Although Mark Owen and Gary Barlow's personal lives are supposed to be off the agenda in favour of talking about Take That's latest block-busting tour, Mark's first sober tour, Julia Molony finds that the demons that stalk Take That are never far from the surface. But this boyband of family men have largely found a way to deal with it, by relentlessly taking the mickey
Gary Barlow and Mark Owen are holed up in a conference room of a west London office. And although they are surrounded by all of the promotional juggernaut that travels everywhere with Take That these days, it's a rather prosaic setting in which to face two legends of pop.
The office furniture and fax machines are a reminder that they are not just a band, but an industry. Samsung, sponsors of their upcoming tour, have just handed them brand new smartphones and, whether they are hamming it up for the press or have just genuinely retained their sense of wonder about free stuff, they seem as delighted as kids on Christmas morning.
Mark caricatures the promo ritual that underlies why they are here, lifting up the phone to his face at various moments, saying, "Samsung," with a cheesy, salesman's grin.
As salesmen go, without even trying, they are pretty damn good. After all, their reunion tour broke records, selling out in just two days.
"You've interviewed us before," says Mark, as I sit down at the boardroom table, prompting in me an involuntary hot flush of delight at being remembered. After all, this man was my first celebrity crush.
Gary Barlow wears his age well. He's in good shape, and lines suit his chiselled face. After all that weight gain, weight loss and struggling with his image, there's a seemingly unshakeable surety to him now. He also does a nice line in arch self-parody. "If the headlines are: 'There should be more Gary,' which I think they will be," he says dryly, as he and Mark chat about what they are expecting from their upcoming tour, "I think then we'll just address it and move on."
Taking the piss has, for all of them, become a bit of a default response to all the drama. After all, there's no shortage of issues between these five men, individually and together. There's Robbie Williams's drug past, and fallout with the rest of the band; Howard Donald has a super-injunction to his name and Gary, the steady family man has owned up to overeating, depression and a rather controlling side. Then there's Mark, previously unimpeachable, who last year went into rehab following the revelations that he'd cheated on his wife with at least 10 different women. He owned up to philandering and alcoholism, did the obligatory modern penance of rehab, and was eventually accepted back home. Only Jason Orange seems to have been relatively unafflicted by personal scandal.
In this interview, then, although the personal demons are officially off-limits, even the boys themselves find it tricky to steer around them. Take Mark, for example, talking about how he's grown up recently.
"I think all the dads in the band, we adore being fathers. It's amazing," he says. "For me, I was carrying shit around me all the time, and what's come with being older and being able to take time to look at things and just becoming aware of myself a bit more. It's like, 'Oh, I don't need to carry that shit no more. I can wash that bit off or get rid of that.'"
One can sense, perhaps, the echo of conversations he might have had with his therapist during his time in rehab.
"Now," Mark goes on, "whether that's because I hit a point where I had to do that, because now obviously I've got kids and I don't want to give them my shit."
He's not saying the words exactly, but it's quite clear what he's talking about.
"I don't want to do that to my kids, so it's important for me personally to address things," he continues. "So when I feel something going on in a room, I'm now a bit more aware to go, 'Oh, that's my crap. That's not actually anything to do with what's being said here or what's going on there, that's stuff I'm trying to deal with myself.' So it's just trying to become a bit more aware of things. You can think about it too much. You can not sleep for months because you think about it too much. But it's really exciting as well, because you actually go, that's funny. The world that you are in, half of it you make yourself, really. You paint your own world and shape your own world."
He's off, there seems to be no stopping him. Gary's looking nonplussed, although he, too, must be wondering where this is going.
"You think that's how the world has to be, but then you actually see it doesn't," Mark continues. "I can paint that wall, and wash that one. That can be yellow instead of black. Or white."
Just before he becomes completely opaque, Gary, with a touch of gallantry, steps in. "Listen," he says, with a mock-levelling look. "We're a funny bunch. Individually."
"Mad," says Mark, righting himself.
"We tickle each other," says Gary, taking me rather by surprise. Hold on a second. They tickle each other? What, actual tickling?
"No, no, no," says Gary, deadpan. "That's the after show. That's after the show, that one."
Mark: "That would be fun, wouldn't it?"
Gary: "I'll tell you about that later, off the record."
Mark: "We used to, didn't we?"
They're both laughing now, creasing up at the idea of Take That post-show tickling sessions.
"I'm feeling like I need a tickle, everyone," say Gary. "Will someone tickle me?"
"Hugs are massively in, though," says Mark, a bit serious again. "It's really nice. Hugs are good."
"Yeah, the hugs are good," Gary agrees.
"The scene is a bit more warm. It could just be the fact that it's been sunny," Mark adds.
They both admit there's a lingering sense of romance about the band's reunion, now that they are back as a five-piece after all the years of bad blood and acrimony. They are still in the honeymoon phase of things.
"The average love affair lasts 18 months," says Gary, clearly the authority on matters of the heart.
"We are like kids, really," says Mark. "Because I can sense, we're kind of all a little bit excited, aren't we? About life, and the tour. There's an excitement. But, we don't want to show that we're excited. Some days you wanna run home and go 'Yeeeeeaaaaaaaah, it's brilliant!'"
"You know what," Gary adds. "This, where we are, one in 10 million people get to do this job. Just get to do it. But at this level, where we're at, playing in stadiums every night, it's just like, I want it to slow down, because we're here, and we're doing it right now. And it's like, this feeling I get at the end of every tour where I go, 'I wonder if that's the last one. I wonder if no one will come and see us next time.' There's always that. And I just think, 'Wow, we're here, right before it now.' We've got to enjoy it. It's got to be thoroughly enjoyed."
It's not hard to see where that new sense that it's all finite comes from. After all, these guys have stretched out their boyband run to an unprecedented degree. They are on borrowed time.
Feverish speculation still surrounds the issue of Robbie Williams. Is he back to stay?
"I think the place that we are at now, I think Rob is looking at, he's going to be doing something himself, hopefully in the next year," says Mark. "He has it in him, he wants to do his own thing and it's a massive part of him. So I think he'll be looking at doing his own stuff. And I think with the band, well, me and Rob were laughing that it's like a revolving door, anybody can come on and come and go as they please."
"Except for me. It wouldn't be the same without me," adds Gary. Of course, Gary. Always the lynchpin. He likes the description. "Write that down." He's joking, sort of. But there's a degree to which he knows it's true.
So the band is a moveable feast these days, but this seems to be the first time Gary has heard about it: "Jesus, oh Christ, we're going to have everybody knocking on our door."
Does that mean anyone can join? And if so, can I?
"Girls as well?" Gary protests, dashing my hopes. "This is a boyband! We can't have girls."
Maybe Mark is a softer touch out of the pair of them. "We have to mix it up," he says.
It is probably quite a healthy technique they have developed. Laughing and joking their way through the issues. Let's just hope they keep their sense of humour during their six months on the road.
