MusicBox - Take That - The Timeless Boy Band in the Modern Era
Feb, 7 2026
In the 1980’s American boy band New Kids on the Block were riding high in the charts and proved to be a commercial hit everywhere. As the decade closed Manchester based Nigel Martin Smith saw the potential in creating a British equivalent to NKOTB.
It was his introduction to a youthful singer songwriter Gary Barlow and a series of auditions for other eventual members that became the 5 piece boyband supergroup – Take That.
The line up included –
- Howard Donald – a vehicle painter and professional DJ
- Jason Orange – a popular breakdancer
- Mark Owen – a bank employee
- Robbie Williams – the youngest and most rebellious
They were initially called Kick It but Take That had a punchier name. They performed on various television shows in the early days. Their breakthrough song was a cover of the 1975 Tavares hit ‘It only takes a minute’ which peaked at number 7 on the UK Singles chart in June 1992.
The next four years saw the band receive commercial success thanks to hit albums such as 1993’s ‘Everything Changes’ giving Robbie and Mark lead vocals and 1995’s ‘Nobody Else’ their last as a current 5 piece.
Sadly by the summer of 1995 wayward Robbie Williams drifted slightly leading to his eventual departure meaning they were now a four piece and had to somehow carry on with a scheduled world tour leaving the remaining four in the thick of it.
Its 30 years this month when Take That called it a day in their current state. Let’s remind ourselves of the press conference –
From 1996 -2005 the remaining four had some challenging years. Gary spiralled into depression and excessive eating, Mark ventured on a solo career but got dropped by his record label, Howard too experienced depression and a return to DJing, Jason took the quiet option.
Then, something happened, something celestial above the stars. The remaining four agreed to document their time in the band for the ITV1 documentary ‘Take That – For the Record’. By November 2005 there was an official press conference announcing the band were going back on tour in 2006.
But as they were performing all the classics, Gary thought ‘Hang on…there’s space for some new material here’… Hence the comeback single ‘Patience’ to sum up the past 10 years their fans have waited for the return.
And here is the music video –
It would be another five years before ‘Progress’ was released when Robbie briefly returned to complete an album which, when performed live was an amazing nostalgia trip for the fans. After 2010, Robbie and also Jason sailed off into the sunset.
Check out the bands active website –
Now in 2026 after a rise and fall and rise again Take That are stronger than ever. Despite now reduced to a three piece this hasn’t stopped them making hit records and a revival of their Circus Live Tour is coming this summer as is a new album towards the end of this year making their tenth. Take That continue to evolve and change with the times much like their line-up. They’ve experienced mega success and total loss yet the one thing that kept them going was their friendship. This unity remains unique and will continue as they enter a new era of music. To all their weak boyband successors……Take That!
^Alex Ashworth CCG Content Creator
