How Take That Reformed: Lots Of Booze

Alcohol is responsible for many things: late-nights fights; unwanted pregnancies; Take That reforming. Seriously, drinking is an evil that needs to be stamped out at all costs – bring back prohibition!

I’m kidding, plainly. But it has been revealed that the consumption of alcohol is how Take That came to reform. Personally, I thank the power of booze at this juncture because for my money Take That have been better than they ever were since they made a comeback.

According to The Sun newspaper, the four (excluding Robbie) members of Take That were reunited in 2005 when filming for Take That: On The Record, a documentary to commemorate the group’s ten year anniversary.

Up to now, many fans have speculated that it was this moment which brought the group back together and sparked the reunion. And it was, to a point, with a boozy session afterwards which was actually to thank.

Mark Owen said:

“We only came back to do the ten-year documentary and to talk about what had happened and where we were now. And because of the feedback we got off that, people started saying would we tour again?”

“And then one night me, Gary and Howard went out for a drink — and we had a couple of drinks — and we thought, ‘We can do it!’ We were in the bar singing, ‘All I do each night is Pray… ’ Basically we were a bit slopped up and we phoned Jay, I think he was at a wedding, and we said, ‘Jay, Jay, we’ve got this brilliant idea, come back.’”

“So he came back from the wedding at two in the morning, we went round to Gary’s house and we stayed up ’til six, envisioning it, getting all really excited. Then we went home and slept and then obviously when you wake up it was like, ‘What have we just… What have we decided to do?’”

I’ve heard how booze has lead to bands splitting up before, but reforming? That’s a new one on me. Maybe Take That’s experience should now be used as a template for other groups wondering whether to give it another go or not.

Jimmy, invite Robert round and talk about the good ol’ days of Led Zeppelin. Johnny, take Morrissey out for a few bevvies and see what happens. And Gary, have an evening of serious drinking in L.A. and persuade Robbie to rejoin the fold.

You never know, lightning could strike twice.

[Photo Source: From Newscom with permission]