Take That
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As the most popular teen pop sensation and widely known as the pioneers of the genre in UK, Take That became the most successful band since The Beatles, ruling the charts during the first half of the 90's. Conceived as the British answer to New Kids On The Block, they initially worked the same territory as their American counterpart. Take That remained as one of the most interesting teen pop phenomenon in the UK not only in the 90's, but also in the rock'n roll era.
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About
Gary Barlow (born on January 20, 1971 in Frodsham, Cheshire) is the central figure of Take That. He has determined their musical direction as their lead vocalist and songwriter. He's already a gifted musician as a child. He taught himself how to play the keyboards and it wasn't long before he started writing his own tunes that one day would make him famous. He attended the Weaver Vale as his first school and from there, he continued his education at Frodsham High School, where his mother works. At the age of 15, he entered a song competition on the BBC television show Pebble Mill, where his first song Let's Pray For Christmas was a finalist. At 18, he recorded a single in Manchester as Kurtis Rush where he came in contact with Mark Owen. The two formed Cutest Rush but their career was short-lived.
Mark Owen, a former child model born on January 27, 1974. He grew up in Oldham, Greater Manchester in a catholic family. Mark began working in a clothes boutique called Zuttis, in a local bank and as a tea boy in Strawberry Studios.
Jason Orange (born July 10, 1970) is a decorator and painter while Howard Donald (born on April 28 1968 at Droylsden, Manchester) is a DJ, model, break dancer and vehicle sprayer. His father teaches Latin-American dancing and his mother used to be a singer. Jason and Howard formed a troupe called - Street Beat.
Record producer/ manager Nigel Martin Smith, intends to put up a British counterpart of the New Kids On The Block. He spotted Jason Orange and Howard Donald and thought of teaming them up with the two (Barlow and Owen). They still need one for the group to be complete and that's where Robbie Williams came in, when his mother spotted an audition in a newspaper. In 1990, the band was formed and named themselves Take That.
After over two years of performing in mainly gay English night clubs, the group signed a major label and released their first single Do What You Like. It became a minor sensaion primarily because the video is quite suggestive, featuring the band getting naked with jelly over themselves. They released Promises and Once You're Tasted Love which barely scraped the UK charts.
Take That's big break didn't come until the summer of 1992 when they released their cover of Tavares' 1975 pop-disco hit It Only Take A Minute which reached number 7 in the UK charts. Following the success of their single, they set the stage for their debut album Take That and Party, where it reached number 5 upon its release. Within a month, the single A Million love Songs was released followed by I Found Heaven - both a top-20 hit. At the end of the year, the group bagged 7 awards at the Smash Hit Awars and in 1993, their cover of Barry Manilow and Donna Summer disco hit Could It Be Magic won them Best British Single in the Brit Awards.
Later that year, they released their most successful original album, Everything Changes. It yielded hit singles such as, Pray, Relight My Fire, Babe, Everything Changes and Love Ain't Here Anymore. They became an international success but the US market proved to be elusive.
As they prepare their third album, British audience's taste are beginning to change. National acts such as Blur and Oasisbecame serious contenders for the group's popularity. Despite the competition, their 1995 album Nobody Else became a numbr 1 hit upon its release. However, the released of theor biggest hit single (and the only American hit) Back For Good suggested that Gary Barlow was beginning to distance himself from the group. Robbie Williams also acted the same way. He became know as the wild member, wanting to get rid of his clean-cut image. He eventually left the group in July 1995. The group continued to promote the album Nobody Else even without Robbie.
Take That began to feel uncomfortable with their pop music trademark and on February 13, 1996, they announced that they're splitting up. Before the break-up of the band, they released theor Take That: Greatest Hits. A compilation of their hit songs including their last number 1 hit, a cover of the Bee Gees How Deep Is Your Love.
Soon after the break-up, Gary Barlow recorded a solo album Open Road in 1997 with his single, Forever Love reaching number 1 in the UK charts. That same year, Robbie Williams released his debut solo album Life Thru A Lens. He achieved greater success and released successful albums. He was named the Best Selling Artist of the New Millenium in the UK and Most Successful Solo Artist in British History, in 2005.
Mark Owen has released three albums to date - Green Man, In You Own Time, and How The Mighty Fall. He has toured extensively to promote his album in Europe and UK.
Jason Orange had two acting roles-- as a DJ drug dealer Brent Moyer on a UK channel 4 and a part in a play Gob.
Howard Donald went out to become a successful DJ in Germany and UK after recording a single which was not released.
