ARTICLES - GARY BARLOW Clive James Show, UK, 27th April 97

CLIVE JAMES INTERVIEW

Clive James Show, UK, 27th April 97

C.J.: Gary Barlow. (Gary enters the stage and sits down)

C.J.: So Gary you've come pretty well full circle because you started out on your own didn't you?

G.B.: Do I really have to tell you!

C.J.: Confess.

G.B.: I started playing when I was about eleven I used to be a pianist and by the time I was sixteen and just about to drive my own car I had an act of my own. I used to do some embarrassing things, I used to sings songs like Phantom of The Opera, my mum made me a cape once.

C.J.: Phantom cape?

G.B.: Phantom cape, I didn't need the mask!

C.J.: Did you lug your own gear in those days you must have had a lot of stuff?

G.B.: There was my Ford Orion, was full of gear right up to the roof. I arrived at this club one night, it was in Liverpool actually, and pulled up at the front and got to the guy at the front desk and said "Where shall I bring me gear in?" He said "Oh bring your car round the back son, no problem". And I took me gear in that way and did my first spot. But me Nan lived about 15 minutes down the road so I thought 'Beautiful, I'll go and see me Nan in the break'. Got out in the car and it had been raining, windscreen wipers shifting the rain off, put it into first gear ready to pull away and the wheels spinned. I thought 'Wow that felt good', you know Miami Vice had been around at the time. So I put it into first gear and span it a bit harder. It was really going at this point, within the next ten minutes I was revving up to 40 mph, spinning the car 180, reverse 180. Anyway I realised I'd spent all this time doing the Dukes of Hazard I'd better get back in the club. So I went back in the club and did me dance spot. Are you keeping up with this? (Laughs) I went back in the club, end of the night - fantastic night - and I said to the same guy "Where do I get my gear out?" and he said "Where are you parked, on the bowling green?". "Bowling Green!" I'm telling you I've never put my gear back in the car so fast I still had the wires in!

C.J.: So how did you get your big break?

EXCLUSIVE - Take That How Deep is your Love [ Rare live performance ]

From my personal archive, Check it out this amazing performance of Take That's How deep is your love !

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LEAKED - TAKE THAT TOUR JUNE 2015 MANCHESTER 25th ANNIVERSARY

#TakeThat new tour dates ! 2015 #TOUR JUNE Manchester live @ Etihad Stadium ! 25th Anniversary
— TakeGaz TakeThatNews (@TakeGaz) 29 Agosto 2014

To be confirmed but it's happening: JUNE 2015 Manchester live @ Etihad Stadium ! 25th Anniversary of Take That ! Waiting for Official announcement

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GARY BARLOW'S DIARY - July '99

What a long month July has been - I seem to have done so much that I'm not quite sure where to begin...  

Anyway, I guess a good place to start is with The Party In The Park concert in Hyde Park. I just loved that concert! One hundred thousand people, thirty or more great bands and loads of sunshine. I had a really great time and managed to 'chat' to some of you afterwards when I did a live link to the Capital Radio Website.  

I also spent a bit of time in Cologne, Germany when I presented and performed on their version of Top Of The Pops. I love going to Cologne as one of my favourite restaurants in the world is situated there (you know how I love my food), and I always try and take the time to pay a visit. The Leek soup is one of my all time favourites!! I don't know whether I'm supposed to keep this a secret but the chef actually gave me the recipe the last time I went there, so watch out Gordon Ramsay I'm comin' atcha!!  

Towards the tail end of July I actually managed to spend quite a bit of time at home and I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed that. I've spent a lot of time mucking about with the rowing boat on the lake (except that Jess keeps trying to bite off the paddles on the oars) and I have been able to see a lot more of my little nephew Lewis. Actually, he was christened at the beginning of July and I am now officially his godfather - not quite sure if my brother knows what he's letting himself and Lewis in for but there you go! My Dad's bought some peacocks to add to the animal farm and I'm now woken up at the crack of dawn to them screeching... cheers Dad!  

Of course, July 5th saw the launch of my Website and what a success it's been. I can sit for hours reading your messages, so thank you for those.  

I've also been spending time in my studio and I'm about to upgrade the desk so I'm really excited about the arrival of the new equipment. I'll try not to sound like a studio bore but I will have to refer to the arrival of the equipment in my August update. Sorry Folks, but this is a big event for me!  

For those of you who've been asking Dawn is fine but she's been busy working for most of July which means that I'm winning the suntan competition (for once!!).  

We've also decided on the new single and it's called 'For All That You Want' and it'll be out at the end of September. I've already performed it at some of the Roadshows I've been doing and I'd love to know what you think if you've had a chance to hear it. I'll be shooting the video soon so again I'll give you more information about this in next month's update.  

I have managed to meet up with Mike Hrano too and we've started recording the next Fanclub CD already - I hate the sound of my own voice but as long as you don't mind listening to me I'll keep rambling on (and on and on)!!!!  

Well, I'm writing this whilst I'm doing promotion in Finland and as I'm just being called into the TV studio, I'd better finish up.  

A big thank you to all of you who have bought 'Stronger' and for coming along to support me when I've been out 'doing my thing' - I really appreciate it.  

Anyhow, here's to a repeat of all the great weather we've been having for August - you watch it'll start raining now I've said that!! 

 You can read all the entries of the Diary here

GARY BARLOW'S DIARY - June '99

This has been a really busy month. It started off with the filming of my Channel 4 Special with Andi Peters - I had great fun doing this but it was a rush as they had to transmit it less than a week after filming finished. Anyway it's on air again on Sunday 13th July so if you didn't catch it at the beginning of June watch out for the repeat. My favourite filmpiece however was for GMTV as it took place at the Jordan Garage. It's a shame really as you won't have got to see what a fantastic time we had at Jordan but we ended up spending virtually the whole day there and Eddie Jordan himself escorted me around and let me into a few of his secrets. Secretly, I was hoping that he'd take me on as his new driver as Damon Hill had announced his retirement the day before I got there but for some reason Eddie wasn't forthcoming with the invitation... odd that!!  

