On the Pain of Departure
The exit of Robbie Williams and later Jason Orange remains a defining chapter for the group. While the world saw a pop sensation, the band saw a fracturing family.
“We thought Robbie was going to be back; we never knew it was for good,” Howard admitted. “Robbie was a young boy when he left, and you didn’t think about where his head was at.”
Losing Jason was equally heavy for the remaining three. “Losing Jason was a tough time… even though I knew it was coming,” Howard shared. “I feel like he’d had enough of the fame and being recognised.” Mark added a perspective of respect for those choices, noting, “I think Rob and Jason made brave decisions.”
The Struggle of the Spotlight
Gary Barlow offered a vulnerable look at his own evolution within the group. Reflecting on their 2005 comeback documentary, For The Record, he admitted the group was “scared to death” of a media “stitch-up.”
“I never really felt like I was in a band in the 90s,” Gary confessed. “I always felt like I was a solo artist in a band. But when we got back together, I never needed these guys more than when I needed them then, and it felt strong.”
Looking Back and Moving Forward
Despite the record-breaking success, the band remains grounded by a lingering sense of fragility. “We still think it could end tomorrow and we go back to the day job,” Mark remarked.
While Howard joked about the 90s being a “blur” where he’d lie about visiting his mum to sneak off to see his girlfriend, the focus is firmly on the future. Gary confirmed the creative fires are still burning: “We’ve been writing for about a year for hopefully a new record in the fall.”