Take That reformed in 2006 without Robbie Williams. They have unfinished business with their label company where they are tied with another album. If the album was not produced, they will pay fees to the record label. A new album Beautiful World will be released on November 30, 2006. Their first single Patience was released on November 20, 2006 where it hit number 1 in the UK charts on November 26, making in the group's 9th number 1 hit.
Awards & Certifications
| Year | Category | Award |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Best British Hit Single | Brit Awards |
| 1993 | Best British Single for Could it be Magic | Brit Awards |
| 1994 | Best British Single for Pray | Brit Awards |
| Best British Video for Pray | Brit Awards | |
| 1996 | Best British Single for Back For Good | Brit Awards |
| 2006 | The Q Idol Award | |
| 2007 | Brit Award | Best British Single for Patience |
| Year | Certification | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 6x Platinum(Uk) | Beautiful World |
Chart Toppers
| Year | Title | UK Singles | UK Chart | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Do What U Like | 82 | ~ | Take That and Party |
| Promises | 38 | ~ | Take That and Party | |
| 1992 | Once You've Tasted Love | 47 | ~ | Take That and Party |
| It Only Takes a Minute | 7 | ~ | Take That and Party | |
| I Found Heaven | 15 | ~ | Take That and Party | |
| A Million Love Songs | 7 | ~ | Take That and Party | |
| Could It Be Magic | 3 | ~ | Take That and Party | |
| 1993 | Why Can't I Wake Up With You | 2 | ~ | Everything Changes |
| Pray | 1 | ~ | Everything Changes | |
| Relight My Fire (with Lulu) | 1 | ~ | Everything Changes | |
| Babe | 1 | ~ | Everything Changes | |
| 1994 | Everything Changes | 1 | ~ | Everything Changes |
| Love Ain't Here Anymore | 3 | ~ | Everything Changes | |
| Sure | 1 | ~ | Nobody Else | |
| 1995 | Back For Good | 1 | ~ | Nobody Else |
| Never Forget | 1 | ~ | Nobody Else | |
| 1996 | How Deep Is Your Love | 1 | ~ | Take That: Greatest Hits |
| 2006 | Patience | 1 | 1 | Beautiful World |
| 2007 | Shine | 1 | ~ | Beautiful World |
| 2007 | Rule The World | 2 | ~ | Beautiful World |
News
Tours & Concerts
No tours to date
Announcements
- Take That has repackaged their three albums with bonus songs and was re-released on November 27, 2006.
Discography
Albums
 1992 BMG |
 1993 BMG |
 1995 BMG |
 1996 BMG |
 2001 Calipso |
 2002 BMG |
 2005 Universal |
 2006 Universal |
 2006 Universal |
 2008 Universal |
 2009 Universal |
Singles
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Do What U Like | Take That and Party |
| 1991 | Promises | Take That and Party |
| 1992 | Once You've Tasted Love | Take That and Party |
| 1992 | It Only Takes a Minute | Take That and Party |
| 1992 | I Found Heaven | Take That and Party |
| 1992 | A Million Love Songs | Take That and Party |
| 1992 | Could It Be Magic | Take That and Party |
| 1993 | Why Can't I Wake Up With You? | Everything Changes |
| 1993 | Pray | Everything Changes |
| 1993 | Relight My Fire | Everything Changes |
| 1994 | Babe | Everything Changes |
| 1994 | Everything Changes | Everything Changes |
| 1994 | Love Ain't Here Anymore | Everything Changes |
| 1994 | Love Ain't Here Anymore (US Version - US Only) | Everything Changes |
| 1994 | No Si Aquo No Hay Amor (Spain Only) | Everything Changes |
| 1994 | Sure | Nobody Else |
| 1995 | Back For Good | Nobody Else |
| 1995 | Today I've Lost You (Withdrawn) | Nobody Else (Removed) |
| 1995 | Every Guy (Promotional Only - Withdrawn) | Nobody Else |
| 1995 | Never Forget | Nobody Else |
| 1995 | Sunday To Saturday (Japan Only) | Nobody Else |
| 1996 | How Deep Is Your Love | Greatest Hits |
| 2005 | Relight My Fire - Element Remix (Withdrawn) | Never Forget - The Ultimate Collection |
| 2006 | Patience | Beautiful World |
| 2007 | Shine | Beautiful World |
| 2007 | I'd Wait For life | Beautiful World |
| 2007 | Reach Out (Germany Only) | Beautiful World |
| 2007 | Rule The World | Beautiful World |
| 2008 | Greatest Day | The Circus |
| 2009 | Up All Night | The Circus |
| 2009 | The Garden (Germany Only) | The Circus |
| 2009 | Said It All | The Circus |
| 2009 | Hold Up A Light (Promotional Only - Withdrawn) | The Circus |