Anyway, I also made a couple of trips to Germany and Italy during June and it was good to see some familiar faces amongst the European fans. I had a great time performing at Festival Bar in Italy but the moment was spoiled as The Sun newspaper decided to print a picture of me with The Cartoons with a really unfair and nasty caption. I wouldn't mind, but when the picture was taken with The Cartoons we were all mucking about and having a good laugh (you only have to look at my double chin in the picture to see what I mean!). Anyway, I asked the photographer to send me a copy of the pic and the next thing I know it's being reported that I threw a tantrum and didn't want anyone to see the picture. Cheeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrssssssss!!!!!!!!!  

Anyhow, at least The Jordan Team had a successful time at The French Grand Prix and to put things in perspective, there are only two weeks to go until the British Grand Prix... remember Eddie I'm still available if you're one driver short ! 

 You can read all the entries of the Diary here

ARTICLES - GARY BARLOW Internation Community Radio, 3rd April 97

Internation Community Radio, 3rd April 97

Interviewed By David Wang

D.W.: Good evening and welcoming you to another edition of Youth Nightline right here on ICRT the station of the stars....(info on how to fax or phone questions etc)

D.W.: A big hello to our international listeners via the internet as well, everybody's looking forward to the Gary Barlow interview and we're going to get him on the show as soon as he gets into the hotel room. He has had a busy day and you'll find out more what Gary Barlow has been doing here in Taiwan... (breaks off to interview a reporter in Taiwanese - sorry, I'm not *that* good!)

D.W.: So, Gary Barlow is in the hotel room and he's going to call us later on in just a few seconds... (News stories, time stalling waiting for Gary to phone-in!)

D.W.: Ladies and Gentlemen let's welcome Gary Barlow. Hi Gary!

G.B.: Good evening.

D.W.: Good evening to you, nice to have you on the show again. Remember the first time you were in ICRT studios, that's about 4 years ago, on a very, very, cold winter day.

G.B.: Yeah I do!

D.W.: And how is everything now?

GARY BARLOW'S DIARY - MAY '99

This was an odd month as it started off with my face being plastered over The Sun newspaper for two days in a row. Yes, it's true to say that I gave an interview to the Sun because they were huge supporters of the group and they, along with a lot of other papers, had put in a request for an interview with me. I don't really like talking about my private life but of course the tabloids do their best to find out what you get up to in your spare time and if you don't want to talk about it there is always someone waiting to expose you. Anyway, that said, I did the interview and mentioned a few skeletons that were in the cupboard but I couldn't believe they made such a meal out of a few comments about my past life nor that it made headline news for two days in a row. One minute they're writing that I'm all washed up and the next minute they pull everything out of context and it seems they can't devote enough space to you - do you ever get those moments when you wish you could crawl under a stone and stay there???? 

Anyway, at least the month ended with some highlights. I filmed all the bits for my enhanced CD Rom which was great fun (watch the funny moment on the piano when you exit the CD Rom) and I also went down to deepest Surrey to present a cheque to The Rainbow Trust. It's so uplifting and rewarding meeting the families and children who are associated with this Trust and I can only hope that the small amount of time that I spend with them is of some use. By the way, I handed over the cheque with the interest from the tour tickets so thanks to all of you because it is your money and, believe me, it has gone to a brilliant cause. 

You can read all the entries of the Diary here

CONCERT - Gary Barlow to play Dubai Media City on October 17

Take That frontman and X Factor judge will perform on October 17 

A piece of pop royalty is coming to Dubai.

Gary Barlow – a man who has penned 13 UK number one singles, been made an OBE and was called on to host the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert – will perform at Dubai Media City on Friday October 17.

The former frontman and principle songwriter of Take That, Barlow was behind an imitable string of radio-jamming hits in the early ’90s. Following an emotional reunion in 2005, the band have clocked 27 UK Top 40 hits, making them the most successful British boyband ever.

But Barlow is also something of a natural treasure, too, loved for his role replacing Simon in the UK X-Factor, renowned for his charity work and personally thanked by Price Charles for hosting his mum’s birthday gig.
Returning to solo performances in 2011, Barlow allegedly out-striped The Rolling Stones in ticket sales speed, and last year celebrated the release of his first full length solo album in 14 years, Since I Saw You Last. Daniel Craig may still the most famous former resident of Barlow's hometown of Frodsham, but things have rarely looked better for 43-year-old Gaz.

This Dubai gig marks the final date of his solo tour. Commenting on his forthcoming show in Dubai, Gary said: 'I’m very excited to round off such an enjoyable tour in such an incredible and iconic destination.'

Tickets go on sale at 9am today (Monday August 25) from Time Out Tickets, with early bird tickets starting at Dhs295. General admission tickets cost Dhs350, while seated tickets (Dhs450), golden circle (Dhs600) and VIP packages including food and drink (Dhs1,000) also available).

CLICK HERE TO BUY EARLY BIRD TICKETS - on sale from 9am today

ARTICLES - GARY BARLOW Smash Hits, 23rd April 97

"We all decided to split up and what a great move it was. If Take That were still together, how could we compete with the Spice Girls?"

Geri's chest wasn't the only one everyone was gabbling about at the Brit Awards. Swankin' along the podium, with the lovely Louise in tow, came the finest sculptured torso The Hits had seen in many a long year. The music 'biz' nearly dropped their canape's when they realised it belonged to Gary Barlow. Gaz, you see, is back. Long gone are the days when he was the talented-but-slightly-lardy one in the pop combo they all called Take That. Now he's muscled up and mouthing off about Sheryl Crow ("a real woman"), his favourite Spice Girl (Emma), Madonna (apparently the writer of his new single, Love Won't Wait, though no one's admitting it due to a bizarre copyright wrangle) and his girlfriend Dawn ("yes we're still together"). He didn't enjoy the Brits much - "Too much attitude, you'd see the Fugees with their entourage and it'd be just ridiculous." The thing is, Gary's still a pretty down-to-earth bloke. He's got his house near Manchester, complete with a massive swank kitchen 'range' and an eccentric collection of animals including dogs, donkeys and peacocks. And here he is, braving his first Smash Hits interview for many a 'moon'. Gary Barlow, what the heck have you got to say for yourself?

ARTICLES - GARY BARLOW Focus Magazine, Germany, 14th April 97

THE COMEBACK - BACK FOR GOOD

Focus Magazine, Germany, 14th April 97

The year after: Ex-Take That-star Gary Barlow on girls, complexes and his change.

FOCUS: You are 26 and earned millions with Take That. Have you already blown the money?

