Career Highlights

The History of Take That

The 90's boy band that took the UK by storm have recently made an unprecedented come back! For those that missed the phenomenon here's a guide to the pop boys and their rise to fame...twice.

It Only Took a Minute

1990 and the UK is lacking boy band pop, New Kids on the Block (NKOTB) are the only male group creating chart hits and they're American. The pop world has nothing spectacular and British to promote, music mogul Nigel Martin-Smith decides to do something about it.

Hiring 5 unknown boys aged 16 - 21, Nigel manufactures the band that would soon whip the UK into a frenzy, the likes of which had not been seen since the hayday of The Beatles. Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams would soon become names spoken by teenage girls across Europe.

Initially the band were relatively unknown, gigging around the country for 2 years, signing to a huge record label and suffering three flop singles before releasing the hit that shot them to fame in 1992, "It Only Takes a Minute". From this moment on the Take That craze gripped the nation, rarely keeping the boys from the Media and contributing to their 4 year reign as UK pop Kings.

Take That were the UK's biggest selling act since The Beatles, culminating 25 million sales of their hit records but unfortunately their time at the top was soon to end.

Pray..

In 1995 after months of unease in the band, Robbie Williams shocked his legion of fans and announced that he was quitting Take That. Now a four piece, Mark, Jason, Howard and Gary soldiered on, finally calling it a day in 1996.

Fans were so distraught at the news of the bands demise that the Samaritans set up a help-line to cope with the thousands of emotional teenagers unable to cope with the disappearance of their beloved band.

Praying that one day they would reunite, fans followed the solo careers of all except Jason Orange who decided to go travelling. Only Robbie really succeeded as a solo artist, dominating the charts worldwide. It seemed that the boys were gone for good...ten years passed.

Never Forget

In 2005 ITV aired a documentary about the boys and rather than taking the stuffy, talking heads approach all the band got involved, even Robbie, showing the band away from the media hype and voicing their true opinions. The programme drew 7 million viewers, highlighting that Take That's fans had never forgotten.

The overwhelming response to the documentary spurred the band to reform and soon after Take That confirmed they were planning a come back (minus Robbie Williams). Tour dates for the Ultimate Tour were released and even then no-one was expecting the astounding demand for tickets, with all 19 dates selling out in just over an hour of going on sale - and 5 stadium dates added to cope with the deluge of fans!

As to be expected a new album was released shortly after the come back and the boys are touring again in 2007. The new album and sound, like the band has grown up and all four members have collaborated on it for the first time - removing the focus from just Gary Barlow who originally wrote and fronted the majority of Take That's records.

Back for Good

With the return of Take That so the passion for the band is reborn, the fans although older are still just as envigoured by their presence as they once were, with the 2007 tour selling just as quickly as the Ultimate Tour. The heightened media activity around their return has spurned a new wave of interest in the band, with Take That dominating the headlines and inspiring a brand new musical in their honour - although they have been quick to explain that they have nothing to do with Never Forget and are not endorsing the production in any way.

Despite the lack of involvement from Take That the show is bound to be a best seller just like the boys and will give Take That fans the chance to indulge their passion for the band, ensuring they Never Forget.

Interesting Facts

• Take That were originally going to be called "Kick It"
• The boys had tea with Lady Diana at Kensington Palace
• Gary Barlow and Mark Owen originally formed a band called The Cutest Rush
• Robbie Williams auditioned for Take That after his mum responded to a newspaper advert on his behalf