The biggest UK teen sensation since the 
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Beatles, Take That sent squeals across the 
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land in the early 1990s, putting the likes of 
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Bros and A-ha to shame. Led by ruddy-
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cheeked Gary Barlow, they pretty much 
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coined the term “boyband” and set an all-
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singin’, all-dancin’ standard that would be 
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followed worldwide by such lesser acts as 
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Westlife and *NSYNC. 
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Barlow, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams 
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started performing as the Cutest Rush, before 
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breakdancing champs Jason Orange and 
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Howard Donald augmented the trio. Their first 
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chart hit as Take That was It Only Takes a 
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Minute in 1992, and by the end of that year 
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they had won seven gongs at the Smash Hits 
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Awards. They reached the top of the singles 
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and album charts in 1993, but despite 
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continuing success and a series of UK No1 
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hits through 1994 into 1995, Robbie 
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announced his ambitions to pursue a solo 
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career and left in the middle of the year. 
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Their popularity now being challenged by 
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guitar-driven Britpop groups, the band finally 
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threw in the sweaty towel in February 1996. 
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Gary Barlow’s debut solo single was held off 
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the No1 spot by the Spice Girls, who were 
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being touted as the female Take That.