Gary Barlow addresses Robbie Williams 'rivalry' as Take That announce new tour dates

The Take That hitmaker has been helping his former bandmate pen songs for his upcoming album Britpop as well as working on new material for the band

© Getty Images for Universal Pictures

Lucy NorrisWriter

Gary Barlow has revealed where he stands with his former bandmate Robbie Williams, and things are not as frosty between the pop stars as they once were. Despite a massive fallout back in the late 90s after Robbie decided to leave their band Take That, it appears the musical exes are slowly inching back together. During an event that was held to announce Take That's return to the global stage, Gary, 54, commented on his relationship with 51-year-old solo artist Robbie and admitted there was no longer any "rivalry" between the old friends. 

The Rule The World singer explained that he had stepped back into the writing room with Robbie for the star's upcoming album Britpop and said the experience of creating music together was "relaxing". He told Metro: "We're always in touch, you know. There definitely was, back in our time, a bit of rivalry, but those days are well over and it's now a very relaxing experience. He's obviously a great writer and we vibe off each other and it's fun. It really is."

A band breakup and a 30-year feud 

The infamous breakup between Robbie and Take That, whose current membership consists of Gary, Mark Owen and Howard Donald, spanned decades of pop culture history. Fans were heartbroken when the Angels hitmaker announced he was going solo in 1995, and a rivalry between the band and the solo artist has remained rife throughout time. 

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Robbie released a Netflix documentary titled Robbie Williams in 2023 that reminisced over his musical career and touched on his rocky relationship with Gary in particular. In one scene, he could be heard explaining: "I disliked Gary the most because he was the one that was supposed to have everything and the career. And I wanted to make him pay. I was vengeful by having the career that he was supposed to have."

Despite tensions lessening between Take That and their former star Robbie, the solo singer will not be joining the men as they relaunch their famous record-breaking sell-out Circus Live tour in the summer of 2026. The live shows will feature the setlist from the previous tour of the same name in 2009 and will travel across the UK and Ireland. The band also revealed they would be releasing a new album next year.

Gary Barlow addresses Robbie Williams 'rivalry' as Take That announce new tour dates | HELLO!

Maybe over the next few weeks Robbie will address the reasoning behind the delay.

At the moment it does all seem very strange

Hey guys! Federico/Frederick from Argentina here.

Just joined the forum a couple of days ago and taking the hang of this, step by step. Sorry if I get something wrong on how this works.

Just wanted to give my insight from what has been happening this weekend after all this delay/London gig news.

I agree with you, the marketing has been everything but strange for sure. I'm certain it doesn't depend 100% on Rob. On his lives back in covid times he used to say "that's not my job 😁" even joking about it And it may be right.

What I do know, it's that he WANTS the number one. As we all would if we are equals with non others than the Rolling Stones/Beatles.

It's a huge deal for his career. So the late release is strange but ends up being fair for that number 1.

Apart from that, in terms of tour, we are on a bit of a blank page. Even then, I have been a fan of Rob since 98, almost 30 years now. And last Saturday a mutual fan from Argentina flew to Finland taking a message that read "All the way from Argentina" his security noticed it and as usual, gave Rob the green light to choose her.

That was the moment that he said "he's doing everything he can to come". Not only that but he remembered "not having a show in Argentina since 2006". The fact that he remembers the year when he jokes about not even remembering his kids names, blows my mind.

That's when it shows he reads our comments. (The reason why it has been so long without a gig in Argentina is because 2018 should have been a show that was cancelled by the police due to weather) it was really painful for us but yet he cared again for his fans and as a gift he made Under The Radar Vol. 3 cover in Argentina.

(The building where he is standing naked is the balcony of the hotel) that was a super gesture in my mind.

A year later in 2019, he called me (happiest day of my life) via Instagram. In those awesome lives he made. And told me to give him some time to figure out his return.

Well, almost 6 years later, but he sems to keep that promese.

What I'm saying with this, other than putting you guys in context, is that Rob uses to make this promeses, sometimes not sure if it will be able to keep them. Cause maybe is not up to him (like the release of Britpop) maybe Taylor scared the management and they have a chat with Rob about wanting to secure that number 1.

Same with the rest of the tour that hopefully we're about to have news in the next couple of days/weeks.

It leaves us no other choice than to be patient, hope for the best and hope the management knows what they are doing. In Robbie Williams we trust 🙌🏻😁.

Anyway, thanks for having me here, I'll try to read and answer often (shortly next time, sorry about this bible) but hope it gave you guys more context on our latin fandom situation.

welcome, Fred

Welcome Fred, great having you on board 😊

Video source - Rob's Instagram

Edited September 23Sep 23 by Sydney11

Welcome aboard, Fred!

