Take That

Band manager Nigel Martin-Smith in 1989 had a vision to create a youthful and highly appealing male singing group based on New Kids on the Block. Introduced to young singer Gary Barlow, Martin-Smith decided to design the group around Barlow’s talents, subsequently inviting Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and 16-year-old Robbie Williams. Originally performing under the moniker Kick It, Take That’s breakthrough came with a cover of the Tavares hit “It Only Takes a Minute”, followed by “I Found Heaven” and “A Million Love Songs”. Take That later released the album “Take That & Party” in 1992 which featured all of the hit singles theretofore released.

In 1993 the band released their second full-length album “Everything Changes” garnering generous amounts of popular appeal. The album peaked at No.1 and spawned six singles including “Pray”, “Relight My Fire” and “Babe”. Nominated for the Mercury prize the band saw some international esteem however wasn’t enough to break into the U.S. market.

On the wake of Take That’s third studio album “Nobody Else”, Robbie Williams came under some criticism from other band members for his drug use and was offered an ultimatum: sort himself out or hit the road. Williams chose the latter and Take That embarked on their first worldwide tour and released the album “Nobody Else” in America with Williams removed.

Sensing an opportunity to continue his solo careers in the shadow of artists like Elton John an George Michael, Gary Barlow and the group disbanded in 1996. Barlow’s debut solo single reached the No. 2 spot in the UK chart and Mark Owen began working on a solo album influenced by Paul Weller and Radiohead. In 1997 Robbie issued his solo album “Life Thru a Lens” which topped the charts as did his sophomore release “I’ve Been Expecting You” a year later.

In 2005 a new compilation of Take That hits “Never Forget - The Ultimate Collection” arrived which led to an ITV documentary where the band discussed things past. In late 2005 the post-Williams line-up announced they would tour around the UK in 2006 and released the album “Beautiful World”. The album shot straight to the No. 1 spot, sold over 2.8 million copies and is the UK’s 25th best selling album in chart history. The album was led by the single “Patience” which hit the No. 1 spot, the group’s ninth single to do so.

In 2008 Take That released their new single “Greatest Day” ahead of their fifth studio album “The Circus”. Like its predecessors the album broke many records and earned many awards, afterwards the band embarked on their Take That Present - The Circus Tour Live”.

Robbie Williams returned in 2010 with the single written by both Barlow and Williams entitled “Shame”. Subsequently the band released the single “The Flood” ahead of the group’s 2010 album “Progress”. In 2014 the group released the album “III” led by the No. 1 single “These Days".

Working on music together since they were young boys, the duo found work in Los Angeles as a song writing team for the likes of TLC, Britney Spears and Boyz II Men. After a few false starts with their own record deal, the friends returned to Dublin and recruited drummer Glen Power. With this addition, The Script was born and the band never looked back.

The release of the band’s first album “The Script” blew critics and listeners away and debuted in the number one position on the UK and Irish charts. Much of the success of this first album must be accredited to the singles “We Cry” and “Break Even”, but mostly to “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved” which reached number two on the Irish and UK singles charts.

With the buzz generated from the first album, The Script won legions of fans across Europe and the US which assured that the release of their three subsequent albums – “Science & Faith”, “#3” and “No Sound Without Silence” – all hit the number one or two spot within the UK and Ireland, and were all top 20 albums in the US.

The band has completed three world tours to support their albums, and their hit singles “Hall of Fame” – which saw the band collaborate with will.i.am - and “Superheroes” are always met with excitement wherever they play. While the band has only been making music since 2001, their sound is certainly mature and self-assured.

The Script’s pop rock melodies and thoughtful lyrics can certainly be traced back to the band’s influences, which include Van Morrison, Snow Patrol, The Police and U2. Already off to a great start, The Script certainly have many more musical tricks up their sleeve, and their fans are dying to hear them.

Born the first of seven siblings, Carlisle’s earliest musical excursion was playing drums in the punk band Germs under the moniker Dottie Danger. After leaving the Germs and providing backing vocals for Black Randy and the Metrosquad, the singer co-formed the Go-Gos alongside Margot Olavarria, Elissa Bello, and Jane Wiedlin. The line-up changed soon after and became Carlisle on lead vocals, Charlotte Caffet on guitar, Kathy Valentine on bass, and Gina Shock on drums.

The Go-Gos proved ever popular across the U.S., were the first all-female band to achieve a No. 1 U.S. album, and help introduce the new wave genre to the ‘80s with their debut album “Beauty and the Beat”. The group went on to sell over seven million records and become one of the world most successful all-female bands.

In 1985 the group disbanded and Carlisle pursued a solo career. The year after in 1986 the singer released her debut solo album “Belinda” to positive reviews, led by the summer hit “Mad About You”. The album later spawned the singles “I Feel the Magic”, “Band of Gold”, and “Since You’ve Gone”, and led to Carlisle contributing songs to the film soundtracks “Mannequin”, “Out of Bounds”, and “Burglar”. Taking her sound in a more power-pop direction, Belinda Carlisle’s sophomore album “Heaven on Earth” was a Top Five hit in the UK and Australia, and proved to be the singer's most successful album. Earning Carlisle a Grammy nomination, the album was supported by a worldwide tour including a sold-out show at Wembley Arena in London.

The singer’s subsequent album “Runaway Horses” (1989) once again rose to the Top Five in the UK and Australia, aided by the singles “Leave a Light On” featuring George Harrison, “Summer Rain”, “La Luna”, and “(We Want) The Same Thing”. The year after Carlisle reunited with the Go-Gos for a worldwide tour in support of their best-of compilation album “Greatest”.

Carlisle’s fourth solo effort “Live Your Life Be Free” arrived in 1991, which became her first album to fail to reach the charts. Coupled with the commercial disappointment of her fifth album “Real”, Carlisle resumed the comeback with the Go-Gos in 1994 and embarked on a celebrated world tour.

The singer has subsequently released the solo albums “A Woman and a Man” in 1996, and “Voila” in 2007, both of which performed well in the charts, and which rejuvenated the Go-Gos continued touring and compilation albums.