Posted April 13, 200916 yr Monday, April 13 2009, 13:30 BST By Lara Martin, Entertainment Reporter Rex Features Mark Owen is reportedly planning on relaunching his solo career after Take That record their next album. According to The Sun, the singer is hoping to release his fourth solo LP after the band deliver their third and final record under their current deal with Polydor. "Mark has loved the Take That reunion, every second of it. But he still has a huge desire to be on stage with his own band regardless of all the money, huge crowds and success he has been used to with Take That," said an unnamed friend of the star. Owen is reported to be working on solo material during his time off. He released his first debut single 'Child' in 1996, which reached number three in the UK charts, although his debut album Green Man peaked at number 33. Take That's second LP since reforming in 2006, The Circus, debuted at number one last year.
April 13, 200916 yr Monday, April 13 2009, 13:30 BST By Lara Martin, Entertainment Reporter Rex Features Mark Owen is reportedly planning on relaunching his solo career after Take That record their next album. According to The Sun, the singer is hoping to release his fourth solo LP after the band deliver their third and final record under their current deal with Polydor. "Mark has loved the Take That reunion, every second of it. But he still has a huge desire to be on stage with his own band regardless of all the money, huge crowds and success he has been used to with Take That," said an unnamed friend of the star. Owen is reported to be working on solo material during his time off. He released his first debut single 'Child' in 1996, which reached number three in the UK charts, although his debut album Green Man peaked at number 33. Take That's second LP since reforming in 2006, The Circus, debuted at number one last year. Apparently, the contract with Polydor gives them the option to do UP TO three albums ... but they do have a 'get out' clause in it which means that The Circus could in fact be the last ... they don't have to do a third. If Mark is anxious to go ahead with his solo stuff ... I think the best time to do it would be after The Circus tour. I think Mark genuinely is in it for the music and I think his solo work gives him more satisfaction than the stuff he does with Take That so good luck to him if this is true (which as opposed to a lot of other stuff we read about TT, etc, does have a lot of truth in it.) I think a lot of Mark fans do actually prefer his solo material so it would be good news for them too. I hope fans of the other three don't get their hopes up though ... as Gary has categorically said he will NEVER do anything solo again ... it will be strictly 'behind the scenes' for him (although I do hope to see him pop up as a guest now and again on some tv shows - after his 'on form' turn on Chris Moyles last night). I've said it before and I'll say it again ... I think this tour is the last we see of Take That ... if there is a third album it will be a 'best of' and goodbye. Norma Edited April 13, 200916 yr by Norma_Snockers
April 13, 200916 yr Author Its hard to know but i live in hope of a third studio album then a best of and we will probably eventually get a live album, mark definitly loves his music and is in the business for music but i cant see the re union helping his solo career too much,he will probably have a sizeable enough hit with the first single and the album will go top 40 or someting and after that he will struggle like before but again i dont think he expects any more and is doing his solo stuff for the love of it, I think the lads should do a 3rd album as the circus was a great step forward from beautiful world and i would like to see the direction of a third album,howard wants take that to go on the most and considering they split the last time agsinst what howard wanted as such it would be good fi they went ,its hard to know what will happen but the lads did say take that are back for as long as the interest is there and their is alot of interest in them yet.