G.B.: If you have money, you should not only invest it well, but also spend it well. I´ve bought myself a huge villa in Cheshire - you could call it a small castle. I´m also spending too much money on books, clothes and CDs. I have over 15000 albums in my cellar, all in alphabetical order.

FOCUS: You have postponed the release of your solo album "Open Road" again and again. Why did you keep your fans on tenderhooks?

ARTICLES - GARY BARLOW Dotmusic April 97

The US opens up for debut album

A year ago, the industry was keenly anticipating the debut solo single from Gary Barlow. The singer himself meanwhile, relaxed and garrulous, was looking forward to the imminent completion of his album and its impending autumn launch. Forever Love duly debuted at number one only to be knocked off the top spot a week later. Then the project slid quietly off the schedules and was put under wraps until now with the release of the second single Love Won't Wait on April 28 and its attendant album, Open Road, scheduled for the last week of May. Had there been a crisis of confidence or was everyone playing their cards very closely to their chest? In fact, Barlow freely admits they chose to rerecord almost the entire album after Clive Davis, the president of his US label, Arista, became involved with the project. "After I played the BMG conference in LA he asked if he could help out on the album and offered to put me in touch with anyone I wanted to work with," says Barlow. "Everyone I asked for he could deliver, so I thought I can either finish this album pretty quickly at home, or I can take the chance of my life and work with all these people I'd dreamed of working with. I decided it didn't matter if it took another six months, I had to do it and I'm glad it's taken as long as it has because I've become more comfortable with being on my own." Barlow duly overhauled the entire album, jettisoning all but three of the original eight finished tracks, recorded with Chris Porter, and collaborated with several big US names including producers David Foster (Michael Jackson) and Walter Afanasieff (Mariah Carey) and songwriter Diane Warren. Accordingly the album, a mellow ballad-heavy affair, appears to be pitched squarely with the US in its sights, though RCA managing director Hugh Goldsmith maintains that the performance of Forever Love, a worldwide hit everywhere but the States (where it was not released) had no bearing on events. "Clive Davis had always felt that he wanted to wait for the finished album before releasing a single, but at the time Gary felt that he wanted to get a record in the market so we put one out. The decision on the album wasn't influenced by what happened to Forever Love. We simply wanted to make a comprehensively brilliant record and I think we've done that." Barlow agrees the album is now more suited to the States but maintains that wasn't the only thing which influenced his decision. "I haven't done it just for America. This is my most important album, my debut and it's got to be right," he says. "Fundamentally it's still my voice which is probably more English than it's ever been." A separate agenda accordingly exists in the States with a different single, So Help Me Girl, and a June release date for Open Road. Another factor in the delay was Barlow's acrimonious split from his manager of six years standing Nigel Martin-Smith. Simon Fuller of 19 Management, currently riding high with The Spice Girls, takes over officially next month. "It was a real upheaval, a horrible time," Barlow admits. "I lost faith basically. I wanted things to move on, but the ideas weren't right, there was conflict there." One immediate by-product of the partnership is the track Lay Down For Love written with The Spice Girls team of Richard Stannard and Matt Rowe. "I desperately needed uptempo stuff and it worked really well. They're going to be very big writers in the future - great real potential," says Barlow. Barlow's difficulty in writing uptempo numbers explains the presence of several covers on the album - despite his earlier declaration there would be none - including the Shep Pettibone-penned single Love Won't Wait and the Trevor Horn-produced take on Johnny Bristol's Hang On In There Baby. "I struggle to do uptempo stuff, the lyrics are a problem, but it comes together when I collaborate," he says. "Next time I'd like to co-write the whole album, a real star-studded affair - duets the lot." That prospect is a long way off, as Barlow is scheduled for heavy promotional work for the entire year that precludes even touring. "This is a very important album," says Goldsmith. "We need to work it with every ounce of energy and vision to make sure we establish him as a world artist for the future. Our first objective is to nail his career in the UK then move on. We have an ambitious campaign which involves intensive exposure here before he goes to the States and so on." We can expect a tour but not until early '98. "I can't wait to play," says Barlow. "I want it to be really musical, very vocal orientated with five or six backing singers, three or four numbers at the piano. With Take That it was always 'the lights!', 'the dancing!' No one ever mentioned the music." That, without doubt, is all set to change.
Mike Pattenden

ARTICLES - GARY BARLOW DOTMUSIC 23 JUNE 1996.

Take That's Songsmith Aims High On Solo Project

There's confident and there's confident. When Gary Barlow says he's "fairly confident" about his upcoming debut solo album, it's clear what level of success he has become used to. "I'm hoping to sell 10m copies," he says.

Now that dotmusic has exclusively heard four tracks from Open Road, which is due in September, we can reveal that confidence is justified. The songs display his growing maturity as a composer, but they remain catchy enough to ensure he doesn't lose his Take That fans. Speaking to Barlow - polite and communicative to the point of garrulousness - about his fresh start, it is clear that it was always intended he should pursue a solo career. "Nigel Martin-Smith originally built a band around me and the others were aware of that from the start. I'd always been a solo artist, although I was only playing clubs, and I loved the freedom. Then I joined a band and I decided that was what I wanted because it was such a laugh. The whole band thing flowered over 12 months and what was possibly going to last for a couple of singles or an album took on a life of its own."

Events took over but Take That's run came to end, hastened by the departure of Robbie Williams and the desire of the other members to take some time off. Martin-Smith pointed out that the way the boy band market stood, if the boys were out of the spotlight for any length of time, it could result in oblivion. At this point, everyone - and Barlow maintains it was a collective decision - decided to call it a day while they were still at the top.

ARTICLES - GARY BARLOW 1997 Pops Best 10 Radio Show, Tokyo, 29th March 97

JAPANESE RADIO INTERVIEW

Pops Best 10 Radio Show, Tokyo, 29th March 97

P.B.: How do you like to sing in the studio alone?

G.B.: I love it! It's great!!

P.B.: You look so fit and tight. Are you on a special diet or something?

G.B.: Sushi-diet, yeah .

P.B.: Just for a week, right?

G.B.: No, always. Specially, Sushi, Tenpura, Shabushabu (Gary is talking about Japanese foods.)

P.B.: So you're enjoying a Japanese cuisine this time too.

G.B.: Unfortunately, we have to go tomorrow. I've been here for a week and had a fantastic time. So thanks everybody with made it welcome for us.

