De Niro

European ticket sites serves have crashed apparently so it appears the tour is going to sell well in Europe too. I suspect many more dates will start to be added especially in Germany.

Now they are even doing 'covers' of album covers :lol: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cLmFuhOAIao/TMXUmqNxQ-I/AAAAAAAAJO8/kHE6bYRyx7U/s400/westlife.jpg http://www.ticketshub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/razorlight.jpg

:whip: I'll update it in due course. When the Irish date is added I will express a keen interest. :smoke:

The forum is active enough - there were some that had threads on the first page dating back over a year :lol: We are busy enough. Not right now due to nothing happening but the new album is out soon plus the new legs of the tours. :smoke:

No. :)

Present us with your current top 5 so :smoke: Anything without Mercy = a flop :smoke:

Take That: still adored, a million love songs later The fans who first fell for Take That are now in their thirties and forties – but their devotion is as strong as ever, says Helen Brown . The Telegragh By Helen Brown Published: 6:13PM GMT 03 Nov 2010 Click on any internet forum for Take That fans this week and you’ll be greeted with streams of emoticons. The little yellow circles posted by those lucky enough to have secured tickets for 2011’s reunion tour – the biggest sold-out tour in UK and Irish history – are jumping for joy, waving cheerleaders’ pompoms or flushing crimson with lust. Those posted by less fortunate fans are flinging desolate tears from their faces, like the hormonal teenagers these women probably were when the manufactured boy band first thrust their synchronised hips into the national consciousness with their cover of the 1975 Tavares hit It Only Takes a Minute back in 1992. Those original fans – called “Thatters” – are now mostly in their late thirties and forties. Scanning through their internet exchanges, I see they’ve been sending their husbands and children to queue or phone up for tickets. Official vendors The Ticket Factory said that sales had exceeded the company’s previous record by more than 50 per cent. BT reported that the phone network carried between three and four times the normal number of calls. As the diehards pitted themselves against the public for precious seats, one Thatter warmly congratulates another on scoring tickets for the O2 show, adding: “And congrats on becoming a grandmother too!” How has the band inspired such undimmed passion in its earliest fans? And how has its rebranded 21st-century coalition won over legions of new, ticket-buying admirers? I suspect the answer to the first question says more about women than it does about Take That. It springs from a theory I developed at a Barry Manilow concert in 2008. The women around me were in their fifties and sixties, and from the way they fanned their heaving bosoms I assumed that many had a thing for young Barry back in the Seventies. It was a stretch for me to imagine the camply attired, Tango-faced entertainer on the stage as an object of female desire, but these women still worshipped at his sequin-seamed shrine. As with Cliff Richard, they loved his older, creakier incarnation with a profounder emotion than they had felt for the twinkly-eyed lad who had first caught their eyes. Since the Seventies, his songs had stayed by their sides for better or worse, in sickness and in health. He’d never reneged on his promise to offer them romance and passion whenever real life lacked it. So they humoured his every duff joke and awkward dance move like indulgent wives. As an audience, they all but pecked him on the cheek and handed him his golf bag. And it occurred to me that, whereas I couldn’t see many men of my acquaintance turning out to see ageing versions of the female stars they’d lusted after in their youth , many women who develop proper teen crushes on pop stars make a real commitment. They dream of growing old together . To enable this dream, however, the objects of mass female affection have to fuel the fantasy. And Take That have delivered. Not only have they evolved from bare-chested hunks with cheeky, boy-next-door accents into crinkly-eyed family men in cuddly Marks and Sparks roll-necks, they have made this transformation by way of a rift-and-reconciliation narrative that has gripped the nation. Gary, Robbie, Mark, Jason and Howard were assembled in 1990 as the British answer to the phenomenally successful New Kids on the Block. Their formula of wholesome good looks, high-energy dance routines and puppy-eyed ballads soon melted the targeted adolescent hearts. But then Take That broke up at the height of their fame in 1996. The band’s youngest, most charismatic member, Robbie Williams, walked out in 1995, claiming he felt as if he’d been released from a mental asylum and complaining that songwriter Gary Barlow had always been driven home after gigs, while he’d been dropped at a Posthouse on the M1 for his mum to collect. Fans were so devastated at the band’s dissolution that the Samaritans had to set up extra lines. Wildcard Williams made a great play of rejecting the whole clean-cut, boy-band world, took drugs, hung out with more authentic musos and launched the hugely successful solo career that would eventually see him sell more than 55 million records worldwide and become Britain’s best-selling solo artist of all time. The newly credible, laddish Robbie was suddenly a hit with heterosexual men, who piled up to see him at Knebworth and chant along with wry lyrics about the vulnerability of a modern manhood: “My bed’s full of takeaways and fantasies of easy lays/ The pause button’s broke on my video.” Meanwhile, it turned out that Gary had also been feeling hard done by. In his autobiography, My Take, he describes a trip to Toys R Us in Chester. Take That dolls had been licensed, but his wasn’t in stock. “Have you got any Gary Barlows left?” he asked. “No, we haven’t,” said the assistant. “You have to buy a Mark, a Howard, a Jason and a Robbie doll, then you collect the coupons and get a Gary for free.” After the split, and after he’d been dropped by the label that had signed on for his solo career, Barlow was also mortified to learn that his image at Madame Tussauds was being melted down to make a new Britney Spears. He says by then he was so depressed, and so fat, that his Tussauds figure could probably have made all three members of Destiny’s Child. But Gary had always known how to write a good song. The cleverness and durability of his craftsmanship had been creeping up on us. Even though I was sniffy about boybands in the Nineties, I had to admire the clever, onomatopoeic melodic play in the line, “In the twist of separation, you excelled at being free” in the band’s biggest hit, Back for Good. Barlow has now won five Ivor Novello songwriting awards, done work for charity and been universally lauded as a really decent bloke. So the nation looked fondly on Take That when they reformed, sans Robbie, in 2006. Thatters were thrilled and we teen sniffers had developed a sneaking fondness for the boys, who were somehow so uniquely British that America didn’t get them. Not even Robbie! They were our platinum-selling underdogs. Take That’s second coming has arguably been more successful than the first. They’ve pulled out some more hits but, more importantly, at a time when record sales don’t add up to much, they have turned their live shows into breathtaking spectacles. Their 2009 Circus tour featured acrobats, a waterfall and a 30ft mechanical elephant, becoming the fastest-selling tour in UK history. The reconciliation with Robbie is perfectly timed. The original Thatters are mostly now married with kids. Their husbands like Robbie’s solo stuff and can hum along to all the singles that have featured on TV adverts. Their kids will love a big top spectacular. The new tour will bring not only the band, but the fan’s family together. In all the excitement over the manband’s personal reconciliation, few have given much thought to what their new music will sound like. There’s a new album out this month, called Progress. It’s Take That’s sixth album, and their first in 15 years as a five-piece. The title is meant to reflect the group’s evolution. The first single, The Flood, will feature Gary and Robbie on lead vocals: ideally, it’ll see craftsmanship and charisma combined. But it might tank, like Robbie’s current, Gary-featuring single, Shame. The fans won’t care if it’s any good or not. They’ve all preordered their copies. And, a million love songs later, I suspect those emoticons will still be weeping, flushing and cheering them on.