April 13, 200916 yr I see Mark as a team player. As long as the other want TT he will be in it. He was actually the one proposing the reunion (if i understand right from Gary's book), so i don't see him being the first out. Howard was also every time celebrating TT and the only one which didn't say a bad word about TT. IMO is between Gary and Jason who will want first to end it. Gary because he loves to be the force behind the curtain and Jason because he finds celebrity and popstar cringe worth. If they will end TT , i think Mark would continue to do what he likes: music. He would have done in the past something else when was obviously he is not for the stardom, but no, he chosen music. He had still worked on his own music according to diverse fans asking him. I don't think he has any illusion left after so many years in the business about being a superstar. Peter, you are right: beside money he will have nothing left from TT. His music is for other feeling and other audience. But before breaking in panic about the end of TT because of Mark going solo as at TT official forum , people, it is only The Sun and an unofficial source, a "close source" :lol: . He even doesn't update his website, he doesn't come in the news, doesn't look for the limelight, doesn't make any charity show: no sign to me that he is about to make something solo :lol: . I think TT decide every time quite close what they do and they don't plan ahead more than a year. So, if they will have still fun, they will go further after the third album, if not then not. It is also the problem how much success they will get with the third album. The older an act is, the more difficult his success in charts is. I can see Mark solo going on despite not having success in charts, but not TakeThat. I would like both , TT and Mark solo, going on at the same time, TT taking some more time for new albums, Mark using the times between. And LOL at the news and how it went through the whole internet. It is even in Romanian news, but there is already that soon TT will be in three members :lol: . And exactly this tone i was expecting relative to Mark solo. No offence, but Gary won't have now such bad press... :lol:
April 13, 200916 yr Realistically though - Take That can't go on much longer. Jason was right when he said they'd look a bit daft doing this indefinitely. Personally I'd rather they went out on a high (at the end of this tour). I can't see another album doing as well as The Circus and certainly nowhere near as well as Beautiful World. I think the relative 'failure' of Up All Night will have been a bit of a wake up call. Despite everyone making excuses for it saying that 'it was the second single from a major selling album' - remember - Shine was the second single from an album that had sold the same number of copies at the same stage in its life and yet Shine still managed to get to number 1. Having said that ... for me ... Up All Night is the best 'single' worthy song on the album ... but it just didn't reach out the way their other stuff had. Yes I know singles aren't everything (even albums) the tours are where the money is ... but you cannot have a mega-selling tour on the back of bad selling records. Despite this being in 'The Sun' there is an element of truth in it in that Mark does seem to want to do his own stuff (smaller venues, more intimate gigs, etc - these things are 'Mark') I don't think he is motivated by money at all. The success of Take That will have afforded him the luxury to finance a go at his own stuff. I don't blame him. Sometimes I get the feeling Take That isn't going in the direction he'd like - maybe he thinks its a bit cheesy! Me - I like the cheesy-ness - but I wouldn't be too disappointed if it ended at the end of this summer tour. I'd rather they went out with a 'bang' than a whimper (sp). Norma Edited April 13, 200916 yr by Norma_Snockers
April 13, 200916 yr Author Comparing up all night to shine is fair enough but again the outlook on singles has changed alot snce that short period,,,,we all know a follow up to a 2.5 million selling album is a very tough act to follow but they have followed it very well and there is alot of life left in the circus yet and it is still selling very well and it hasnt got the hype as beautiful world did as naturally beautiful world was the huge comeback album. And not making excuses but not alot of acts are managing 100,000+ sales of 2nd single of a 1.5+ selling album, take that 2nd single has outsold U2;s huge comeback lead single so i think a realistic perspective on up all night is needed. Likewise the circus is the 5th best selling album of 2009 so far and this week they will overtake 4th place U2. So in terms of sales take that are certainly still a force to be reckoned with. I think they would look daft if the continued on from the dancing point of view but their is no reason in the world they cant go on doing ballad type songs and even though in general i prefer the upbeat take that songs(shine,up all night, re light my fire) its the ballads that sell well for take that and always have,so if they did continue and lets say for example do songs like rule the world patience and back for good they would not look ridiculous on stage and their is still a massive market for that style of music. What i would hope is that after the third album they still stay together but maybe spread out the work more and take longer breaks in between the albums as at the end of the day its the strength of the songs that make them successful and if they return with singles like patience there is no reason they wont remain huge. Mark if it is true will prob work in between take that work as mark isnt under pressure to deliver an album within a certain deadline, again if its true mark might gain a few extra sales on this new album from take that fans but it is hard to know. I think all 4 lads are enjoying take that 2 alot and my honest feeling is they will go on for a quite a while yet.
April 14, 200916 yr I think they would look daft if the continued on from the dancing point of view but their is no reason in the world they cant go on doing ballad type songs and even though in general i prefer the upbeat take that songs(shine,up all night, re light my fire) its the ballads that sell well for take that and always have,so if they did continue and lets say for example do songs like rule the world patience and back for good they would not look ridiculous on stage and their is still a massive market for that style of music. But when they do do ballads - its usually Gary who sings them (and lets face it he has to because his voice is really leagues ahead when it comes to ballads) then they are seen as 'Gary Barlow and his Backing Singers'. Norma
April 14, 200916 yr I loved Four Minute Warning :) I'd completly forgotten about this song, loved it. Off to download....