P.B.: You're here to promote your new album, right? How do you want the listeners to enjoy your album?

ARTICLES - ROBBIE WILLIAMS Independent on Sunday, 1 December 1996

The artist formerly known as the pretty one 

Independent on Sunday, 1 December 1996

But the Take That diaspora has gone against expectations over the past seven months or so. Gary Barlow's bid for instant George Michael- hood began with terrifying efficiency. Gary took a succession of grown- up music journalists for rides in his sportscar and introduced them to his girlfriend, then had a No 1 single. But his album, set for release in October, was withdrawn from the schedules at the last minute on the grounds that it was not quite clinical enough for the American market.

The Robbie Williams approach seemed more fun. Robbie trumped Gary' s earnest niche-marketing endeavour with a stroke of brazen genius by simply covering George Michael's "Freedom", then put the icing on the cake of the resultant No 1 single by beingsighted at a Brian Eno book-launch. Unfortunately, he then ate the cake.

ARTICLES - ROBBIE WILLIAMS Attitude Magazine, August 1996 Back For Good

Robbie Williams - Back For Good

Attitude Magazine, August 1996

In a brutally honest interview Robbie Williams tell Ben Marshall about his love/hate relationship with Take That, Gary Barlow and how he wants to be "a fucking cool c**t".

I once saw a cow just a few seconds before a farmer fired a bolt into his head. It ambled serenely toward his slaughter, body fattened to beefy perfection, eyes docile and tragically trusting. A moment later it went to cow heaven in a halo of blood and brains. I guess that´s the way Take That looked the day they signed their record deal. Kind of. But if you are to believe Robbie Williams, Gary Barlow probably looked more like the executioner.

Traces of big dumb faith still flashe Robbie´s eyes as he relays his tragi-comic tale. Eight number ones, 15 million record sales and tidal waves of attention don´t wash the trust from a boy´s eyes, and cynicism and life-saving scepticism are things that did not come naturally to Robbie. He had to work at them. He had to learn to be hard the hard way.

We have now spent seven hours together. We have drunk ourselves into a state of glazed immobility and beyond into frenzied animation. Robbie presently trying to explain why he never felt quite comfortable as the most popular member of the most successful British pop act this decade. For Robbie though, a simple explanation will not suffice. Robbie has to illustrate his reasons. He has quite literally to perform them.

"Ya see," he says, "we were a fucking great pop band but then at the end of the day, that is all we were."

He swaggers camply across the room fluttering his eyelashes at an imaginary stadium and shoving his chin forward in a Page Seven Fellah kind of look.

"I mean," he continues, "how seriously can ya take a band when they end the show going like that?"

He drops suddenly to one knee and thrusts a clenched fist into the air. The gesture, so quintessentially Take That, is at once rousingly triumphant and curiously supplicant.

"I mean, I didn´t wanna fucking do that!" He repeats the gesture.

ARTICLES - ROBBIE WILLIAMS Hanging Out Transcript MTV, August 1996

Hanging Out Transcript 

MTV, August 1996

Anthony: Who is it?
Robbie: It's Rob!
Anthony: Hi, what are you up to?
Robbie: I'm on MTV!
Anthony: I know you're on MTV, what time are you finishing?
Robbie: I'll be home soon! Have you got any cheese and peas?
Anthony: What? Cheese and peas!
Robbie: Cheese and peas! What?
Anthony: That's just crazy talk!
Robbie: You are live on MTV, to the MTV viewers, of Europe, turn on the television!
Eden: (shouting) "OPEN THE TEL!!" (these were her words, and her grammar mistake)
Robbie: We have this cable thing, when you can't turn it on.
Anthony: Hey, I've done it, you're live!
Robbie: Hi mate
Eden: Robbie, after you have been chatting to him, I wanna ask him something
Robbie: OK
Eden: So, Anthony, what can you tell us about Robbie that nobody else knows?

ARTICLES - ROBBIE WILLIAMS TV Hits Magazine, July 1996

The Press Conference

TV Hits Magazine, July 1996

Much cheering and clapping followed before Robbie finally appeared doing what can only be described as a 'chicken walk' across the stage before sitting down, moaning about England being knocked out of Euro '96. This is the press conference exactly as it happened.......

Have you a message for your German fans? 
It'll be out soon. I'm really looking forward to coming out to everywhere, not just Germany - the whole world. I want to be seen and heard as an artist and also have a lot of fun along the way - I'm dying to get out of my local place.

Are you thinking about a career in TV at all?
I don't know really. I'm concentrating on music at the minute. I'm going to strike out the possibility of doing anything on popular TV for the while I've got to write an album, you know! There's a big hype surrounding all this ... I've got to write it all, you know what I mean!

There's speculation that Noel Gallagher's writing you a song is this to happen?
I suppose you've got to roll with it really, (everybody laughs), take your time, you've gotta say what you say, don't let anybody get in your way! I don't know, there might be, there might not be. Noel said he's quite willing to write me a song and I'd love for him to, but we'll see what happens...I might get Bonehead to write me a song instead! I might get Guigsy to do me an ambient house mix!

ARTICLES - ROBBIE WILLIAMS The X-(Take That) Files Smash Hits Magazine, July 1996

The X-(Take That) Files

Smash Hits Magazine, July 1996

It's Thursday June 27, the day after Robbie Williams' infamous Freedom press conference, and by rights he should be feeling on top of the world. Chris Evans raved as he played Rob's debut single, a rocking George Michael cover of the teen idol anthem Freedom '90, and even weirdy-beardy George gave his public seal of approval. More controversial was the piece in The Sun titled 'I hate you, Barlow' which quoted Rob from a recent magazine interview, saying, "Gary's selfish, greedy, arrogant and thick. He's a clueless w*****." Ouch! Following a 12-month absence from the charts, Robbie Williams is the name on everyone's lips again - it's everything he's dreamed of. But as I arrive home from work that night, there's a message on my answer machine...and he doesn't sound happy. "It's Rob. I was just calling to see what you thought of last night. Call me back." I do, and the mood is low...
"How are you? I ask. "Not very well. I've got my hindsight T-shirt on and I hate myself for what I've said. Have you seen the newspapers?". "Yeah". He sighs, wearily. "I'm so disgusted with myself for saying those things. I'm so upset. I want to phone Gary and tell him how sorry I am. What must he think of me? The stupid thing is, I didn't mean it. Those aren't my feelings. But when I gave that interview, months ago, my head was still swimming from the whole Take That thing and...I've got no-one to blame but myself...I just wish I hadn't...I'm gonna go for a walk, I think."