"I have actually thought," says Mark, "things seem to be going quite well and quite easy, but I think maybe because we're a bit more experienced with it. And because the communication is better between us. When we are together in a room, it's always easier. It's hard when everybody is all over the shop, but we know that if on Sunday it all does kick off, on Monday we can all get in a room and we can probably sort something. Maybe a bit of experience and trying to work into it what every wants."
It is, to be fair, about time they got to this point.
"We're five adults with families and wives," says Gary, suddenly matter-of-fact, "and it's about considering everyone else when you do something. When you are in a band -- I think this has been the thing as well for Rob to get his head around, when you do something, it affects everyone else. So that's important to just keep in your mind. In the same way that when you are a father and a husband, you do consider everyone else when you are about to do something. It's the same with the band."
Does going on tour become harder now that they are dads and husbands?
"This is my first sober tour," says Mark, "so I'm quite looking forward to that. It'll be a whole different thing for me. Obviously I was always sober when I was on stage . . ."
"I don't think you'll like it," Gary breaks in, kidding again.
"I'm quite looking forward to it really," Mark goes on, ignoring him. "Because I used to come off stage and drink a bottle of wine. That was not good, really. I was always OK the next day, because I drank a lot of wine for a long time, so I was able to handle it, but I'm looking forward to doing a sober one. And," he says, holding up his new handset, "playing with my new Samsung phone!"
With that, a reminder of the big commercial circus built around these new bonds between the boys intrudes soberly into the room. But the feeling of goodwill lingers.
"There will be one disappointment for me when we get to the end of this," says Gary. "I don't feel like I've seen anyone for ages. I need more time with the boys. We need to talk more. We talk about all sorts of things when we are together, us lot. I need more. I've hardly seen anyone. I think they've all been avoiding me."
L
Take That Progress Live Tour 2011 is presented by Samsung Mobile
Exclusive Take That content is currently available on Samsung's Galaxy S, Ace and Mini through O2 stores nationwide
See samsung.com/ie or facebook.com/samsungmobileireland to win Dublin concert tickets and an exclusive backstage meet and greet with the band
Fuente: Independent.ie
martes, 14 de junio de 2011
The Madness of Take That
domingo, 12 de junio de 2011
Kelly Rowland en el concierto de Take That
Parece ser que Kelly, compañera de Gary en X factor, ha asistido al concierto de los chicos (invitada por Gary?) y ha quedado bastante sorprendida con el espectáculo.
Esto es Lo que decia en su twitter:
"@KELLYROWLAND: At the Take That concert to support my fellow judge Gary... IM LOVIN IT!! They definitely are the UK's most amazing boy band!!! (Well, men)"
Acaso Lo dudaba?! ;)
Barlow picked the Olympics ahead of X Factor
It aimed to find a star to sing at the Games opening ceremony in London next year.
Chart-topper Gary, 40, was left disappointed when the show was vetoed by Olympics chiefs. It was only then that he agreed to become a judge on The X Factor's panel - pocketing a £1.5million pay packet.
Insiders said Gary was passionate about doing a show for the BBC because he is a big supporter of its public service credentials.
The series would have seen Gary auditioning wannabes from around the country to win a spot singing at the Olympic opening ceremony, which will be televised by the BBC and screened to billions around the world.
But sources said the show was shelved after Olympics chiefs said they would rather have big name stars perform at the showpiece event. An insider said: "Gary really wanted to do a show on the BBC as he believes in its public service mission.
"He loved the idea of finding an amazing unknown singer to appear at the opening ceremony in 2012.
"But Olympics chiefs made it known they wanted big name acts to perform instead and the show had to be pulled. It was only then that Gary turned to The X Factor and became the new Simon Cowell."
Gary has been a big hit on The X Factor auditions so far, giving no-nonsense advice to performers.
However, some acts have said he is too mean.
The heart-throb has said he is keen to help others get a career in music after the huge success he has enjoyed with Take That, who are currently performing to sell-out crowds on their nationwide tour.
He said: "I'm here to find the next generation of stars. There are so many youngsters out there with talent who need a platform like The X Factor to be noticed."
Take That Progressed Lyrics - Don't say goodbye
But if I’ve done my job
They won’t wanna mess with you
Finding some romances
A place where you exist
Live with your mother’ smile
But see you through daddy’s eyes
You might lose your dignity
But it’s not what it used to be
And don’t say goodbye to the world
Until you ‘ve loved somebody
Don’t say goodbye to the world
Until you’ve lived like kings and queens
I’ll be the first, the last thing that you see
But don’t say goodbye to me
Just listen to your heart
Not the voices in your head
Forget how it’d made you feel
But don’t forget what was said
Tears are words than we can touch
When words only say so much
Look out? what you’ve got
Then you’ll always have enough
You might lose your dignity
But look what its done for me
And don’t say goodbye to the world
Until you ‘ve loved somebody
Don’t say goodbye to the world
Until you’ve lived like kings and queens
I’ll be the first, the last thing that you see
But don’t say goodbye to me
And don’t say goodbye to the world
Until you ‘ve loved somebody
Don’t say goodbye to the world
Until you’ve lived like kings and queens
I’ll be the first, the last thing that you see
But don’t say goodbye to me
Take That Progressed Lyrics - MAN
Complicated
Fractious
Twisted
Ego
Solicituos
Dissaponited
Curious
Blind
Tortured
Alive
Patient
Addicted
Fragile
Foolish
Man
Give it up too much
Give it up
Be gracious
Be thankful
Give it up too much
Give it up
Be honest
Be kind
We’re waiting for the universe
We’re waiting for the light to lead the way
Creating what we can’t reverse
Nothing will ever be the same again
You had it all, you had it all
You lost control and let it go again
We’re waiting for the universe to end
You much too strong for me
And I can’t hold your hand like I used to
You much too hard for me
And I can’t change your heart like I used to
And all that’s let to say to you
It’s to smile when the lights are on
This never was enough for you
Now we both know where we belong
Give it up too much
Give it up
I’ve never given this much to another, no, not to another lover
Give it up too much
Give it up
I’ve never given so much, never given so much, so much
We’re waiting for the universe
We’re waiting for the light to lead the way
Creating what we can’t reverse
Nothing will ever be the same again
You had it all, you had it all
you lost control and let it go again
We’re waiting for the universe to end
Goodbye, good night my love
Goodbye my love
Man
Complicated
Fractious
Twisted
Addicted
Fragile
Man
We’re waiting for the universe
We’re waiting for the light to lead the way
Creating what we can’t reverse
Nothing will ever be the same again
You had it all, you had it all
you lost control and let it go again
We’re waiting for the universe to end
We’re waiting for the universe to end
TT (best) dance crew
El show de nuestros chicos es espectacular, pero en gran parte lo es gracias a lo bien que lo hacen todos sus bailarines. Aquí hay una foto de grupo (publicada por @Adrian_Gas en twitter)
Nuestra bandera ¡en el backstage!
Gracias a @Adrian Gas (TT dancer) por esta foto! Ha sido un subidón! Esperamos que la lleves contigo todo el tour y os de mucha suerte! Eso sí, cuéntanos cómo ha llegado ahí y quién la colgó!!