April 14, 200916 yr Author 4mminute was great i really loved that and child the most from all mark;s solo singles,...mark sung babe which was a take that ballad and it did quite well so gary wouldnt have to do all the ballads,songs like never forget would suit them as they grow older also and howards voice is great for that style of music
June 7, 200916 yr I've said it before and I'll say it again ... I think this tour is the last we see of Take That ... if there is a third album it will be a 'best of' and goodbye. Norma :o :cry: Damn i need to see them live beofre they make a final goodbye :(
June 7, 200916 yr :o :cry: Damn i need to see them live beofre they make a final goodbye :( From what I've read lately ... I think I was wrong about this being the last! I was doubtful they'd fill stadia ... but I've been proven utterly and totally wrong ... there was nothing to worry about at all! I think they may have one studio album and maybe another tour after this! Mind you ... from what I've seen ... I don't know how the hell they're going to top this Circus Tour ... it looks absolutely mind-blowing. Norma
June 7, 200916 yr Author they always manage to top the shows and i never really felt this would be the last tour,even if they split again which i dont think will happen for a while yet if even it does they would do a greatest hits/farewell tour
June 7, 200916 yr they always manage to top the shows and i never really felt this would be the last tour,even if they split again which i dont think will happen for a while yet if even it does they would do a greatest hits/farewell tour What the hell can they do on their next tour though Pete? I'm thinking a show on ice maybe (I'm not joking) they really have pushed the barriers. They've even done something on this tour that I never thought they'd do (and to be honest - didn't need to do) and that is play together as a band for several numbers. Gary on keyboard, Howard on drums, Mark on bass and Jason on guitar. I know Jason had actually become pretty good on the axe and Howard had always toyed with drums (as Mark has on keyboard, guitar and bass). They didn't need to - but they did it ... for the fans! I just can't wait to see them now .... and I bet you're looking forward to Croke Park! Norma
June 7, 200916 yr Author I think when take that do th etours she like to do a great show for the fans but also challenge themselves and id say that why doing the live band part is in there as its new for them...with tours its amazing how idea;s get better and better when you work with the right people and take that seem to effortlessly improve each tour they do but yet every tour is still brilliant
June 14, 200916 yr well there is nothing to suggest that Take That wont continue making records even if Mark Owen launches a solo career.
June 14, 200916 yr Author take that will continue as they plan on doing another album,mark i think will slot his solo stuff inbetween the take that stuff, take that as group take time off so in that time he will concentrate on his solo stuff i think, plus i cant see us getting a new take that album til the end of 2011 or there about so mark has plenty of time if that happens
June 14, 200916 yr take that will continue as they plan on doing another album,mark i think will slot his solo stuff inbetween the take that stuff, take that as group take time off so in that time he will concentrate on his solo stuff i think, plus i cant see us getting a new take that album til the end of 2011 or there about so mark has plenty of time if that happens Gary did say that this time they're going to take a proper break in between the end of the tour and starting work on a new album. They actually started writing material for The Circus while they were together on the Beautiful World Tour so we are talking quite a break. I agree with you Pete - it'll be late 2011 before we get anything from them again. I believe this time it will be an almost totally accoustic album too. Apparently on this tour there's a section where it is just the four of them on stage - all playing instruments (not just Gary). Having said that ... I don't really know if I want them to go in that direction ... I like the dancing and theatrics and stuff. Norma
June 14, 200916 yr Author I wouldnt be the happiaest about an acoustic album to be honest, i could be pleastantly surprised but i dont think it would suit them alot,i can see them doing an album where they are far more involved playing all the instruments ithink thats the direction they long for themselves and i woul dbe very happy with that. A long break would do them good as they have done alot since they returned and a break away would do them good plus once again build up hype for what would be deemed as a comeback, i dont think they will have any problems having a hugely successful third album at all and im sure we will get a killer lead single, on that break though im sure mark will get another solo album released and he may benefit slightly from the take that comeback, if he releases a solo album it will be interesting to watch how it will perform although for mark his solo work seems more of something for him himself rather than having success, success is just a bonus for him with his solo work