ARTICLES - ROBBIE WILLIAMS The Press Conference Royal Lancaster Hotel, 26th June 1996

The Press Conference

Royal Lancaster Hotel, 26th June 1996

This picture was given out at the press conference along with the two statements below.

At 1 minute past midnight on 26th June 1996, Robbie held a press conference at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London, W2. This statement was handed to the press as they entered.

"I'm here tonight to celebrate my freedom. There's been a lot of talk and speculation in the media and on the street about what has really happened since I left/was sacked from Take That.
I'd like to clear the air tonight but don't want to dwell on the past. I think I've said everything I've got to say about that chapter in my life. You've heard my new single which will be released on July 29th and it's the future that concerns me now. I'm happier than I've ever been in my life so please don't make me slag people off....but if you insist.
I've got a new family now, who've been totally supportive of me over the last few months - thank you JF and everybody at EMI/Chrysalis.To be honest with you I don't feel that I can really deal with talking about BMG and I don't want to give them any more of my time. If you've got any questions about anything else I'll be happy to answer them and my manager, Tim Abbot is here - he can fill you in a little more dispassionately about how we got to this point."

ARTICLES - ROBBIE WILLIAMS TFI Friday, CH4 UK, April 1996

Robbie on TFI Friday 

TFI Friday, CH4 UK, April 1996

Rob:- Evening Chris, evening Nigel and the boys.
Chris Evans:- Hair pie Robbie

Rob:- No thanks, I've just had my Slimfast - I'm alright.

Chris Evans:- You've just had your Slimfast

Rob:-Yeah

Chris Evans:- You've got a thing about your weight at the moment haven't you?

Rob:- Yeah, well, yeah. I came into rehearsals before and I saw... there was a side shot and I thought I've got to keep my hand...can we go back to that camera...I'm gonna keep my hand there for all that.

ARTICLES - ROBBIE WILLIAMS Daily Telegraph, 27 February 1996 Pop star faces £200,000 bill in court humiliation

Pop star faces £200,000 bill in court humiliation 

Daily Telegraph, 27 February 1996

An out-of-court settlement, thrashed out between lawyers for Williams and BMG on Sunday night, will allow him to launch a solo career but will stop him from signing to another record label. The singer must also pay BMG's legal fees estimated at £200,000. Williams had claimed that the terms of his contract, which gave BMG control over the career of Take That members even after they left, constituted an unreasonable restraint of trade and so unenforceable.

During the 90-second hearing before Mr Justice Lightman, the judge described the settlement as "very sensible". John Preston, chairman of BMG Records (UK), said the company was "delighted" Williams had accepted the validity of its contract. "It is a shame that Robbie didn't come and talk to us before he started litigation," he said in the statement. "We still want the best for him and all the other members of Take That." Williams also dropped his claims against Arista Records in the United States and withdrew his objections to Take That's Greatest Hits album, due out next month. "Contracts are there for a purpose, for the good of both parties, and are not there to be abused" Williams, who had been unhappy remaining with a record company still representing his former colleagues, now faces an uncertain future trying to carve a solo career with a record company with which he has fallen out so publicly.

ARTICLES - ROBBIE WILLIAMS The Independent, 14 February 1996

Broken promises as Take That can take no more 

The Independent, 14 February 1996

The decision will affect the legal position of Robbie Williams, who left the best-selling band last year and faces the band's record company, RCA, in the High Court in two weeks' time in an attempt to break his contract and start a solo career. It isrumoured he plans to team up with Noel Gallagher of Oasis once free of RCA.

Take That's singer-songwriter Gary Barlow said the group was splitting after the release of their next single, a cover of the Bee Gees song "How Deep Is Your Love?", and a greatest hits album. "Thanks for everybody' s support in the last five years.You've been absolutely fantastic ... but unfortunately the rumours are true," the 25-year-old told a press conference in Manchester.

Williams, who was celebrating his 22nd birthday, said:"Frankly, I am more concerned about how Port Vale do in the cup tonight [but] Take That were six years of my life and I know how the guys are feeling."

ARTICLES - ROBBIE WILLIAMS Reuters, 13 February 1996 Take That to split up

British pop group Take That to split up 

Reuters, 13 February 1996

The band said their last concert would be in the Netherlands in April. Take That have scored seven number one hits and sold around four million singles and three million albums in Britain alone. They have a huge teenage following in many European countries. It has long been rumored that Barlow would go solo like George Michael, who has achieved huge success since the break-up of the group Wham!.

"We do care an awful lot about the fans and we hope the fans will understand. We feel we have done all we can as Take That," group member Mark Owen said. The band's management may set up phone lines for distressed fans. Since rumors Take That were splitting up came to a head Monday, hundreds of tearful fans have flooded the switchboard of their record company RCA pleading for the group to stay together. In Germany, fans have been especially distraught and the German government also encouraged the band to set up the phone lines. German fans were among those who reacted worst when band member Robbie Williams quit the group last year.

ARTICLES - ROBBIE WILLIAMS Minneapolis Star Tribune , 22 July 1995

Berlin sets up hot line for teens mourning band's split 

Minneapolis Star Tribune , 22 July 1995

Berlin officials have set up a special crisis hot line to deal with distraught teenagers who can't accept the fact that Robbie Williams has left the British pop group Take That.

Swept up in hysteria, about 50 teenage girls continued a day-and-night vigil at the Hilton Hotel in Berlin, vowing to remain outside the hotel until Williams returns to Europe's top recording group. Williams announced Tuesday that he was leaving the band, the most successful British group since the Beatles.

Officials in other German cities reported similar displays of public mourning, but the situation was worse in Berlin, they said, because Take That performed there during its European concert tour this spring.

The vigil participants, sitting on the curb outside the Hilton, where Williams and the other four Take That members had stayed in Berlin, said they had chosen this sacred site to draw him back.

