PRESS ASSOCIATION -- Gary Barlow has revealed he once feared his music career was over when he lost his solo record deal.
The 40-year-old Take That star opened up to the boys he is mentoring for The X Factor when he took them to Los Angeles to prepare them for the next stage of the talent show, The Sun reports.
Barlow said: "This is a very special place for me as in 1999 when I lost my record deal I didn't know what to do. So I came to LA to start again and to think about everything.
"Being here took me back to the music, which is what it has always been about.
"This town is full of music, and I hope you find yourselves in the same way that I did."
The singer songwriter has spoken previously about how he became "very depressed" and piled on the pounds when Sony BMG axed his post-Take That solo career after his second album flopped.
He admitted: "I really did think it was all over as a musician."
Barlow and Robbie Williams watched the final eight perform at his LA villa to help them choose which four to send through to the live shows.
Louis Walsh is mentoring the over-25s, Tulisa Contostavlos will mentor the groups and Kelly Rowland has the girls.