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ICONS' RETURN
Take That announce brand new album in major comeback after six years as they tease Las Vegas residency
AFTER six years, the wait is finally over for Take That fans as the band announce they are back with new music.
Today in Bizarre, Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald reveal their ninth studio album – and new single Windows.
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However, their devoted followers may need to show a little more Patience if they’re keen for the original five-piece to get back together.
Robbie Williams and Jason Orange are still missing from new collection This Life, which is out November 24.
In an exclusive chat inside The Langham hotel in London, Gary said: “The one thing I keep hearing is that Take That are coming back but there’s no Robbie and Jason.
“Robbie hasn’t been in the band since 2011 and Jason left in 2014.
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“We’ve always said they’re welcome to join us but we’ve done about 600 shows since they were around.
“We’re a three at the moment and we’re doing OK.”
They went back-to-basics for the new record with Gary, Howard and Mark secretly working together in the States.
Most personal album
“It’s been years since it’s been just the three of us by ourselves,” Gary explains. “So that was pretty special.
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“While we were recording in Georgia, we’d have breakfast together, just us, then get an Uber into the studio.
“We’d have a full-on two hour vocal session — a lot of work in a short space — and then go out to dinner together.”
Mark adds: “This record was made in a different way. We went into the studio there was a band in the room all holding lyric sheets.
“The studio days started and ended with a bigger band and that was amazing. I think that comes across in the music.”
Gary continues: “It’s been longer than anticipated.
“Music tends to tap you on the shoulder when it’s ready to come out and that’s how we knew it was time.
"That started last summer and we knew whatever we made would be out for this Christmas.
“It’s one of our most personally written albums.”
The three look in remarkably good nick for blokes in their fifties, with Howard admitting they had to shape up ahead of the release.
He says with a grin: “Some of us are fitter than others these days.
“Back when we first started, we’d all be in the bar after the gigs all having a couple of drinks and then waking up late and having cheese on toast.
"Now, if you burn the candle at both ends, you’re not only letting yourself down but also the audience who came to see you.
"So we take care of ourselves. You’ve got to be on your game.
“I go swimming two to three times a week and I have cold showers and saunas.”
Gary adds: “I try to do F45 [a workout that combines different exercise elements] and weight training four or five times a week.
“And I have an ice bath every day. When I don’t do it I find I have more aches and pains.”
The group will today announce a huge tour which will see them play dates across the UK next year.
But while Take That — who have had eight No1 albums and 12 No1 singles — have played some of the country’s biggest stages, they have yet to be invited to Worthy Farm.
Gary laughs and says: “You need to be asked to do Glastonbury, you can’t sell yourself into it,” before Mark adds: “It might happen.
“In the past, we’ve had such big productions but now we do try to be a bit more mobile so I think we’re more prepared to do things like Glastonbury.
“Elton John did a great job this year. It would be great to experience it.”
The trio poured their hearts into This Life, with emotional lead single Windows giving an insight into harder times within the group, with lyrics including: “I’ve been through a year of madness, replaced my hope with sadness” and “Every day it felt the longest, blessings were unwanted, constantly haunted”.
Speaking about the meaning behind the track, Gary explains: “Being in your fifties is a good time to ask questions [of yourself].
“We’re human too, we have the same list of problems as anyone else, maybe just in a different order. That’s what this is about.”
Howard adds: “It’s all relative to life. Underneath it all we all have kids, we all have problems, we have to sort things out just as anyone else does.
“I have it quite a lot and you don’t always like yourself.”
Being back together has clearly brought a lot of joy, with Gary, Howard and Mark bouncing off each other as they prepare to make their long-awaited return.
But one thing still to be decided is whether they’d follow in the footsteps of stars including Kylie Minogue and U2, who are both gearing up for huge residencies in Las Vegas.
Six years ago, the group were rumoured to be eyeing up a deal which would have seen fans flocking from across the globe to see them in Sin City.