ARTICLES - GARY BARLOW Q Magazine, October 1996

Interviewed By John Aizlewood

Sun's out. Tan's coming along nicely, ta. Debut showcase went off OK. Solo album in can. Take That a dim memory. Wish you were here. Luv. Gary Barlow. The club singer turned teeny idol turned New George Michael sends a postcard from the edge of acceptance, "I can't do anything else and that still worries me," he tells John Aizlewood.

Always a tricky one, the Christmas present for a 10-year-old son. Too young to be given wads of cash as an incentive to discover women or backpack to Tasmania and, frustratingly too old for a large sack of goodies from a big, possibly ficticious man with a suspiciously white beard. In 1981, Mr and Mrs Barlow of a Frodsham, Cheshire council estate and their son Gary, there was little festive dilema.

"I had a choice of a BMX bike or a keyboard," remembers Barlow, so wealthy ("I've got more money than I could ever dream of fucking spending") he doesn't need to work again and so young at 25 that he's never heard of Soft Cell. "I was watching Top Of The Pops and there was Marc Almond singing Tainted Love. With him there was this guy on a tiny keyboard. "I thought it sounded amazing. So thank God, I chose the keyboard."

ARTICLES - GARY BARLOW Big Magazine, 10th July 1996

He's finally gone solo. But was it planned all along? And how does he really feel about Robbie?

BIG: So Gary Barlow, tell us...... Was it always the plan that you would go solo?

G.B.: Initially, Take That was probably all created around me. It was six to twelve months before we realised we were going to be a real band. We grew so much as a team. We really cared for each other and looked after each other. We were a very human sort of band. If anyone was ever upset, we'd sort that out.

BIG: Always?

G.B.: Yeah, that's why it was such a blow to us when Robbie left. It really was. Other than all the crap that happened in the papers. It was nothing to how we felt. We'd been betrayed by a friend. We'd been through all that time together and then to read all that, "Robbie never knew us" crap. But we'd seen it coming a good six months before. He'd changed so much as a person, he'd lost that boy next door thing and he wanted to be a celebrity.

BIG: How did you feel about Rob going?

ARTICLES - GARY BARLOW Smash Hits Magazine, 3rd July 1996

Giving his first interview since Take That split, Gary Barlow talks exclusively to Kate Thornton about marriage, Robbie, Take That and his future as a solo artist on the eve of his debut release.

This time last year, getting an interview with Take That was on a par with getting an audience with the Pope. Back For Good had just topped the charts and they had made the record books as the fastest selling band of all time, with three platinum albums and a list of No 1 singles to their credit. American success beckoned - with the promise of global recognition - and months of phone calls and faxes were invested in obtaining just an hour with the biggest band in Britain.

Then, on April 4th, Take That disbanded in Amsterdam and Gary immediately retreated to a London recording studio, where he has been locked away since, working on his solo material. In keeping with his character he has stayed out of the public eye - until our interview last month.

You see, one year on, things have changed with Gary Barlow. If those changes could be put into one simple sentence. I would say (and he would agree) that he has reverted back to the person he was before he embarked on a most remarkable journey with Take That.

Now that chapter of his life is closed. He is happy with his memories of those golden days, but now Gary Barlow has new plans, new goals and a suprisingly relaxed new outlook on life. That said, he is a man on a mission, with so much to prove, confident in the knowledge that he has the ability to become the biggest British recording artist of the 90s.

ARTICLES - GARY BARLOW GMTV on ITV, UK, 15th -16th July 1996

In these exclusive interviews Gary talked to Anthea Turner whilst he was in a cafe in the South of France recently. They were aired on two different days and we have put them on here as they were shown.

15th July 1996

A.T.: You more than anyone must appreciate sitting in a place like this. I know there is a film crew here but we're very much on our own, is it unusual?

G.B.: It is so nice because I mean, if we'd have been here two years ago it would have been an unbareable experience and there's no doubt about it, life has calmed down a lot for me now, and it's very nice, I'm enjoying it very much

A.T.: What was the real story behind the split?

G.B.: Well, the blame was to be put on everyone's door, really. We sat in a hotel room in London. I think we'd all just about had enough, we'd been doing it for six years and we'd had a very uncomfortable six months and we just said, 'we've had enough'. I said, 'I've had enough, I'm a bit bored to be honest now, I feel we're doing the same thing over and over again', you know, there's an album to be done, a tour this year, etc etc and everyone said, 'I'm so glad you said that because we're feeling exactly the same.'

ARTICLES - GARY BARLOW Live & Kicking Magazine, June 1996

LnK: Why did Take That finish with a cover rather than the originally planned The Party's Over sung by Mark?

G.B.: The decision to release How Deep Is Your Love was made in connection with our Greatest Hits album before Christmas 1995. There aren't any new songs on the album, and we always liked the Bee Gees song and planned to cover it ages ago. The Party's Over is about three years old and was always meant as our swan song. We had long discussions about that! When we made the decision to split up, it was too late to bring out another single. So it just never happened.

LnK: Why were you the only one who got pushed off the cliff in the How Deep video?

G.B.: I really hated that video, I hated making it and I hated the end result. I was frozen for two whole days and I'm not at my best when I'm freezing cold! I wanted to re-shoot it but we ran out of time. The fork was quite painful and when the chair tipped backwards it really felt as if I was going! Somebody had to do it, they chose me, I'm game. I'll do anything - all my own stunts. Just call me Gary Schwarzenegger!

LnK: Why couldn't you have done a solo project within your band like other artists have done?

ARTICLES - GARY BARLOW - Arena Magazine, May 1996

Arena Magazine, May 1996

Interviewed by Giles Smith

GARY BARLOW, who is eating a Kit-Kat, says, "I was always a bit of an afterthought in Take That. I was always the last one the stylist bought clothes for because I wasn't interested in clothes and I never looked that good when I was in them. I was always the fat, white one everyone pushed to one side so they could get a shot of Mark and Robbie. The only thing I could shout and wave my arms about was the music. I could say, 'Here - listen to this. This is my music.' "

Now on his own, Gary Barlow confronts the predicament faced by any pop star whose career has opened to the sound of screaming girls. Count the artists in the last quarter of a century who have graduated with any dignity from the scream school. There's George Michael, who stepped, re-made, from the wreckage of Wham! And that's about it. There was, as I recall, precious little public call for new, mature work from Les McKeown of The Bay City Rollers. And Bros, anyone? What hope then, for Gaz from the That?