Este tour nos está dando grandes momentos a todas las que hacemos Blog For Good: primero Jason cogió nuestra bandera "progress" en el concierto de Manchester, luego Gary se llevó nuestras zapatillas tuneadas y ahora vemos nuestra bandera bien posicionada en el backstage.
sábado, 11 de junio de 2011
Blog For Good ¡ahora también en tu móvil!
jueves, 9 de junio de 2011
miércoles, 8 de junio de 2011
martes, 7 de junio de 2011
Howard Donald predicted stage prop trap
Take That star Howard Donald predicted he would get stuck inside the group's giant robot stage prop before it happened over the weekend.
Howard Donald predicted he would get stuck inside the Take That's giant robot stage prop.
The 'Love Love' singer and his bandmate Mark Owen were left stranded in the palms of the 30 metre robot torso and arms - nicknamed OM - as they performed at the City of Manchester stadium on their 'Progress Live' tour over the weekend and Howard said he feared it would happen from the star of the tour.
Bandmate Gary Barlow said: "With things like Om and the water in 'The Flood', you hope there's nothing too bad that can go wrong technically.
"It all worked out great in rehearsals but Howard was particularly worried we were going to be stuck there like lemons. He was right."
After getting stuck three metres from the ground, the singers had to be freed by roadies with ladders.
Gary also revealed the band - which also includes Robbie Williams and Jason Orange - are trying not to get too worried about playing eight shows at London's Wembley Stadium at the end of this month.
He added to the Daily Star newspaper: "It's a bit daunting if you think, 'Wow we're going to do Wembley eight times and play to 1.7 million people. I only look at what we're doing right now, like a football manager, taking one game at a time.
"The success of this tour is already amazing, more than any of us thought we could do. I always think, 'It can't get any bigger than this.'
"Maybe it won't, maybe this will be our biggest tour ever, but then I've always been proved wrong. It's best not to worry too much about that stuff to stop it overwhelming you."
Fuente: Contactmusic
Progress tour en la prensa
The Guardian
BBC news (incluye video)
Mirror
MTV UK
DailyMail
SkyNews (incluye video)
Prensa española
ABC (incluye video)
Excite España
Progress tour 2011 - First night review
Stunning first night of Take That
Progress tour features 60ft man
TAKE THAT kicked off their record-breaking new tour in spectacular style last night - promising fans "the best show in the world".
And going by the sound of 54,000 people screaming before, during and after the gig, the most popular band in the country have delivered the goods yet again.
ROBBIE WILLIAMS, 38, joined his old bandmates on stage for a full set for the first time in 15 years at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.
And the roar must have been heard for miles around when he took to the stage five songs into the first night of the sold out Progress Tour.
Choking back tears of pride, he said: "We have spent a lot of time and money on this show to make it the best in the world this year. And I'm very proud to be a part of it all again."
GARY BARLOW, 40, MARK OWEN, 38, JASON ORANGE, 40 and HOWARD DONALD, 42, set the bar extremely high two years ago with their epic Circus show.
Progress is not as good, folks... it is even better.
The last time they hit the road they had a gigantic mechanical elephant as the centrepiece of the production. And the lads have taken another step up in scale since then - introducing a giant 60ft mechanical man.
It is a staggering piece of kit, and a real symbol of the band's huge ambitions with this show.
The 1.75 million fans lucky enough to snap up a ticket to see them this summer are in for an incredible night.
No expense has been spared in the £15m production. It has everything - the greatest hits, a jaw-dropping set, amazing costumes, intricate choreography, stunning pyrotechnics and even a lesbian kiss for any reluctant husbands dragged along.
All the blokes who go along will be impressed by some of the death-defying stunts too. When I bumped into Gary afterwards, he joked: "Robbie has become the LEE MAJORS of this show. If any stunts need doing, dangling upside down or throwing himself from a great height - Rob's the man."
It's not often you see acrobats in wetsuits scaling an amazing wall of water the length and height of the stage. In fact, it's a world's first. You have to see it to believe it.
A total of 31 performers appear during the show with nine costume changes. The lads themselves have five different costumes including modified tracksuits lined with LEDs - "staying true to their northern roots" according to Mark afterwards.
A few eyebrows have been raised about how Robbie would slot into the set. When contracts were signed for the big comeback a deal was agreed for him to perform 40 minutes of solo material.
But his introduction with a handful of his greatest hits, including Let Me Entertain You, Feel and Angels, only added to the excitement of the occasion.
Robbie has talked about nerves and crippling stage fright, but as soon as he took to the stage, the old show pony came out. He was loving every minute.
All his trademark dance moves, cheek and charm were back on show.
He immediately won over any cynics with some warm words for the crowd, a gag about the dodgy weather and a brilliant ad-lib song about superinjunctions.
And he even poked fun at his own ego as he was pulled across the stage on a chariot by a gang of gorgeous, roller-skating dancers wearing tiny hotpants.
The loudest cheer of the night came when the band finally appeared on stage as a five-piece again.
It was a spine-tingling moment as they performed The Flood, their first single to hit the charts when they got back together.
For all the fans from the first time round, the medley of their biggest hits is priceless. Robbie and Gary doing the famous dance routine during Pray was a special moment - especially when an out-of-breath Gary asked Robbie to adjust his sports bra for him afterwards.
The dance off between Jason and Howard during recent single Kidz was seriously impressive for two men the wrong side of 40.
But the real beauty of the show is that all five members had their chance to shine in equal measure - with no-one stealing the show.
The encore was an emotional moment with an impromptu group hug - probably the first of many over the coming months.
Speaking in the dressing room after, Mark told The Sun: "It's a proud moment for us all getting up there again together. We forget because we have been hanging around so much together, but the fact that all five of us are up there again is a brilliant thing. We just can't wait to get out there for the next two months.
"Then who knows what will happen?"
It was a tall order improving on Circus, but the band have succeeded. You won't hear many complaints if they decided to do it all again in two years time.
It'll just be the noise of a stampede for more tickets.
ROBBIE ad-libbed a song about the biggest topic of the day - super-injuctions.
He poked fun at the rich and famous hiding behind gagging orders.
The crowd roared as he sang: "Loads of Mackems, loads of Geordies there could be a fight on opening night.
"I've just done some coke and I've sh***ed a wh*** that's what a super-injunction is for. Peter Reid has a monkey's heed, you could be a Mackem lass and p*** on the floor. It's opening night."
The tune was song Opening Night from musical The Producers.
TAKE THAT'S full line-up joined Robbie on stage as he performed his solo hit No Regrets - a song Rob wrote about his decision to quit the band back in 1995.
In the most poignant part of the show, he belted out the track with Mark, Howard, Jason and Gary.
It was the only time the other four sang on one of Rob's solo hits.
Since being reconciled with the band, he has frequently changed the line "I guess the love we once had is officially dead" to "I guess the love we once had is officially alive".
