Born: 13 February 1974 in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK.

First known as one of the members of British boy band Take That, was the first to leave, and after battling the usual and much publicised addiction problems, went on to have a solo career at least as big as the boy band one if not bigger.

Also known to have signed one of the biggest record-breaking contracts in 2002 with EMI for £80million. The last before the age of (illegal) digital downloading became apparent.