Enjoy :)

Hello, Fred! 👋

On 18/07/2025 at 23:17, Better Man said:

The Deluxe CD with 17 songs looks fine :)

Tracklist:
1. Rocket
2. Spies
3. Pretty Face
4. Bite Your Tongue
5. Cocky
6. All My Life
7. Human 
8. Morrissey
9 You
10 It’s OK Until The Drugs Stop Working
11 Pocket Rocket

--Deluxe—
12. Selfish Disco
13 G.E.M.B 
14 Comment Section
15 f***ing Amazing 
16 100% Beau
17. Desire (Official FIFA Anthem)

Well, I had feelings that Pocket Rocket would be the last song of the album but not sure I like the two songs have such big connections on a tracklist with 11 songs. So I'd prefer to see it on Deluxe.

Then, while I do like two first singles, I hope there will be not only 3-mins songs. Just listened Rudebox & IC (what the albums they were!) and just hope we will get some experimental songs with long lyrics.

Would be there any duets (not as musicians but singers) on the album?

What's the G.E.M.B means?

What song will be released as a single around the album release?

Will be another part of the Tour in UK?

What the sales will be without Tour (pre-sale tickets) support?

Oct-10 is a good date for the release by now (if you know what I mean) but following the schedule and we will see.

No covers (I think I can confirm that as 99%).

Still angry that More Than This & The Mother and Her Mother (both songs are gems for me) were just the bonus tracks of XXV... I would safe them for Britpop. They defo has English fleur & mood. The melodies are really strong in these songs.

If I'd decide to put Pocket Rocket or one of these two songs (already released) on a Standard version of BRITPOP I'd choose the second way.

I do like that Beau also will get his personal song :)

Yes. Having Rocket & Pocket Rocket on the main album makes no sense. I love the song but surely there must have been another song he could have chosen.

New month, new single! Yaay 😁 This week Pretty Face will be premiering on Graham's Norton Show. Is there any site (I don't know if can be posted here. Please DM me if it can't) where we can watch it live despite not living in the UK? Thanks guys!

Welp... No phones allowed tonight! It will be all about fan experiences and first impressions.

Good decision on Rob's team since it will be better for the album's success of course.

Let's sit and wait!

Not sure it's a good decision.

In a case they will not recorded it for any release (CD or DVD) it's a bad decision.

We haven't got any Live release since Tallinn show. Not Roundhouse, not 3 or 4 tours in a row.

And now when this unique concerts can be visited by only 500 fans not having an opportunity to see any parts of it by others...

Well,

So

I'm OK if release will come.

Otherwise I'm upset.

1 hour ago, Fred1607 said:

Welp... No phones allowed tonight! It will be all about fan experiences and first impressions.

Good decision on Rob's team since it will be better for the album's success of course.

Let's sit and wait!

How successful or not that decision is remains to be seen as people usually find ways around these things especially where there are a lot of people & 500 people are a lot of people to monitor. Anway I think it now kinda indicates that the remainder of the Long 90's gigs will most like be after the album launch in February . I am not too bothered & hopefully they might release a film of same on YT at a later date. I like surprises when it comes to albums. I am guessing that after the Graham Norton show & any other things he is contracted to do that Robbie will take a break for a couple of months to be with his family.

Does anybody know how the Taylor Swift album is doing? I heard that the critics re disappointed at least more than for earlier albums

Doing extremely well.

370k by now.

Since Adele and Progress it's already the best result.

3 hours ago, Better Man said:

Doing extremely well.

370k by now.

Since Adele and Progress it's already the best result.

That's an amazing result for her.

Well done Taylor! 👍

More long 90s shows coming for the UK,

Brixton, Wolfhampton, Liverpool and Glasgow.

Dates yet to be confirmed.

Also, Pretty Face already out in Europe! Have you heard it yet?

5 hours ago, Fred1607 said:

More long 90s shows coming for the UK,

Brixton, Wolfhampton, Liverpool and Glasgow.

Dates yet to be confirmed.

Also, Pretty Face already out in Europe! Have you heard it yet?

Adding to that, the setlist for the coming shows will be the same. I thought we were having different past albums mixed with Britpop, but I guess we're sticking to Life Thru A Lens then.

8 hours ago, Fred1607 said:

Adding to that, the setlist for the coming shows will be the same. I thought we were having different past albums mixed with Britpop, but I guess we're sticking to Life Thru A Lens then.

I assume it's the same Britpop & LTAL for the upcoming gigs ,,

Talking about Britpop. Does anyone knows who is the new girl who took Jerry's place at Graham Norton Show with Tom? At the beggining she's with Tom playing but never seen her before. Great choice btw 😁