Fuente: The Sun
Barlow's bingo on tour
GARY BARLOW has been getting his balls out backstage on the huge TAKE THAT tour.
The singer hosts bingo nights to entertain the tour crew before and after gigs.
He's no novice either. Gaz knows all the bingo calls and puts on a decent show.
Gary said: "I used to be a bingo caller when I was first starting out.
"I used to love reading out the numbers. We have bingo nights backstage on the Take That tour to help everyone relax. We call it Barlow's Bingo."
Gary has a long-standing love of bingo and dug out his dabbers for the tenth anniversary of his wedding to wife Dawn last year.
He uses his own kit, which includes his own bingo machine, paper and dabbers and goes for it when he's doing his bingo calls - like the professionals.
The Take That star is a popular man with his crew and not just because of his evening entertainment.
He bought the 160 staff who have joined the band on the road a Samsung tablet computer each.
A source said: "Gary is a generous man and wanted to show his appreciation for all their hard work.
"It cost him a few bob but it was worth it after seeing the looks on the crew members' faces.
"He's well into his technology and has said he's on hand to help with any queries about using the device."
Yesterday Gary was on a break from the tour, filming a second day of auditions in Birmingham in his new role as an X Factor judge.
And he hadn't had to wait long to hear one of his own songs being performed by a contestant.
Gary said: "It was quite strange on day one to hear one of my songs - The Flood - being sung.
"But it's also very flattering and I guess I'll hear them sung in different ways and by different voices through the run."
Hopefully he won't be fed up with hearing them come the finals in December...
Fuente: The Sun
Actualización del blog de Robbie con fotos del "evento" aquí
Promoción de X-men: Entrevista a Gary, Howard y Jason
A familiar venue for star-studded film junkets, The Dorchester hotel has still never seen anything like the launch of X-Men: First Class. In a lavish suite on the first floor, Robbie Williams is patiently explaining to a journalist why his superhero alter-ego would be an invisible flying onanist with the name "Wankneto". Next door, Mark Owen is discussing how the country's biggest man-band came to soundtrack Matthew Vaughn's Sixties-set superhero prequel. Thankfully, GQ.com had an audience with the members who seemed most excited about the whole surreal enterprise: Gary Barlow, Jason Orange and Howard Donald. Here they discuss celluloid inspiration, Mad Men and what we can expect from the biggest pop tour of the year...
So which of you was most excited about appearing on an X-Men soundtrack?
Gary: That's me. I used to live next door to someone who had all the Marvel comics. We used to go into his bedroom and read them all. I've got a ten-year-old son who has never been interested in comics, but I thought it was a brilliant part of growing up - imagining the explosions in your head. I've always loved the X-Men movies and I'm quite into sci-fi actually. When the chance came up to do it, I more or less dragged everyone to the screening. They all loved it though.
Which film soundtracks do you admire?
Howard: I loved the original Tron. I've not seen the new one but I like Daft Punk.
Jason: The Chemical Brothers have just done the score for Hanna- I bet that's good.
Gary: Tedious link here, but we were most interested hearing the score for First Class. Matthew had originally said, "Think John Barry, think the Sixties," but we'd made this piece of music that was nothing like the Sixties - or John Barry! But then we went to see Henry Jackman, the guy who was doing the score, at Hans Zimmer's studios. We were dreading hearing all this Sixties stuff - but there was none of it. We knew it was going to be fine then. It's more synth-led then orchestral. We felt pretty safe handing it in knowing that the goal was it sounding futuristic.
Which character in the film did you think was the most stylish?
Gary: I thought January Jones [as Emma Frost] wore some lovely garments of clothing. Only about two? Well, they're the right two.
Jason: I thought Jason Flemyng [as Azrael] looked the dog's bollocks. He looked frightening! Intimidating!
GQ Style's Luke Day [the band's stylist] told me that you wore custom-made Mugler breastplates for the National Movie Awards. What do you think of Nicola Formchetti's work for the label?
Howard: I didn't even know I was wearing Mugler! I didn't want to wear [the breastplate] but for the video it looked absolutely brilliant. It worked a treat for First Class.
Gary: I've got to be honest, fashion is a bit wasted on me. Even when I wear it. Mark's more into the fashion - he'll cut things out of magazines and bring them in.
The First Class sequels are going to be set in the Seventies and Eighties respectively. Fancy soundtracking them as well?
Gary: Is that what they're doing? Sixties/Seventies/Eighties? Wow.
Jason: Clever that! But "Love Love" isn't Sixties - it's perfect for the Progressed album as well.
Were you at all disappointed that you didn't get the song into the strip club scene?
Gary: We wrote it for the end. Matthew said that to us that they were running our song after the line about Magneto.
Howard: We played the trailer for First Class on YouTube, turned down the music and pumped up "Love Love" and we thought it was great with everything that was going on: all the bombs, the missiles and the helmets. That Gnarls Barkley song works really well in the strip club.
Gary: It's the only way of working with pictures - they won't let anything out of the studio.
Jason: I know what you mean though - it's cheeky to have in your music in a classic film in a classic scene. That's a memorable scene in the sex club. I love the fact we've had "Back For Good" in The Office and "Never Forget" in Shameless - which are my favourite programmes.
What films did you used to watch on the bus when you first started touring?
Gary: Three In A Bed. Erm…
Jason: You talking porn? [laughs] That tells you how much Gaz watches porn - it tends to be a bit more explicit than a ménage à trois. That's a bit too polite.
Howard: Snow Sluts 3.
Not a patch on Snow Sluts 2. That's a classic.
Gary: There's no comparison. And no, I don't know who did the score... [laughs] What did we used to watch?
Jason: Robbie and Mark dominated the TV back in those days playing their silly little boy computer games.
Howard: I'm a big fan of Star Wars, me. With First Class it works better for me than when they made the Star Wars prequel with Jar Jar Binks.
Matthew Vaughn said he wanted Magneto to be " James Bond with superpowers". Fancy doing a Bond theme?
Jason: If we were asked we'd be flipping all over it!
Gary: Our fans did a petition for us to do Quantum Of Solace, the one Jack White did with Alicia Keys. His was great - one of the best. I know the guy who does the Bond music, David Arnold, and he said to me, "Will you tell all your fans to f*** off?" He had a thousand petition notes in his inbox and he was really annoyed. A Bond theme is a great one to do, isn't it? It's the ultimate.
Christopher Mintz-Plasse told me that when he went to Matthew Vaughn's house, he was seated next to Robert De Niro. Did any of you have a similarly awkward encounter?
Gary: To be honest, we've been to his house a couple of times because we did Stardust with him, but he's based in LA at the moment. I think he's still editing the movie tonight. We saw him out there and he was -
Howard: Stressed! And full of flu.
Jason: I can't see past Matthew's wife [Claudia Schiffer], never mind any other guest in the room. I'd be like, "Robert De Niro who?" [laughs]
Given the setting of First Class and the fact that it stars January Jones, are you big Mad Men fans?
Howard: Nope.