Except that, all along, it's been made clear to us that if anyone in that fresh-faced, all-dancing combo had a future, it was Gary. He was in Take That, but he wasn't essentially of Take That. He was the podgy one with the unwieldy haircuts, but this was OK, because he was the brains. (Unfair on Barlow, all this, who would strike you as a handsome boy in any other context than a photograph of Take That.) And now the end has come, so we're going to see how it pans out.

About the others - Jason, cute Mark, Howard and the chaotic and errant Robbie - we just don't know. Gary thinks they'll be OK, including Robbie. (Gary is very disappointed in Robbie, for reasons we will come to.) But Gary was the lead singer and, more importantly, Gary wrote the songs - "Back For Good", "Babe", "Pray", "A Million Love Songs", a stream of gleamingly hooked, radio-friendly ballads and bouncers, the songs of someone, it was readily apparent, gifted beyond his tender years. He's already won two Ivor Novello songwriting awards; this year, to mark the demise of Take That, the Ivor Novello people have decided to give him a kind of Lifetime Achievement award. Gary Barlow is the grand old age of 25.

So how could we not feel confident for Gary? Gary was the talent. Gary is the talent. Now all he has to do is prove it.

ARTICLES - TV Hits Magazine, April 1996

TV Hits Magazine, April 1996

Gary's about to release his debut single, Forever Love, but he doesn't want it to be as big as his TT hits, believe it or not!

T.V.: So you're going to be first out of the Take That starting blocks with a solo career - are you the most ambitious?

G.B.: I do have a lot of ambition, and probably more so for my own career that the band. It's funny, there'll probably be a bit of competition between us all, but it'll be friendly rivalry.

T.V.: Now that Take That's over, will we notice a difference in your music?

G.B.: I think the music'll probably sound the most like Take That out of all of us, because I sang most of the songs and wrote most of them. But we'll have to wait and see..

T.V.: Is your stuff going to be better?

G.B.: It's definately a move on from what I was writing eighteen months ago. I was lucky because we were just about to start recording a new Take That album, so I had 17 songs ready for that. Since the break up I've written 20 more, so I was faced with the problem of getting 37 songs down to 12!

T.V.: What's your next goal?

GARY BARLOW'S DIARY - APRIL '99

It's typical isn't it? Just when you've finished pigging out on choccie Easter eggs then you have to fly off for a video and photo shoot and try your best to look in shape!

 Anyway, mustn't grumble as we jetted off to New Mexico right after Easter and shot all the sleeve photo's for the new single sleeve - we had beautiful weather and went to some fantastic locations including this amazing place called White Sands where we shot the front cover. Next we few into L.A for a short spell where I visited my favourite restaurant, The Ivy, practically every night and then went on to shoot the video for Stronger in Vancouver (It's a hard life). I won't go on and on about the video as you've probably all seen it by now (you can even see the whole video via CD Rom if you buy the second CD for Stronger) and anyway, I talk about the vid at the beginning of this section. It's great to be out there doing promo again and what a top way to start !!!

You can read all the entries of the Diary here

GARY BARLOW'S DIARY - MARCH '99

This is the month that the big Max arrived!!!! He's my new rescue dog and he's a huge, pure white alsatian who went by the name of 'Snowy' when we took him in. However my dad wasn't too happy about shouting "Snowy" whilst he's out working on the land so a more 'butch' name had to be found.

 Anyway Max it is and he has already fallen hook, line and sinker for my other alsatian Jess - aaaaahhhhhh!!!! No doubt, it'll take a bit of time and effort to get Jim, Jess and Max to live in sweet harmony (not to mention all my mum and dads dogs) but I think we'll get there.

You can read all the entries of the Diary here

GARY BARLOW'S DIARY - FEBRUARY '99

This was the big one because I got engaged just after Valentine's Day. Dawn and I had gone to New York with my mum and dad and the timing just seemed perfect. We had a fabulous few days away and got to visit Niagara Falls as well as doing tons of shopping in good ol' NYC... Dawn passed her driving test in January too so all in all we had a lot of celebrating to do.

You can read all the entries of the Diary here

GARY BARLOW'S DIARY - JANUARY '99

Apart from adding a few finishing touches to the album, the main event was taking delivery of my new Porsche 911 and my interview and performance on The Parkinson Show. It was great rehearsing the band for the show but it was really nerve racking doing an interview with someone as famous as Parky and after such a long time away from the bright lights... It was good to hear (& see) a few of you fans in the audience and at the gate to Television Centre, this made me feel a whole heap better. The Porsche by the way is top and was a late Christmas/birthday pressie to myself!!!!!! By the way thanks for all the birthday gifts you sent via The Fanclub... you spoil me!

You can read all the entries of the Diary here

TAKE THAT - DO WHAT YOU LIKE "MAKING OF"

The low-budget music video for "Do What U Like", co-directed by former BBC Radio 1 DJ and The Old Grey Whistle Test presenter Rosemary "Ro" Barratt (née Newton) and MTV Europe director Angie Smith, was shot at Vector Television studios in Heaton Mersey on 21 June 1991. Featuring the band getting naked, bare buttocks and smearing jelly over themselves, the video was banned from daytime television, and at the time was only shown on Pete Waterman's late night show The Hitman and Her. It regularly features on documentaries on "bad music videos" programmes. A VH1 survey placed the video at number 2 in its all-time worst video list, behind Cliff Richard's "Wired for Sound". Reaction to the video (and, to an extent, the song) among the bandmates has been somewhat negative. In the documentary Take That: For the Record, Barlow admits that neither the song nor video were brilliant, but they were important in helping the band getting noticed. The video was also omitted from the 2005 video compilation Never Forget - The Ultimate Collection.

GARY BARLOW LIVE @ Woodside ‘End of Summer’ Party

We are looking forward to welcoming exclusive guests to the Woodside ‘End of Summer’ Party in association with Chopard on Thursday, 4th September 2014. It is going to be a fun party and a great opportunity for friends to regroup after the long summer break and enjoy delicious and fantastic food, entertainment and music, all within the gardens of Elton and David’s Windsor home.We have some really exciting news that we wanted to share with you about the Party Elton has been very busy organising an amazing line-up of “pop-up” performers for the evening including Gary Barlow, Tom Odell, James Blunt, Chrissie Hynde, Alfie Boe and of course, Elton himself. To end the night we will be unveiling an extraordinary night club, Grey Goose La Nuit des Étoiles, with a live set from Fat Boy Slim.Follow all the updates on social media by following #WoodsideParty

Source: http://london.ejaf.org/aids-news/woodsidepartynews/

TAKE THAT FACTS

The first official Take That press shot.