When asked if the option was still on the table, Gary says with a smile: “Who knows what might happen in the next few years . . . ”
I’ll take that as a yes then.
Welcome back, boys. We’ve all missed you.
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Dance is bit of a stretch
THE lads have been hard at work preparing for their return, which includes a massive tour being announced today.
But the trio are feeling their age, with each having to warm up their muscles before starting dance rehearsals.
Howard says: “We still do routines in our shows and I need to stretch for about half an hour before we go on stage.
“At our age, if you get an injury, you might not be dancing the next day.”
Mark adds: “I used to do this move where I would spin on my back, and on one of the tours I did something to my shoulder.
“It’s been a long time since I did that move – and part of me still wants to do it.
“But it took me so long to recover.
“When my kids ask, ‘Dad, did you used to breakdance?’ I want to show them – but I’m too scared of getting hurt.”
Lads cringe at old style
WHILE the trio are looking forward to their comeback, they will not be revisiting some of their questionable previous fashion choices.
Their Nineties heyday saw them dressing in tiny vests and skin-tight trousers.
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The fashion crimes were committed by all of the band but Gary admits: “Howard loves a vest.”
Howard adds: “Those vests are from the time of the Do What U Like video.
“You know what, at the time – in that moment – when we were doing it, we were having fun. We were very joyful.
“But I do cringe at some of our photoshoots from back in the day.
“I dressed up as Tarzan once, I think I’m on Jason’s shoulders with a dagger.
“I think Gary was an astronaut.”
Idris axes DJ set after family bereavement
IDRIS ELBA has been forced to cancel his DJ set in Ibiza today following the death of his uncle.
The actor apologised to his fans who planned their trip to the White Isle to see him on the decks.
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In a video posted on Instagram, Idris explained: “I can’t make it on Friday in Ibiza and I really apologise, I’m very sorry for those of you who planned your trip to come and see me spin with Defected.
“I had a loss in my family, someone very dear to me, my uncle, and I just honestly don’t feel it in my spirit to come out and party with you guys.
“I’ll definitely make it up to you in a future date and thank you for being understanding.”
With the ongoing Hollywood strike, the Luther star has kept himself busy with music and has released a new three-track EP called The Phantom Files, which he created for the video game Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty.
He even features in it as a playable character.
KYLIE IS QUEEN OF POP-UPS
KYLIE MINOGUE’s fans are racing to London from all over the world to check out her new pop-up shop in the capital.
To celebrate the release of the 16th album Tension, out today, the premises at 55 Regent Street have been transformed to celebrate the pint-sized Australian pop star.
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Among the limited-edition merchandise on sale at the store – open now until Sunday – is a magnum of Kylie’s rosé wine, which became a sell-out after it launched in May 2020.
Chatting about the popular vino, Kylie told me: “I love that packaging so much and I actually drink my wine.
"I love it, particularly the prosecco rose. Even the zero per cent one I love as it’s very handy.”
And while Kylie doesn’t need to stock up on her own goodies, she confessed she has a stash of ABBA memorabilia from her childhood which she still treasures.
She added: “I have an Abba lunchbox but I wish I still had my Abba socks.
“That was a big deal when I was eight or nine.
“I would dance around with my friends because I was Agnetha [Faltskog], basically.
“Who knows where they have gone?
“But I still have the little lunchbox.”
Rising star Bellah is showing Respect
BELLAH MAE is my one to watch for the next few years, with the rising star releasing EP, With All Due Respect, today.
The British singer, whose new single Mr Hypocrite is also out now, will perform at a string of sold-out gigs next month and will support Caity Baser in London’s Lafayette venue on October 9.
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It’s also a big day for RLY, who put out their new single, Superpower, today.
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The five-piece group said of the song: “Superpower is about making it through something that almost breaks you.
“It shines a light on how strong we become from pushing on through these moments of darkness, and how exhilarating it can be to start feeling like yourself again.”
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