Gary: You've never seen it? You got to watch that. It's set in a similar era.
Howard: Is that the one with superpowers?
Gary: No, it's set in an advertising company in America. I'm a big Mad Men fan - so that's why getting involved with this is a double whammy.
Jason: Is it the birth of advertising? Is that the premise?
It's basically lots of people wandering around smoking cigarettes in great suits...
Gary: And drinking all day in the office. It's just amazing.
Jason: Mad in it? Clever.
The Pet Shop Boys are supporting you on tour. Has Neil Tennant given his verdict on the new song yet?
Jason: I went to watch a show that they did - a ballet - and I met them when they'd just signed up to do our tour. I was trying to say thanks and to show my gratitude but I was surprised how chuffed and excited they are. I know it's a coup for us. We're as grateful as anything.
Given that you've ridden an elephant into a stadium, would you say you're comfortable working with the surreal and the spectacular?
Howard: Yeah, we like a bit of that!
Gary: For a tour though, you do step into another world, becoming people's entertainment for the evening. It's got to be spectacular and fairytale-like. We seem to do it quite naturally now. This is a massive week for us. This will undoubtedly be our biggest tour ever. It has come all the way round to the beginning again - all five of us are going to be up there. It's just beautiful, really beautiful. I know we're going to remember it for the rest of our lives.
Fuente: GQ
Los chicos a la salida del hoTTel
Este año hay vallas, y mucha seguridad, pero es que también hay muchas fanS... El domingo que fuimos a verlos habría como más de 200 personas allí haciendo guardia. Los chicos muy majos, salieron y saludaron, pero no podían detenerse mucho más. El que más se entretuvo y estuvo hablando con nosotras fue Jason, Mark también un cielo, muy sonriente y saludando todo el rato, Robbie fue visto y no visto y Gary saludó un segundo y también se fue rápido. Al único que no logramos ver fue a Howard, pero es que era muy tarde y era raro que no hubiera salido aún, con lo cual, al final no supimos si estaba o no estaba en el hotel.
El Blog al compleTTo
La "otra" parte del blog también estuvo presente en el concierto del 4 de junio, EN PRIMERÍSIMA FILA! Jason nos vio las banderas y enseguida nos saludó. ¡Mark y Robbie nos dieron la mano! 
Y al final del concierto, ¡conseguimos una foTTo de familia!
lunes, 6 de junio de 2011
domingo, 5 de junio de 2011
Gary took our trainers!
Yesterday Jason took our painted flag. Today Gary took our customized trainers! We can tell that he liked them by his face! He even showed them to Howard!
Gary, if you read the card and visit this blog, thanks a lot for an amazing night! We hope you enjoy your new trainers :)
We love you!
Enviado desde mi BlackBerry® de Vodafone
viernes, 3 de junio de 2011
Thank you Jason!
Thanks for taking and keeping our Spanish flag! We had an amazing night! Best show ever!
We love you all! xxx
Enviado desde mi BlackBerry® de Vodafone
viernes, 27 de mayo de 2011
Take That to go backpacking after Progress Tour
SIX weeks touring round Britain isn’t enough for Take That – because then they’re all going on HOLIDAY together.
I can reveal that the fivesome – reunited for the first time in 15 years for their forthcoming sell-out tour – will be strapping on their backpacks after their last UK gig for a well-earned break in Europe.
A car is whisking Robbie Williams, Howard Donald, Mark Owen, Gary Barlow and Jason Orange straight to the airport after their final Wembley gig on July 9.
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And if they’re not all sick of the sight of each other by then, they will head off on a sightseeing trek round Italy, Denmark, Holland and Germany, fitting in the last few European gigs along the way.
A source said: “It will be the first time the lads have all gone away together properly in 15 years.
“They are really excited. They want to get a chance to have a look around places that they never actually got to soak up properly first time round.
“When they were touring in the early 1990s they were just in and out of all these beautiful countries.
“But this time they are scheduling time to relax, lap up the cultures and food and visit undiscovered places.” I revealed that Take That spent last winter in the Caribbean after being snapped up to perform for Universal bosses on New Year’s Eve.
Robbie could not make it due to family commitments, spending Christmas at his LA pad with his better half, Ayda Field.
But this time the manband will be bunking up together on hols. No excuses.
They will have earned a break by then after their gruelling tour of UK and Ireland, which kicks off at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light tomorrow night.
I’m told: “Hundreds of fans have already started camping outside The Stadium of Light to bag the best spots closest to the stage. It’s like Beatle-mania all over again.”The Progress Live tour will be a family affair this time, as Take That are bringing their wives and children along with them.
I’m told: “All the families are coming to support so the guys have made sure it will be like a playground backstage for the kids.
“They will have the whole area to themselves – the size of Brixton Academy.
“The monster shows will be something else – around 22 tons of electrical cable will be used for every gig and it takes 48 hours just to build the stage.”
Let’s hope the roadies get a holiday too
Fuente: Mirror
'No Nerves' For Take That As Tour Kicks Off
Boy band JLS say they are convinced Take That will have no problems living up to the hype surrounding their first tour with Robbie Williams since he rejoined the band.
Speculation has been intense over what the five-piece have planned for their Progress Tour which kicks off tonight at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.
Robbie Williams has been plagued with stage fright in recent years but JLS, who were talking at the premiere of their own concert movie, said he had shown no signs of nerves when they met up with him in LA last month.
"At the end of the day it started with the five of them and it's nice five of them have totally come back together to do this. You can never beat the original line up of Take That.
"We saw Robbie while we were in LA and he was saying that he's so excited to go back on tour with the boys," said Oritse Williams.
He added, "For us it's amazing to see a band like that as it has had so much success.
"It dispels the myth that boybands are short term and that you can have longevity."
Bandmate Aston Merrygold told Sky News: "Our hats go off to them and we aspire to be like them. I hope we're still around in 10 years."
Take That are expected on stage at 8.30pm at the Stadium of Light for their first full concert with Robbie Williams since he last toured with them in 1995.
Fans started queuing at the football ground from Thursday morning amid massive speculation over just how the band will top their last tour as a four-piece, The Circus, in 2009.
That show was so spectacular many fans questioned if the band needed Robbie to rejoin.
It was the fastest-selling in UK history and its highlights included a huge mechanical elephant, acrobats, enormous pyrotechnics and Gary Barlow peddling a go-kart.
But its sales figures have been dwarfed by the demand to see the five-piece on this year's Progress Tour.
The band will perform to more than 1.75m people over 29 shows in the UK and Ireland alone.
Their run of eight nights at Wembley Stadium has broken the record of consecutive shows set by Michael Jackson's Bad Tour.
The band has revealed little about the theme of the Progress shows other than that the scale of theatrics will be huge.
Rehearsals for the tour have taken place in a hangar in RAF Cardington in Bedfordshire in recent weeks.
Fuente: Sky News
martes, 24 de mayo de 2011
Take That make tour Progress
THERE won't be much room for TAKE THAT to have a kickabout backstage.
