Career Timeline of Robbie Williams: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Robbie Williams built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Robbie Williams is an English singer and songwriter who rose to prominence as a member of the pop group Take That (1990-1995) before embarking on a successful solo career in 1996. His debut album, *Life thru a Lens* (1997), featured the hit single "Angels". He achieved further success with his second album, *I've Been Expecting You*, which included his first two number-one singles, "Millennium" and "She's the One". Williams has a discography boasting seven UK number-one singles and nearly all his albums reaching number one in the UK. He holds a Guinness World Record for selling 1.6 million tickets in a single day during his 2006 tour.
1990: Joined Take That
In 1990, Robbie Williams joined the pop group Take That, marking a significant step in his early career.
July 1995: Agreed to quit Take That
In July 1995, Robbie Williams agreed to quit Take That after being confronted about his attitude and behavior.
1995: Left Take That
In 1995, Robbie Williams left Take That to pursue his own musical direction.
February 1996: Take That Disbanded
On 13 February 1996, Robbie Williams's 22nd birthday, Take That disbanded.
June 1996: Signed with Chrysalis Records
On 27 June 1996, after legal battles to free himself from his Take That contract, Robbie Williams signed with Chrysalis Records.
1996: Launched solo career
In 1996, Robbie Williams launched his solo career, setting the stage for his individual success.
March 1997: Began recordings for first album
In March 1997, Robbie Williams began recordings for his first album at London's Maison Rouge studios.
September 1997: Released Life thru a Lens
In September 1997, Robbie Williams released his debut album, Life thru a Lens, and launched it with a live solo gig in Paris.
1997: Released debut studio album
In 1997, Robbie Williams released his debut studio album, Life thru a Lens, which included the hit single "Angels".
October 1998: Released I've Been Expecting You
In late October 1998, Robbie Williams released I've Been Expecting You, which debuted at number one in the UK Albums Chart.
1998: Wrote second album
In early 1998, Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers started writing the second album, I've Been Expecting You, in Jamaica.
July 1999: The Ego Has Landed release
In July 1999, The Ego Has Landed, a compilation album, was released in the United States and Canada. Robbie Williams also began work on his third studio album during this time.
1999: Finished European Tour
Robbie Williams finished the year of 1999 with a European Tour after the successful release of I've Been Expecting You.
August 2000: Released album Sing When You're Winning
In August 2000, Robbie Williams released his album Sing When You're Winning, which topped charts in many countries.
2000: Release of Rock DJ
In 2000, Robbie Williams released "Rock DJ" as a single, which reached number one in the UK and New Zealand and won several awards, including "Best Song of 2000" at the MTV Europe Music Awards.
2000: Fastest-selling album
In November 2010, the Take That album Progress was released, becoming the fastest-selling album since 2000 and the second-fastest-selling album in UK history.
2000: Most Successful Album-Artist of the Millennium
In October 2010, Media Control named Robbie Williams the most successful album-artist of the millennium due to the fact that he had spent No. 1 on the German Albums Chart for 38 weeks since 2000.
2000: Topped UK airplay chart
Robbie Williams topped the 2000–2010 UK airplay chart, solidifying his popularity in the UK.
2001: Duet with Nicole Kidman
In 2001, Robbie Williams duetted with Nicole Kidman on "Somethin' Stupid", which became his fifth number one hit in the UK.
2001: Recorded Swing When You're Winning
In 2001, Robbie Williams recorded Swing When You're Winning, his fourth studio album, inspired by his love for Frank Sinatra.
2002: Record-breaking contract with EMI
In 2002, Robbie Williams signed a record-breaking £80 million contract with EMI, which gave him greater creative control and aimed to break him into the US market. This remains the biggest music deal in British history.
2002: Release of "Feel"
In late 2002, Robbie Williams released "Feel" as the first single from his upcoming album. The demo version was used, and it became a major international hit.
2002: Patron of the Donna Louise Trust
Since 2002, Robbie Williams has been the Patron of the children's charity the Donna Louise Trust, based in Stoke-on-Trent.
