williams has detailed the impact that fame had on Take That’s mental health
Take That formed in 1989 and went on to achieve 12 number one singles on the UK Singles Chart along with eight number one albums and are currently the most successful boy band in UK chart history.
But despite their success, behind closed doors the guys battled their demons, with Robbie explaining how their huge levels of fame affected them.
The Angels hitmaker, who walked away from the band in July 1995, told Zane: ‘If you run through every boyband and girlband that’s ever existed. With Take That, Gary Barlow leaves the band, his career’s supposed to do that and it didn’t.
‘He suffered with bulimia, didn’t leave his house, went to sleep underneath his piano because he’d forgotten how to write songs. Incredibly depressed. Changed his name on his credit card because he didn’t want people to see Barlow.

Candid: The singer, 48, shared how he and his bandmates suffered with the likes of depression, eating disorders, addiction and suicidal thoughts (L-R Jason Orange, Howard Donald, Mark Owen, Gary Barlow and Robbie in 1993)
‘Howard Donald wanted to commit suicide after he left Take That. Mark Owen’s been to rehab and Jason Orange just can’t do it. And then there’s me, the mental health, the rehabs, the addiction, there’s all of that. So that’s what being in a boyband really does.’
Robbie went on to say that down the line, One Direction – who went on hiatus in 2015 – may suffer the in the aftermath of their huge level of fame.
He said: ‘And I’m sure that in 5 or 10 years’ time if you sit down with One Direction to a man, they’re all going to have their isms that have been caused by this machine.
‘I want to do a documentary about it. Maybe we should do it together. About boybands and girlbands and what really happens. Why fame does that to you.’

Chat: In a candid new interview with Zane Lowe on his Apple Music 1 show on Wednesday, Robbie also predicted that One Direction may face their own demons in the future
Meanwhile, in the same interview, Robbie compared girlband and boyband fans to football supporters due to their unwavering loyalty.
He explained: ‘What I think it is when a boyband or a girlband gets to a certain place or a certain stature, because there’s lots that fell by the wayside and can’t come back and, God bless them, for having that sort of being at the top of the mountain at such an early age and then they have to go away and figure out how to live.
‘But what I think it is with the Spice Girls, One Direction, Take That, NSYNC, New Kids on the Block, all of those people that reach that place, it’s their, the fans’ football team. So it’s Liverpool or it’s Manchester United. Do you know what I mean?

Success: Take That formed in 1989 and went on to achieve 12 number one singles on the UK Singles Chart along with eight number one albums and are currently the most successful boy band in UK chart history (Take That pictured in 1992)

Candid: ‘The mental health, the rehabs, the addiction, there’s all of that. So that’s what being in a boyband really does’
‘And you just never stop supporting Liverpool. It gets etched in. So it’s like a young girl’s, primarily, football team.’
It comes after Robbie came under fire after it was announced he will be performing in Qatar during the World Cup.
The decision by FIFA to hold the World Cup in Qatar has been surrounded by controversy – particularly in relation to migrant workers and the LGBTQ+ community.

Thoughts: Robbie went on to say that down the line, One Direction – who went on hiatus in 2015 – may suffer the in the aftermath of their huge level of fame (pictured in 2014)

The chart-topper who previously performed at the opening ceremony of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, was unveiled as one of the music acts set to play at the Qatar Live concerts during a press conference in Doha.
Robbie is set to play at Doha Golf Club on December 8, alongside Maroon 5 and Post Malone, who were also reported to be playing gigs that coincide with the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Fans expressed their ‘disappointment’ after learning the news on the Robbie Williams Fanfest page.
One penned: ‘Sorry but the Qatar World Cup is wrong on many levels and I am disappointed that Robbie feels it is acceptable to so blatantly support it.’
Another said: ‘I love him but this is disappointing.’
A third wrote: ‘Hope that’s not True’ with another adding: ‘That’s sad, really sad.’

Backlash: It comes after Robbie came under fire after it was announced he will be performing in Qatar during the World Cup