With only three days until their Progress tour gets under way, everyone is running around making final checks to ensure everything is in working order.
It sounds like GARY BARLOW, ROBBIE WILLIAMS, MARK OWEN, JASON ORANGE and HOWARD DONALD should give their production designer CHRIS VAUGHAN a wide berth anyway.
Last-minute tinkering from the band has left him in need of a stiff drink. He said: "I am numb from worry. If I stopped to think about it I'd be on a plane to Rio.
"We're desperately trying to make everything the band wanted to happen, happen. It is stressful, honing set design, people changing their minds and the show being tweaked some."
The shows have cost more than £15million to stage and are twice the scale of The Circus gigs, so it's no wonder he is anxious.
Kicking off in Sunderland on Friday, the boys will play 36 dates before finishing up in Germany on July 29.
There are 275 technicians and crew on board to make sure the gigs go off without a hitch, plus a whopping 110 trucks to ferry equipment around.
The roadies will have earned themselves more than a few pints once it's all over.
Fuente: The Sun
Take That's Jason Orange: 'I love single life'
Take That star Jason Orange has admitted that he enjoys being the only single member of the group.
Speaking ahead of the launch of the Progress Live tour later this week, the 40-year-old singer insisted that he has no interest in settling down.
"I have no problem with being single. In fact, I love it," Orange told the Daily Star. "The other lads have to go home early as they are with their partners and some of them have children.
"But I enjoy being single and being able to go out partying. I don't want to settle down just yet."
However, his bandmate Mark Owen confessed that he is adjusting to avoiding alcohol following time in rehab last year.
"I'm enjoying not drinking," he said. "It is fine by me. It does seem strange not drinking at parties but I am doing all right now."
Take That will release Progressed, a repackaged version of their chart-topping album, on July 13.
Fuente: DigitalSpy
lunes, 23 de mayo de 2011
Mark Owen's big Take That tour panic
MARK OWEN's been getting through more pants than usual - as nerves kick in ahead of TAKE THAT's Progress tour.
The band will play the first of 36 sell-out stadium shows this Friday.
Mark admitted: "A few weeks ago I had a pre-tour panic, a bit of a meltdown, which I went through for a couple of days.
"Not much sleep, but I came through the other end and I've been all right since.
"But we're confident with it now and I think the show's going to be brilliant."
You can't blame him for getting jittery - this is the biggest-selling UK tour ever.
The first show is at Sunderland's Stadium of Light, where Mark, GARY BARLOW, ROBBIE WILLIAMS, HOWARD DONALD and JASON ORANGE will do four dates.
Then they play the City Of Manchester Stadium, Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, Hampden Park in Glasgow and Villa Park in Birmingham.
The UK dates climax with a record-breaking eight-night run at London's Wembley Stadium, from June 30.
The concerts, which also take in Dublin and six other European cities, will be the first with Robbie since he quit in 1995. It sounds like he can't wait to make up for lost time.
Mark said: "We're having to hold him back. Rob says, 'Come on guys, let's get on with it'.
"We've all got enthusiasm to do a great show and that's what we've always prided ourselves on."
Mark hinted that has led to the odd spat during rehearsals, being held in an aircraft hangar north of the capital.
Speaking to Music Week magazine, he added: "There are certain members of us who push the theatrics more than the others and it's trying to find that happy medium where everybody's comfortable.
"We're like kids really. We're all a bit excited about life and the tour and I'm really proud of what we've achieved. I hope everyone enjoys it."
The band's 2009 Circus tour was truly spectacular.
The lads rode a giant mechanical elephant alongside acrobats and clowns in what must be one of the greatest stadium shows ever performed on these shores.
But their new tour should be more than a match.
We'll find out on Friday...
Fuente: The Sun
jueves, 19 de mayo de 2011
Take That - 'Progressed'
The new album featuring eight new songs will be released as a package alongside TT's record-breaking album 'Progress', which will be available on a seperate disc of this two CD set.
The band's new single 'Love Love' will also feature on the album. Read on below for the complete tracklisting:
Disc 1
When We Were Young
Man
Love Love
The Day The Work Is Done
Beautiful
Don't Say Goodbye
Aliens
Wonderful World
Disc 2
Featuring all tracks from the original Progress album
Stay tuned to takethat.com to find out how you can get hold of your copy, soon
miércoles, 11 de mayo de 2011
Love Love lyrics
You bring me right back down to the Earth from the Promised Land
We're getting close to the centre of the Earth with an honest plan
You're never be your Mother or your Father, do you understand?
Do you understand?
We don't have too much time here
And time it travels far too fast
We're not too far we're too near
Before they take it from our hands
Why don't you teach your heart to feel and give you love love
Give you love love give it all away
Why don't you teach your heart to talk and give you love love
Give you love love, give me give me what I need
We'll take it right back down to the Earth from the Wonderland
This is a first class journey from the Gods to the son of man
You're at the gates of human evolution don't you understand?
Why don't you understand?
We don't have too much time here
And time it travels far too fast
We're not too far we're too near
Before they take it from our hands
Why don't you teach your heart to feel and give you love love
Give you love love give it all away
Why don't you teach your heart to talk and give you love love
Give you love love, give it all away
Why don't you teach your heart to feel and give you love love
Give you love love give it all away
Why don't you take your heart to talk and give you love love
Give you love love, give me give me what I need
We don't have too much time here
And time it travels far too fast
We're not too far we're too near
Before they teach it from our hands
Gracias a / Thanks to Tawaisha ;)
Take That: Love Love, nueva canción completa. Banda sonora X Men Primera Generación
Después de escuchar un adelanto el día de ayer, por fin hoy podemos descubrir cómo suena Love Love, un nuevo tema de Take That. Esta curiosidad viene motivada porque se trata de uno de los temas que formarán parte de la banda sonora de X Men First Class o X Men Primera Generación, en su versión española y que podremos ver en cines desde el próximo 3 de junio.
Ya hace días que se confirmó que la reunión entre Gary Barlow y el director del film Matthew Vaughn dio sus frutos. De los temas que llevó Barlow a aquella reunión con el director estadounidense, el que más le llamó fue este Love Love. Se comenta que no les llevó mucho tiempo entenderse, quizá porque mantienen buenas relaciones después de que incluyesen aquel Rule The World en Stardust, el film fantástico de Vaughn del 2007.
No sé si es porque todavía tenemos en la retina Kidz, pero me recuerda mucho al segundo single de Progress. A pesar de ello pienso que los aires militares, sonidos electropop y un ramalazo claro a Muse de este tema pueden congeniar con esta precuela de la saga X Men que, en esta ocasión, está protagonizada por James McAvoy y Michael Fassbender. Si os motiva no tendréis que esperar mucho para haceros con el tema ya que desde hoy mismo está a la venta en iTunes.
Fuente: Topmusicablog
sábado, 7 de mayo de 2011
Take That's Gary Barlow 'definitely' replacing Simon Cowell on 'The X Factor'
Take That's Gary Barlow has reportedly finalised a deal to replace Simon Cowell on the UK's X Factor.