August 2003: Knebworth concerts
From August 1st to 3rd, 2003, Robbie Williams performed three consecutive concerts at Knebworth, each attended by 125,000 people. This was the biggest event in UK music history at the time.
2003: Featured in Finding Nemo
In 2003, Robbie Williams' song "Beyond the Sea" was featured in the movie Finding Nemo and released on the film's soundtrack.
2003: Knebworth concerts
In 2003, Robbie Williams' three concerts at Knebworth drew over 375,000 people, marking the UK's biggest music event at the time.
October 2004: Release of Greatest Hits album
In October 2004, Robbie Williams released his Greatest Hits album, a retrospective of his career including new tracks co-written with Stephen Duffy. The first single, "Radio", debuted at number one in the UK Singles Chart.
2004: Induction into the UK Music Hall of Fame
In 2004, Robbie Williams was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame after being voted as the Greatest artist of the 1990s, recognizing his significant contributions to music.
2004: Started Working on Sixth Studio Album
In 2004, after touring Latin America to promote his Greatest Hits album, Robbie Williams began working on his sixth studio album, co-writing with Stephen Duffy at his house in the Hollywood Hills.
November 2005: MTV Europe Music Award and Guinness World Record
In November 2005, Robbie Williams won the MTV Europe Music Award for 'Best Male'. He also entered The Guinness Book of World Records for selling 1.6 million tickets in one day for his 2006 World Tour.
April 2006: Close Encounters World Tour Kickoff
In April 2006, Robbie Williams started his Close Encounters World Tour in South Africa. By the end of the European leg, 2.5 million people had seen the show.
October 2006: Release of Rudebox album
On 23 October 2006, Robbie Williams released his dance/electro album, Rudebox, featuring collaborations with several artists. The album received mixed reviews but was a commercial success in Europe.
2006: World Tour Announcement and Ticket Sales
In 2006, Robbie Williams announced his World Tour, resulting in 1.6 million tickets being sold in a single day, earning him a place in The Guinness Book of World Records.
2006: Guinness World Record
In 2006, Robbie Williams earned a Guinness World Record for selling 1.6 million tickets in a single day during his Close Encounters Tour.
2006: Inaugural Soccer Aid Match
In 2006, Robbie Williams, with the help of friend Jonathan Wilkes, organized the first Soccer Aid charity football match to raise money for UNICEF UK.
2008: Record Album Sales
By 2008, Robbie Williams had sold more albums in the UK than any other British solo artist in history, solidifying his place as a top-selling artist.
2008: Soccer Aid Match
In 2008, Robbie Williams organized a Soccer Aid charity football match to raise money for UNICEF UK.
February 2009: Confirmed writing with Guy Chambers and Mark Ronson
In February 2009, it was confirmed that Robbie Williams had written new material with Guy Chambers and Mark Ronson, and planned to start recording sessions in March for a new album to be released later that year.
March 2009: Showed interest in rejoining Take That
In March 2009, Robbie Williams had shown interest in rejoining Take That.
October 2009: Comeback performance on The X Factor and BBC Electric Proms
In October 2009, Robbie Williams published 'Songbook' as a free CD. He made his comeback on The X Factor results show, performing "Bodies" live. Williams also opened the BBC Electric Proms, his first live concert in 3 years.
October 2009: Outstanding Contribution to British Music Award
In October 2009, it was announced that Robbie Williams would receive the Outstanding Contribution to British Music award at the 2010 Brit Awards.
2009: Guinness World Record for Cinematic Screening
In 2009, Robbie Williams appeared in the Guinness Book of World Records when his sell-out show at the BBC Electric Proms at London's Roundhouse was screened by more than 250 cinemas across 23 countries, setting a new record for the most simultaneous cinematic screenings of a live concert.
July 2010: Rejoined Take That
On 15 July 2010, Robbie Williams reconciled with his former colleagues and rejoined Take That.
