To celebrate 25 years since Take That formed we’ve compiled their most memorable moments.
From the highs to lows, 90s fashion fails and questionable hairstyles, here are the top 25 highlights (not those kind) we will never forget:
1. Everything about this photo
We’re not sure why in the early days they felt the need to dress like they were heading to a gay nightclub, in their tight-fitting Lycra and leather outfits. But it certainly got our attention. Let’s take a moment to appreciate the boys in 1990 and be thankful that the definition of acceptable outfits has advanced somewhat.
2. When their hair fell victim to the 90s
Gary and Robbie went peroxide, greased back hair and so many more questionable hair choices that we all prayed it wouldn’t last long. Luckily they have found new hair stylists but the memories live on.
3. When Robbie embraced his feminine side
It’s never a dull moment with former band member Robbie Williams, as proven by this unusual campaign in 1995 for the soft drink 7-up. Not quite sure if wearing budgie-smugglers and a wig has anything to do with the fizzy drink but it doesn’t look like Robbie cared too much about the details of this advert.
4. There’s something about Robbie
Remember when Robbie used to always get a bit carried away with the hair gel? Reminds us of a certain 90s romcom…
5. When Harold tried a new look
Speaking of hair – what was Howard Donald thinking?! He repeatedly tried to make dreadlocks look good on him before realising he couldn’t and thankfully going back to his silky locks. Thank you for giving up on dreadlocks for good.
6. Every time Mark Owen has forgotten what size he actually is
It must be tough being the shortest member of the band but Mark sometimes likes to overcompensate by playing dress-up and borrow clothes from one of the taller members. The resulting look is rather endearing though.
7. When Robbie made dungarees look sexy
From being shirtless underneath to wearing white ones with matching cardigans, Robbie sure knew how to pull off dungarees on stage.
8. When someone let Robbie wear this jumper
Robbie’s quirks and eccentricities are part of the reason we all love him so much, the same does not apply to this awful jumper that we can’t imagine was ever fashionable. It must be tough to see all his fashion fails archived forever in photos but we hope it helps him realise it was a bad choice and ensures it never resurfaces.
9. Gary’s Transformation
From awkward band member to total hunk- nicely played Gary. He’s now 44 and has never looked so good.
10. When Jason lived up to his namesake
We all love Jason Orange but it seemed he got a bit carried away with fake tan or bronzer for his appearance at the 2011 Echo Music Awards ceremony in Berlin.
11. Jason’s Impression
Very few people can look this good while doing a Scooby-Doo impression on national television, but Jason Orange pulled it off and it was simply adorable. Dressed in matching white suits, the rest of the band cheered on his uncanny imitation of the beloved cartoon dog.
12. When Robbie left and it broke our hearts
There were a few questionable conspiracy theories like this one:
But we all eventually learned to accept that he was gone.
13. When Gary and Robbie made up and healed them again
Faithful fans remained hopeful and dreamed of the day that Gary and Robbie would release a video that featured them swimming and drinking at a bar together. And that dream finally came true when they released Shame in 2010.
14. When the band split up in 1996
But we never gave up hope that they would come back to us someday.
15. When they were finally reunited in 2006 and the world made sense again
The heartache was over, they were Back For Good and it felt like they’d never left.
16. When we all finally had to accept that Jason and Robbie have left
The ups and downs of Robbie leaving, coming back, then leaving again on top of Jason Orange’s decision to leave as well was a harsh blow for all their fans. Luckily the band have picked themselves up, proved their resilience and are sure to win us over again with their current tour as a trio.
17. When they met their tribute band
It was love at first sight on The Graham Norton Show last year when the boys met their tribute act. The band admits to usually being a bit sceptical about tributes but praised Rule The World who were sitting in the audience. Everyone was impressed by Gary’s speaking voice but things went a bit south when he started singing.
18. When they released this song…
And it was The Greatest Day (sorry, had to be done)
19. Oh and this song:
And they proved that they Ruled The World or at least ruled the charts and our hearts.
20. Clowning Around
Most of the group showcased their many skills on unicycles for The Circus Live tour. Jason Orange told Jonathan Ross that most of the band rode unicycles but that Gary had a bad back so he couldn’t. He said, “We thought we were going to take all the glory so we all come out on unicycles and Gary comes out on a this little tiny bike on stabilisers and he still took all the glory.”
21. Clowning Glory
Turns out they like their circus act and recently brought it back in Glasgow on Monday for the opening night on tour as a trio with Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald.
22. When they set hearts racing with this saucy strip tease
The lads all showed off their cheeky sides in 1993 with this striptease during their ‘Party Tour.’
23. Mark’s on-air nap
Poor Mark needed a quick kip during a Radio 1 interview with the band. He tried to be sly and cover it up by saying he was just listening, but the webcams don’t lie and his band mates reveal that it isn’t the first time Mark has nodded off in the middle of an interview.
24. Naughty and approaching forty
This rather risque performance at the O2 arena in 2007. The married members of the band kept their gaze carefully averted away from the scantily clad dancers but it still made for a memorable performance as they proved they haven’t missed a beat since they started the band as teenagers.
25 . Letting out their inner demons
When they wore these bizarre costumes and pretended to be the devil. We weren’t quite sure what on earth was going on with these outfits but it’s Take That so, of course, we just went with it and still loved it.
So thank you for giving us so many great moments over the past 25 years that we’ll Never Forget. Take it away boys…
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