Take That Progress Live 2011 Tour: European Tickets On Sale Tomorrow! 4 Nov 2010 Progress Live 2011 sees the original Take That line up on tour again for the first time in over 15 years and on 12th July next summer they touch down in Milan for their first European date. This is going to be one tour you don't want to miss!

 Tickets go on sale tomorrow, Friday 5th November, but please check below for times as these differ. Be sure to make a note of the ticket link so that you're armed and ready to get your hands on tickets to see Robbie, Gary, Jason, Howard and Mark performing at a venue near you next year. Ticket Prices Tickets to see Take That on tour next year will be priced as below: Milan: €32 - €80 Copenhagen: 450DKK - 995DKK Amsterdam: €45 - €85 Hamburg: €71 - €92 (including all fees) Dusseldorf: €72 - €92 (including all fees) Munich: €60 - €91 (including all fees) Now that you've got all the info you need ahead of tomorrow, go set your alarm so that you don't miss out... we look forward to seeing you next summer! 12 July Milan San Siro Livenation Ticketmaster hotline: +39 02 53 00 65 01 VIP Packages[/color] Tickets sale begins at 21:00 CET 16 July Copenhagen Parken Billetnet Billetnet hotline: +45 70 15 65 65 VIP Packages Ticket sale begins at 10:00 CET 18 July Amsterdam Arena Ticketmaster Livenation hotline: 0900 300 1250 (Holland only €0.45 p/min) VIP Packages Ticket sale begins at 10:00 CET 22 July Hamburg Imtech Arena Tickets.de VIP Packages Ticket sale begins at 16:01 CET* *Earlybird ticket sale begins at 00:01 for those who have registered here 25 July Dusseldorf Esprit Arena Tickets.de VIP Packages Ticket sale begins at 16:01 CET* *Earlybird ticket sale begins at 00:01 for those who have registered here 29 July Munich Olympiastadion Tickets.de VIP Packages Ticket sale begins at 16:01 CET* *Earlybird ticket sale begins at 00:01 for those who have registered here robbiewilliams.com via TRWS

Tomorrow is going to be very interesting. I am still amazed they are playing stadiums without doing some promotion first - are these gigs being heavily advertised accross Europe does anyone know? It's going to be so interesting to see how the ticket sales go and how many dates are added. Germany is bound to have a good few more. Berlin surely will be added? It's where that history TT gig took place in the 90's afterall. :lol:

What a shame Heart and I isnt being released as a single. He never even performed it live at the smaller gigs he did or the TV shows to promote the album, yet we had to endure 'Shame' an endless amount of times. How annoying. :arrr:

There is no deadline yet. I want as many people as possible to do this to make things more interesting. Have already added everything up and the results are interesting so far but hopefully at least 5 more will do it. :smoke:

The 2.5M figure is one given by EMI for the end of 09 only - so a little over a month and a half. Sales have been strong since, especially the first 3 months of 2010 so it is highly likely it has hit the 3M mark - and if it hasn't it is surely close. 7heDreamer - I meant 3M including the UK figure. I agree - any estimates of this album selling 4M WW are way too high I think. Although it all depends of promotion internationally.