What was the name of Take That's first album?

TAKE THAT & PARTY

The album, which reached number two in the UK charts, included hits like It Only Takes a Minute and A Million Love Songs - although it failed to produce any number one singles.

At what famous Greater Manchester recording studio did Gary and Mark meet?

Strawberry Studios, Stockport

Gary had won recording time there after coming third in a local talent contest and Mark worked there as a tea boy.

What was their first number one single in the UK?

Pray

The song was the second single from their sophamore studio album Everything Changes. It stayed at number one for four weeks after it was released on July 5, 1993.

What was the name of the band that Gary and Mark formed before Take That?

The Cutest Rush

ROBBIE WILLIAMS #ICEBUCKETCHALLENGE

GARY BARLOW'S DIARY - December '98

The highlight of December was that Howard and I went on a fantastic freebie trip which was organised by the Sultan of Oman in conjunction with Formula 1 and the national pro-karting association. We flew out to Oman to compete in a 48 hour Pro-kart race. Eight teams took part, mainly made up of Formula 1 drivers, pro-karting fanatics and... er... me and Howard. I have to admit that my day's spent on the winners podium whilst go-karting in Cheshire weren't relived in Oman. I knew I was beaten and so I just had a thoroughly good time. 

 Other than Chrimbo, the other big event in December was my holiday. Dawn & I flew off to Jumbly Bay, an island just off Antigua for 10 days and had a super time. I was made up with my tan as I had been turning a rather sickly shade of green from being cooped up in the studio for so long. If anything, our spell in Jumbly Bay made me look a good deal healthier which can only be considered a plus.

 You can read all the entries of the Diary here

GARY BARLOW - #ICEBUCKETCHALLENGE

He nominated his bandmates Mark, Howard, Jason and Robbie

GARY BARLOW'S DIARY - November '98

I spent most of November mixing the album on a fantastic boat on the river in Surrey and all in all it was pretty quiet. I had been feeling pretty miserable as by rights I should have been on tour and I spent most of my spare time feeling that I'd let all of you down. However, towards the end of the month, I got a call, out of the blue, from Elton and he asked me if I'd like to appear on stage with him at the Nynex Arena in Manchester. I couldn't believe that he was asking me - I felt so chuffed. Without even hesitating I said yes and we decided that we would sing 'Sacrifice' together. I have to say that Elton gave me the nicest introduction that anyone could give you and this moment will stay in my memory for a long time. I couldn't believe the welcome I got - it certainly lifted my spirits and I couldn't stop grinning for week's afterwards. What a night!

 You can read all the entries of the Diary here

GARY BARLOW'S DIARY - October '98

On the 22nd I attended the ASCAP dinner (American Society of composers and Publishers). I had been asked along to pick up the award for the most performed British work for 'Back For Good' which I have now won for three years running. It's amazing to think that this song still gets so much airplay in the States. For me, there nothing more rewarding that receiving a publishing award because they are in recognition of the actual songwriter and what I love doing most of all is writing songs. The Spice Girls were all there too and it was a very good night.

 You can read all the entries of the Diary here

GARY BARLOW'S DIARY - September '98

The most amazing thing that happened in September was that I became an Uncle for the first time. My little nephew Lewis was born on the 24th September. He's a beaut' - and he's growing so fast it's unbelievable. My brother Ian and his wife Lisa are thrilled to bits with him - he's a great addition to the household. Also in September, the strings for 'Lie To Me' were recorded at CTS studios in Wembley. Will Malone was responsible for the string arrangement ( he did the amazing strings on The Verve's 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' too ) and he did the song proud. We had a 34 piece orchestra and I invited my Mum and Dad down to watch the recording - it was wonderful. Of course, I had to squeeze in another Grand Prix and the tail end of September and this time it was off to Nurburg in Germany for the Luxembourg Grand Prix. Howard came with me and Hakinnen won by about 4 seconds - Schumacher looked non too pleased if you ask me!

 You can read all the entries of the Diary here

GARY BARLOW'S DIARY - August '98

Without sounding like a bore, the highlight of August was the Belgian Grand Prix. I went along with my Dad, firstly we had good weather and secondly we had brilliant seats. In fact, early on in the race there was a massive pile up right in front of our grandstand. There were bits of car flying all over the place which was a bit frightening for my Dad - as he'd never been to a race before - but I found it really exciting. Anyway, because the race was so delayed we had to leave early to catch our flight so we ended up listening to the end of the race on the car radio. It was an amazing day and to top it all Damon Hill won!!

 You can read all the entries of the Diary here

ANNOUNCEMENT FROM GARY BARLOW ABOUT REUNION !

Morning! The time tunnel is on, get ready for a big Take That announcement from Gary Barlow;) Toby

— Heart London (@HeartLondon) 19 Agosto 2014

Gary and the guys are back !

GARY BARLOW'S DIARY - July '98

Two great things happened this month, the first of which was opening Capital Radio's 'Party In The Park' concert on the 5th. It was a beautiful sunny day and the crowd of... thousand were absolutely amazing. Howard joined me on stage for a rendition of 'Never Forget' and all in all it was top!

Then on July 12th I went to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Talk about the wettest day of the year - it was virtually impossible to see the cars, let alone hear what was happening over the loud speakers. The rain was coming down in buckets and it turned into a huge hail storm - in fact the race was stopped for a while as the weather conditions were so bad. All in all it was a bit of a wash out! Schumacher won though - he's a lean, mean, driving machine!

 You can read all the entries of the Diary here

Smokey Robinson featuring Gary Barlow GET READY Listen now !

Listen to " Get Ready " the new track by Smokey Robinson featuring Gary Barlow !

https://www.mixcloud.com/chelseaboots/get-ready-gary-barlowsmokey-robinson/

Lyrics

Welcome

Welcome to TAKEGAZ the most exciting website about Gary Barlow, Robbie Williams, Jason Orange, Howard Donald and Mark Owen ! I'll update the various sections of the site very soon,  in the meantime check it out my Twitter account for daily news. Peace Folks !