October 2010: Release of In and Out of Consciousness: The Greatest Hits 1990–2010
In October 2010, Robbie Williams released his second greatest hits album, In and Out of Consciousness: The Greatest Hits 1990–2010, celebrating 20 years as a performing artist. The single "Shame", written and sung by Williams and Barlow, was also released.
November 2010: Release of Take That album Progress
In November 2010, the Take That album Progress was released, becoming the fastest-selling album since 2000 and the second-fastest-selling album in UK history.
2010: Soccer Aid Match
In 2010, Robbie Williams organized a Soccer Aid charity football match to raise money for UNICEF UK.
2010: Rejoined Take That
In 2010, Robbie Williams rejoined Take That, co-writing and performing lead vocals on their album Progress.
2010: Topped UK airplay chart
Robbie Williams topped the 2000–2010 UK airplay chart, solidifying his popularity in the UK.
October 2011: Signs with Island Records
On 21 October 2011, Robbie Williams signed with Island Records (Universal Music), following his departure from EMI in 2010.
2011: Left Take That again
In 2011, Gary Barlow confirmed that Robbie Williams had left Take That for a second time to focus on his solo career.
2011: Progress tour
Since the 2011's Progress tour, although still officially part of Take That, Williams chose not to return for the group's seventh and eighth studio albums and their accompanying tours, focusing instead on his solo commitments.
September 2012: Premiere and release of "Candy"
In September 2012, Robbie Williams' single "Candy" premiered on September 10 and was released on September 11 in most countries. In the UK, the song became Williams' first number one single since "Radio" in 2004.
November 2012: Announcement of European stadium tour
On 26 November 2012, Robbie Williams announced a 17-date stadium tour of Europe, with Olly Murs as the support act.
2012: Soccer Aid Match
In 2012, Robbie Williams organized a Soccer Aid charity football match to raise money for UNICEF UK.
September 2013: Announcement of Swings Both Ways album
In September 2013, Robbie Williams announced a follow-up to his 2001 swing album, titled Swings Both Ways, for release in November. The album would feature covers and original songs, including duets with several artists.
2014: Soccer Aid Match
In 2014, Robbie Williams organized a Soccer Aid charity football match to raise money for UNICEF UK.
May 2016: Signs recording contract with Sony Music
In May 2016, Robbie Williams signed a recording contract with Sony Music, expressing his excitement about the new partnership.
2016: Soccer Aid Match
In 2016, Robbie Williams organized a Soccer Aid charity football match to raise money for UNICEF UK.
July 2017: Announcement of Under the Radar Volume 2
In July 2017, Robbie Williams announced a new album, Under the Radar Volume 2, to be released in November.
July 2018: Joins The X Factor as a judge
On 17 July 2018, Robbie Williams, along with his wife and Louis Tomlinson, was announced as a new judge on the fifteenth series of The X Factor in the UK.
2018: Soccer Aid Match
In 2018, Robbie Williams organized a Soccer Aid charity football match to raise money for UNICEF UK.
2019: Soccer Aid Match
In 2019, Robbie Williams organized a Soccer Aid charity football match to raise money for UNICEF UK.
2019: Planned return for anniversary tour
In 2019, despite focusing on his solo commitments, Williams planned to return for a full tour to celebrate Take That's 30th anniversary.
2020: Soccer Aid Match
In 2020, Robbie Williams organized a Soccer Aid charity football match to raise money for UNICEF UK.
2021: Soccer Aid Match
In 2021, Robbie Williams organized a Soccer Aid charity football match to raise money for UNICEF UK.
September 2022: Released compilation album XXV
On 9 September 2022, Robbie Williams released his latest compilation album, XXV.
2022: Soccer Aid Match
In 2022, Robbie Williams organized a Soccer Aid charity football match to raise money for UNICEF UK.
2023: Soccer Aid Match
In 2023, Robbie Williams organized a Soccer Aid charity football match to raise money for UNICEF UK.
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