The singer is now "a definite" to appear on the next series of the show after Cowell quit last month, according to The Sun.
A 'source' apparently said: "Gary is now a definite. Gary knows the business inside and out. If anyone could replace Simon, it's him."
Meanwhile, the newspaper has also claimed that Destiny's Child singer is in talks to replace Cheryl Cole, who is following Cowell across the Atlantic to appear as a judge on the US version of the show.
Last month, tabloid sources claimed that Cowell quit the UK version of the show after his family expressed health concerns over his hectic schedule.
Nicole Scherzinger and Lily Allen have both been touted for positions on the judging panel in recent months. However, Allen dampened rumours about her involvement last month, claiming that no one has yet got in touch with her to discuss the role.
Fuente: NME
Follow that bike!
MARK OWEN must want to join the ROBBIE WILLIAMS and GARY BARLOW slimming battle.
The singer didn't get a car with the rest of TAKE THAT, instead riding his nan's bike to rehearsals. But where was his skid lid?
Mark, Gary, Robbie, HOWARD DONALD and JASON ORANGE were at The Arc in London's Wandsworth to practice for the Progress tour.
What they are planning is so top secret that workers were banned from using camera phones. But fans clocked them coming and going, with one grabbing Howard for a pic.
The 27-date UK tour sold out in moments. No pressure then...
Fuente: The Sun
viernes, 6 de mayo de 2011
jueves, 5 de mayo de 2011
Take That too talented
GARY BARLOW reckons there is too much talent in TAKE THAT now ROBBIE WILLIAMS is back.
He said: "The band is different with Robbie. We work in a different way. What we have now is too much talent in the room."
Talking about Robbie, MARK OWEN, JASON ORANGE and HOWARD DONALD, he adds: "When Take That are a four, Mark and myself are the leading songwriters. Jay joins in on the lyrics and Howard starts with the melodies.
"Now you add Robbie and he and Mark are doing the same job - and I can do what they do too.
"You have three people writing. It's a jigsaw."
A lucrative jigsaw.
Fuente: The Sun
lunes, 2 de mayo de 2011
TAKE THAT Exclusive Performance Of Their New X-Men Single!
One of the most successful British bands of all time Take That, will wow viewers of next week's National Movie Awards with a world-first performance of Love Love, their new single taken from upcoming X-Men blockbuster, X Men:First Class. Performing to a LIVE audience of movie stars and industry A-listers, Gary, Howard, Jason, Mark and Robbie will take centre stage for an exclusive, one-off rendition of the movie single at the glittering awards ceremony filmed from London's Wembley Arena for ITV1.
Directed by Matthew Vaughn, X Men:First Class is one of the movies in contention at this year's L'Oreal Paris National Movie Awards, featuring in the Must See Movie of the Summer category.
Fuente: NMA
viernes, 29 de abril de 2011
Take That hace otro tema para una película: X-Men
Take That are the X-man band
THE main similarity TAKE THAT share with superheroes is a history of wearing tight pants over shiny leggings.
But now the manband have the chance to display their superpowers in new film X Men: First Class.
Director MATTHEW VAUGHN handpicked the group's new track Love Love as the film's end credits after GARY BARLOW played it to him over dinner.
A source said: "Matthew invited Gary over to his house and asked him to bring some tracks he thought were suitable for the film. He instantly took a liking to Love Love and felt it summed up the tone of the movie.
"Gary was chuffed as it means a global audience will hear the record."
The pals have an impressive record together. For Matthew's 2007 film Stardust, Gary offered up Rule The World.
Take That must also be chuffed about featuring in a comic book movie. It's not quite Roy Of The Rovers or Viz but X-Men isn't a bad one to hook up with.
Gary would make a good Professor X and, with a nod to his body hair, ROBBIE WILLIAMS is perfect for Wolverine.
HOWARD DONALD is often DJ-ing into the early hours so he could be the Nightcrawler. And because ice goes well with Orange, JASON has to be Iceman.
That leaves MARK OWEN as Pyro - he's got loads of old flames.
Take That fans will be able to buy the single once the film has been released this June. It's also bound to feature on their Progress Tour, which kicks off at the end of May.
The lads are locked away in a studio rehearsing for the record-breaking shows.
Gary and Rob are still battling it out to see who can lose the most weight before the first gig in Sunderland.
They must be hitting the gym hard.
Neither will want to look like they've got tree trunks hidden down those leggings.
Fuente: The Sun
jueves, 28 de abril de 2011
Take That! Jason Orange's bargain eBay Merc
Hidden away on eBay is a Mercedes CLK55 AMG, owned for five years by Jason Orange of Take That.
A 2000X with 90,000 miles and full history, this is a hugely fast car and silly value at its classified ad price of – £6,490. At this money you should Take That...
Fuente: Mirror
Y por si a alguien le interesa, aquí tiene el anuncio con los detalles: Anuncio eBay
miércoles, 27 de abril de 2011
Take That's Gary Barlow Solves Madame Tussauds Waxwork Mystery
Take That singer Gary Barlow has revealed that his original Madame Tussauds waxwork was never melted down to be used for another figure as initially thought.
In his 2006 autobiography, My Take, the singer wrote that his waxwork had been used to create a Britney Spears model after the band's demise.
"Why only Britney? They could have made all three of Destiny's Child,” he jokingly wrote in the book.
But Barlow has now revealed that the waxwork was actually put in storage – and has since returned following Take That's successful comeback.
"What annoyed me more was that when Take That came back and were successful again, my waxwork suddenly reappeared out of nowhere, yet slightly aged,” he told The Sun.
“They obviously keep them in storage. I don't know which is worse."
Take That are due to kick off their huge UK Progress tour next month, which will feature Robbie Williams.
Fuente: Gigwise
Foto: Flickr
martes, 26 de abril de 2011
Howard pinchará en Ibiza este verano
TAKE THAT are busy rehearsing for their record-breaking tour - but at least one member is also looking ahead to after the stadium shows.
HOWARD DONALD has booked in huge gigs DJing in Ibiza this summer after getting the call from dance don JUDGE JULES.
Manning the decks will certainly give Howard's aching limbs a break.
Howard - most famous for his slick dance moves and vocals on Never Forget - will spin house music at superclub Eden just three weeks after the band's last Progress Live date in Munich.
His Judgement Sundays bookings, starting on August 21, put him up there among big-name DJs such as MARCO V, EDDIE HALLIWELL, FERRY CORSTEN and Judge Jules himself.
So far Howard has two nights lined up at Eden's room 2 but is likely to be looking around for other bookings on the White Isle.
A source says: "Howard's been DJing for years now after taking it up when he was in the wilderness after the group's split in 1996.
"At first he wasn't taken very seriously but now he's well respected.
"He's focused on the tour right now but is also excited about these DJ dates.
"To get the call from Judge Jules is a big deal.
"He'll be playing alongside huge names from house and techno but it will certainly be a different story to live shows with his group."
