Rehab Treatment | Robbie Williams Taking Care

In the current issue of GQ, Gentlemen’s Quarterly, a magazine I started reading when I was 15 and still currently enjoy, I came upon an interview of Robbie Williams. Robbie Williams is an award-winning, English singer-songwriter, record producer and multi-instrumentalist who’s career began at the ripe old age of 16 for the pop band ‘Take That.’ That was in 1990, and in 1995 he launched his solo-career. He has sold more albums in the UK than any other solo artist in history and more BRIT Awards than any other to date as well.

So, at age 33, back in 2007 for those good with numbers, and on his birthday, Robbie Williams was admitted to a rehab treatment clinic in Arizona. It was quite a shock to me when I heard about it. I’m a fan, but I am not an obsessed fan who follows every news article regarding his escapades, so yes, I was shocked.

Although, when I think about all that he has done in his short span of time, the talent, the stardom, the constant touring since he was 16, I can see how it could happen to him. Just look at other performers who began at a young age, rose quickly in popularity, and then later we found out they were addicted to alcohol or drugs and needed to enter an alcohol or drug detox – or even worse, died.

As far as I know there wasn’t an arrest or some public display of racial expletives like with some other rather recent celebrities who then, without any other way out and when an apology just wasn’t enough, placed themselves in a drug and alcohol detox. Although I am happy that these celebs go into rehab I question some of their sincerity, but with Williams, I believe he saw the writing on the wall, so to speak.

In the article, Williams admits to his previous addiction to prescription medication; sleeping pills and painkillers, and that since he was 17 years old he has been periodically finding himself in the same place. He also shared that his “left arm was going numb, chest was contracting,” and that he realized it was a sign that he was on his “way out."

I am looking forward to his new release, You know Me, which will be available for download on December 7, 2009.