Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / ENTERTAINMENT
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
Entertainment Contents:  Arts & Culture

Monday, 24 April 2006, 08:03 GMT 09:03 UK

Fans witness Take That comeback

Take That on stage in Newcastle Take That have opened their reunion tour in Newcastle, with former member Robbie Williams joining them briefly on stage - but only in hologram form.

Gary Barlow, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Howard Donald are playing 29 dates, a decade after originally splitting up.

Williams appeared for the introduction of Could It Be Magic before the others took over and the hologram faded.

More than 9,000 fans watched eight costume changes and huge light shows around a circular stage.

Fans relive youth

Women reliving their teenage years were among the audience at Newcastle's gig.

"I cried when they split up, but I hope they don't re-form"
Hayley Freeman
Take That fan


One fan, Julia Higgins, 35, of Chester-le-Street, County Durham, said: "Jason is my favourite, and I think he has still got the moves."

She added: "I wouldn't have missed this for the world. I saw them in Glasgow in 1994 and I just had to see them again."

An estimated 300,000 people have bought tickets for the tour which includes Glasgow, Manchester, Dublin, Belfast and Cardiff Millennium Stadium.

Newcastle pub landlady Vicki Armstrong, 34, said: "It is fantastic that they are back together, and we are going to see Robbie Williams live in September.

Take That singer Gary Barlow

"We just love Take That, full stop. £35 is definitely worth it."

'Stop now'

Her friend, Hayley Freeman, of Holywell, Tyne and Wear, was more cautious.

She said: "I have loved them every since they first came out, and I cried when they split up, but I hope they don't re-form. They have got to stop now and do these tours every 10 years."

At the height of their fame, Take That became the first act since the Beatles to score four consecutive UK number ones.

Their 15 hits included Relight My Fire, Could It Be Magic and Back For Good, and the band notched up 10 million album sales before splitting in 1996.

The last time Barlow, Donald, Orange and Owen performed together on a British stage was at London's Earls Court in August 1995.



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Stadium delay hits Wembley gigs (31 Mar 06 |  Entertainment )
Take That reunion tour sells out (03 Dec 05 |  Entertainment )
Take That get ready for comeback (25 Nov 05 |  Entertainment )
Take That confirm a reunion tour (25 Nov 05 |  Entertainment )
Take That: The missing years (25 Nov 05 |  Entertainment )
Robbie misses Take That reunion (15 Nov 05 |  Entertainment )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Take That
Robbie Williams
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
Entertainment Contents:  Arts & Culture

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©