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take
that - the boys in the band |
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Gary
Barlow was born on the 20th January 1971 in Frodsham,
Cheshire (just outside of Manchester). The first school he
attended was Weaver Vale in Frodsham and then Frodsham High
School. From his education Gary
achieved 6 O levels, being more interested in music than exams.
He began working as a musician from a very early age working
in the Connah’s Quay Labour Club in Frodsham on a Saturday
night. He did this for a few years until he met a girl called
Heather who he went around singing with for two years. |
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When
Gary was fifteen he
began to write his own music in the form of ballads. He entered
a competition for the BBC Pebble Mill competition called ‘A
Song For Christmas’, finishing runner up in the competition,
but it allowed him to become friends with a man called Bob
Howes who later introduced him to Rod Argent who Gary
wrote to for advice about his songs. As part of the prize
for being a runner up in the competition Gary
was invited to 10cc's Strawberry
Studios, a recording studios in Manchester. Here he met Mark
Owen and the rest is history.
Gary
did go on to have his own, albeit short, solo career after
Take That split, topping the album charts with 'Open Road'
and the single charts with 'Forever Love' and 'Love Won't
Wait'. The singles 'So Help Me Girl' (No.11), and 'Open Road'
(No.7) also scored him Top 20 success in 1997. By 1999 though,
unlike Robbie Williams,
Gary Barlow was an unwanted
man by the cruel London-based media - and his excellent 'Twelve
Months, Eleven Days' album received very little attention,
and subsequently only just broke into the Top 40 (UK No.35).
The singles, 'Stronger' (No.16) and 'For All That You Want'
(No.24) also flopped. His management didn't help matters though
- bullying many unofficial web fansites into closure. Not
only had he lost many fans, he'd also managed to upset the
one's he did have left. Gary
seemed to give up bitterly - not that the Robbie-loving
media were interested.
Gary also has a ‘Gary Junior’
called Daniel who was born on the 16th August 2000 and a little
girl named Emily who was born in 2002. He is currently enjoying
spending time with his family and writing and producing for
other artists including Donny Osmond and Gloria Estefan, as
well as putting together a new boy band to produce. He has
no plans to release any albums of his own unfortunately. |
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Mark
Owen was born on the 27th January 1972 in Oldham,
Greater Manchester (as you may be able to tell from the accent!)
Mark was renowned for
being the sweetheart in Take That, with his cute boyish looks
and droopy hairstyle. For these reasons (believe it or not)
he was often nominated at award ceremonies for sexiest male
and best haircut. He was also probably the most popular of
the lads at the time, having the largest fan base.. |
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For
most of his life, Mark
grew up living in a cosy council house, similar to those featured
in Coronation Street. He
attended St. Augustine’s High School, but spent most
of his time playing football and impersonating Elvis. However,
despite this he still managed to gain 6 GCSE’s. He left
school at 16 and had trials with another very famous Manchester
established group, Manchester
United. Unfortunately he sustained an injury and was unable
to continue. For some unknown reason, he actually supports
Liverpool FC (normally blaspheme in Manchester!).
Mark
met Gary Barlow whilst
he was working at 10cc's Strawberry
studios, where they formed The Cutest Rush, which later turned
into Take That.
After the split of Take That Mark
released the album, ‘Green Man’ in 1996. Whilst
it only reached Number 33 in the UK charts, it did spawn three
singles, including the top 3 hits, 'Clementine' and Child'.
In 2002, Mark
regained the public's attention and admiration by successfully
winning Celebrity Big Brother. He currently lives in the Lake
District and is working on a new album you may be pleased
to hear. |
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Jason Orange
was born on the 17th July 1970 in Wythenshawe, Manchester.
He worked as a painter and decorator before making his break
in Take That. He enjoyed dancing and formed a group with Howard
Donald called Street Beat which featured the two break dancing.
They visited Nigel Martin-Smith and the rest is history. |
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After
leaving Take That Jason pursued a career in acting and got a
part in Killer Net, a drama by Lynda LaPlante which featured
him as a drug dealer. In 1999, he secured a role in the theatre
in a play called ‘Gob’ which was on at the King’s
Head Theatre in London. H e has since spent his time back packing
around the world and relaxing, and is set to star in a new fil,
'Lullaby in Clubland'. |
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Howard Donald
was born on the 28th April 1968 in Manchester. He's currently
living in Ramsbottom, Bury, and working as a DJ. He also has
a little girl called Grace. |
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Robbie
Williams was born Robert Peter Williams on the
13th February 1974 in Stoke On Trent (the only Take That member
who is not a full Manc). He attended St. Margaret Ward School
in Stoke but was more interested in being the class joker,
singing and acting. He was also interested in football and
supports Port Vale FC. Before Robbie
joined Take That he joined a local theatre group and starred
in various musicals including Oliver Twist. His first job
was working as a double-glazing sales man but all he wanted
to do was become famous. |
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Robbie
joined Take That when he was just 16 all thanks to his mum.
She saw the adverts for the audition and decided that he should
apply, driving him up to Manchester. As soon as he entered
the studios he was picked and Take That was complete.
Robbie
found the rules of the band hard and sought to taking drugs
and drowning his sorrows in alcohol. He left Take That on
the 17th July 1995 and six months later the band decided to
split. On June 27th 1996 he announced that his contract was
ending with BMI and he was signing to a new record label ‘Chrysalis
Records’.
Robbie
released his first solo single on 29th July 1996 called ‘Freedom’.
The track reached number 2 in the charts and he was all set
for a solo career. After a full year of partying Robbie
decided that he was going to make a go off his career and
released another single on the 14th April 1997 called ‘Old
Before I Die’ which also got to number 2. His next singles
also charted highly, 'Lazy Days' reached Number 8 in July
1997, whilst 'South Of The Border' hit Number 14 heralding
the album 'Life Thru A Lens' which went into the charts at
Number 11.
Robbie’s
career really took off though with the release of the single
‘Angels’, which reached Number 4 in December 1997
encouraging sales of ‘Life Thru A lens’ to push
it back up the charts to Number 1. By now Robbie
was hot property and his sex life, drug and alcohol problems,
and constant swipes at Gary
Barlow and Nigel Martin-Smith made him daily front page
news.
His next four albums have all topped
the charts, 'I've Been Expecting You' (1998), 'Sing When You're
Winning' (2000), the jazz swing cover album 'Swing When You're
Winning' (2001), and 'Escapology' (2002) all spawning many
hit singles, including five number 1's.
Moving back to Manchester from London
(check out the brilliant track 'Knutsford City Limits', Robbie's
since relocated to Los Angeles in 2002 after signing a groundbreaking
deal for £80 million with EMI proving he's come a long
way since his Take That days!
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