Howard, often known as DJ HD, will switch from playing 80,000-seat stadiums with huge production and screaming fans to a sweaty room with a bassy PA system and bongoed blokes with their tops off.
Bandmates JASON ORANGE, GARY BARLOW, ROBBIE WILLIAMS and MARK OWEN are already fans of Howard's dance production, which he works on alongside the DJing.
On their last Take That tour they played one of his remixes during the show.
With their latest album Progress being more dance-influenced than ever, you can bet Howard will try to slip some TT remixes into his DJ sets too.
Hardcore clubbers will be mortified if they ever work out what they are raving to.
Fuente: The Sun
jueves, 14 de abril de 2011
We’re an old boyband
IT'S hard to imagine TAKE THAT have much to be insecure about.
But GARY BARLOW has found his bandmates' Achilles heel - the signs of old age.
The cheeky singer, who hit 40 three months ago, has been upsetting the elder statesmen, HOWARD DONALD - who is 43 in a fortnight - and JASON ORANGE, 40, by ribbing them about getting on a bit.
Howard said: "I am very sensitive about my age. Gary will make jokes that I'm 46 or 47 and it really p***** me off. I feel like I'm still fit enough to go on, I don't feel my age."
The lads might be fitter than most 30-year-olds but they are showing some signs of wear and tear. Howard ended up in hospital four years ago after his lung collapsed when he tried the splits during a gig in Milan.
These days there must be a lot of Deep Heat knocking around back-stage. 
Even young 'un MARK OWEN is getting nervy about the length of the hair in his lughole.
Mark, 39, said: "I'm pleased we have got this far through our lives - almost halfway hopefully, that's quite an achievement."
If KEITH RICHARDS has made it to the ripe old age of 67, there's more than a whisker's chance this lot will one day collect their bus passes.
Troublemaker Gary seems to be the only star happy to be approaching middle age. He said: "People still find it hard to believe I'm 40.
"Actually I'm not bothered about age. I'm really happy and it's lovely to be 40, I'd recommend it to anyone. Music is a young person's industry but you want a few of the older bands like us around.
"We don't have a plan for how long it is going to last."
Work has started on getting match fit for the epic Progress tour, kicking off on May 30.
Perhaps the eye-catching cover of the album should look more like the version on the left.
More than £15million has been spent on the set for the gigs and the lads are competing to see who'll be the fittest.
Gary and 37-year-old ROBBIE WILLIAMS even have money riding on who can lose the most timber.
One thing is for sure - the interest in the manband won't be shrinking any time soon, unlike some other appendages.
Fuente: The Sun
miércoles, 13 de abril de 2011
Arctic Monkeys frontman apologises for Take That slurs
With Take That tickets for their upcoming UK tour in high demand, Alex Turner has apologised for disparaging remarks he made about the group several years ago.
The Arctic Monkeys frontman referred to the reformed boyband as “a load of old b*****ks” back in 2006.
But, speaking to NME, he has now admitted his comments were misjudged.
“We love Gary Barlow," said the Sheffield-born rock star.
"I think I really offended him a few years ago though, which I'm sorry about. I didn't understand it then. Didn't know what was going on, trying to ruffle some feathers."
Take That have enjoyed phenomenal success since reforming in 2006.
Last year saw Robbie Williams rejoin the band and Take That subsequently announced their first tour as a five-piece in 16 years.
The tour gets underway at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on May 27th, with support coming from the Pet Shop Boys.
Fuente: Viagogo
Mark Owen Donates Take That Tickets To Charity Auction
Take That star Mark Owen is boosting a drive to raise $2.4 million (£1.5 million) for a special school near his home by donating 10 executive concert tickets to its charity auction.
The British singer is a patron of The Rainbow Charity, which runs an educational establishment for autistic children in south west London.
Organisers are striving to raise funds so they can provide lessons for even more needy children - and the Shine singer was happy to help out by donating five pairs of tickets for Take That's upcoming sold-out show at London's Wembley Stadium in July (11).
A statement on the charity's official website reads, "Our patron, Mark Owen has kindly donated us 5 pairs of executive tickets from the band's personal ticket allocation, for the Sold Out Take That Progress Live 2011 gig at Wembley on Tuesday 5th July 2011.
"The tickets are for executive seats - not widely available to the general public - so snap up this golden opportunity to watch the gig from the comfort of the best seats in the house and place your bids!!"
The tickets will go up for auction on eBay.com on 30 May (11).
Fuente: Contactmusic
Take That hit the creche barrier
THE TAKE THAT tour bus will have a bigger creche than groupie enclosure when the Progress Tour hits the road next month.
Back in the day GARY BARLOW, MARK OWEN, HOWARD DONALD, JASON ORANGE and ROBBIE WILLIAMS made the most of their celebrity status and did serious damage with their female fanbase.
But Rob, who rejoined the band last year, has now joked about how the groupie count is not what it was.
He said: "To make the entourage bigger now, I would have to have sex - but I am married."
In the manband's heyday Robbie probably rattled up the most notches on the bedpost.
But Gary, Mark and Howard are all married with kids now, leaving Jason as the only one working his magic on the ladies with his effeminate Manc charms.
Now that Robbie has also settled down with AYDA FIELD, the tour will be a far more civilised affair.
Speaking about his marriage, Robbie said: "We have a great relationship and never fall out.
"We stay in an awful lot. It helps me drop my shoulders and relax a bit."
They must have more than one remote control in their household then.
Fuente: The Sun
lunes, 4 de abril de 2011
Teloneros de Progress Live 2011: Pet Shop Boys!
Take That's Progress Live 2011 Tour kicks off towards the end of next month and, just when we thought we couldn't take any more excitement, the most successful duo in UK music history have been announced as very special guests for the 37-date extravaganza…
Pet Shop Boys, who Robbie collaborated with on his single She's Madonna and Rudebox album track We're The Pet Shop Boys, will be joining Take That on tour and, needless to say, Robbie is delighted: “I’m a huge Pet Shop Boys fan so for me it will be an absolute joy to be able to watch them every night.”
Speaking of the recent announcement, Pet Shop Boys said: "We are delighted to accept Take That’s invitation to be part of their Progress show and tour which is undoubtedly going to be one of the most exciting events of 2011. We look forward to every night being a huge celebration of pop music.”
They'll be warming up the crowds with a 40-minute set which will include highlights of their recent Pandemonium tour and was designed by Es Devlin, who is also part of the creative team working on the Progress Live 2011 tour.
The duo have sold over 50 million records and scooped seven platinum, two gold and four silver albums in the UK alone. In 2009 they picked up the BRITs' Outstanding Contribution To Music award, an accolade Robbie himself picked up the following year in 2010.
“Pet Shop Boys was the first CD I ever bought” said Gary. “I've followed their whole career and always loved their unique approach to records and live performance. That combined with two lovely people means we’re in for a great tour.” Jason added, “I’m flattered and very happy they’ve agreed to do it. They’re so talented; I thought they’d be above it and us.”
Roll on May 27th, we can't wait!
Fuente: Robbie Williams