RKTVS sold 1.3M outside of the UK in it's first month and a half so now there is no question it is well over the 1.5M point. Total sales would exceed 3M at this stage - a year after it's release. I am not sure how likely 'Progress' selling 1M copies outside the UK are. As you say they are not very relevant these days internationally and boybands have little to no success anywhere outside the UK these days - the Robbie factor will certainly help but it all depends on the amount of exposure and promotion. I can see it going platinum in Germany - and at the most double platinum - 400,000. I can see around 700,000 copies shipped internationally.

I am very intrigued to hear the album now. I am delighted that it appears Rob has such an influence over this record by the sounds of the reviews thus far. All this talk of electro, Pet Shop Boys etc - it all sounds so fresh and modern and I think Rob clearly wanted to make the type of music he loves and with TT he can do that without going too experimental and alienating too many people as there is no question it will be very commercial. It sounds much more edgier and interesting than TT's usual music - as it says in the review ' What would Marks & Spencer say?' :lol: Sums it up and hopefully they have no say whatsoever and this is a million miles away from anything of that MOR nature to go along with M&S adverts. I still find is very odd that there is so little Gary. I mean whatever about many of the tracks not sounding like his style - he is only singing one lead? I can understand why many TT fans would not be happy. Why is there so few songs? Surely they could have put another three or four to please more of the Gaz fans? :unsure:

I know there has not been a solo tour in four years and unlikely to be another for god knows how long - but if you could choose 25 tracks for your dream set-list what would they be? Not necessarily your top 25 songs but rather songs you would want to see live. :D Mine: Let Me Entertain You (Ultimate gig opener)Karma KillerBodiesLazy DaysMonsoonTrippingStrongMandalayBetter ManToxicSupremeCursedA Place To CrashUnitedLife Thru A LensPheonix From The FlamesCoffee, Tea & SympathyUgly Love/Average B-side/Come Take Me Over/Chemical Devotion (B-sides Medley) :PNo RegretsKidsCome UndoneFeel Rock DJMilleniumAngels

Not your top 5 of all time but right now :D Mine: 1. Mercy 2. Acrobat 3. Stay 4. Breathe 5. Spanish Eyes :wub:

They need another 'Beautiful Day' - a huge radio hit that will be seen as a classic in 20 years time. Get On Your Boots was not a radio hit, or a hit by any means - we they also need a change of direction - not a drastic change but something fresh and new - so this producer could very well be what is needed. Still I'd like to hear some of that Rick Rubin material too. :D

Yet more shows added. This time in Baltimore and St. Louis :D This tour is never going to end. The South American show are due to be annoucned too. And what about Japan? Asia? :lol: I think they are going to ensure that there is no way the Rolling Stones will be around long enough to overtake this tour with their big 50th Anniversary tour next year :lol:

What about Macca? :o Celine, Mariah, Whitney and Bon Jovi have all sold more albums than Prince but could any of them sell out 25 nights in the O2 in London? None of them have had close to the influence as Prince (Macca asive) - so it is very surprising to see him go on the show. But then it was shocking when Macca appeared too. Next up David Bowie? :lol: My ideal line-up is: Friday: Eminem Saturday: U2 Sunday: Prince I don't want Coldplay again - they have done it twice already and were not brilliant the last time. Besides - better off keeping it as three legendary acts in their own genres headlining for the first time ever. :D

I predict it will certainly pass the half a million mark in it's opening week. No way will it beat Oasis's BHN's 7 day tally of well over 800,000. Rob already has six albums in the top 35 fastest selling albums ever list - so to feature on, quite possibly the second fastest selling album ever would be nice to see. In Europe I can see it clearing at least half a million in total - depending on the promo. I can see it going to #1 in Germany and going platinum (200,000)- by the end of the year.

Album drops to #5 this week (was expected to be #6) somewhere between 28-38K sold - total near or over 200,000 after only three weeks. To put into perspective considering the current climate - Kylie's album took about 4 months to sell that amount and Oasis recent GH album from the summer has sold 240K after four and a half months so he is doing very well. :D

http://www.heart.co.uk/london/music/take-that-takeover/ Interview with the lads by Emma Bunton from the Spice Girls.

Many thanks everyone :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: Had a great day. :w00t: 99 is a fantastic age. :smoke: And TWINKLE :o Great to see you back. :wub:

Once promotion starts The Flood will do much better in Europe overall I am sure. They are on Wetten Das next week in Germany - I will be shocked if it doesnt hit #1 as a result. Amazingly they will be on the French TV Show 'Le Grand Journal' next month too - obviously Rob saying they will play Paris is true and it will probably go on sale around the same time as this promotion for the single and album. Tbh this tour could very well end up being the 50 dates rumored - knowing Rob he will be loving the success and the breaking of records etc with everything being in th efuture but when it comes to having to do loads of work - all the reheasing and when they are half way through the tour he will get sick of it and doing the same thing each night. I hope this doesn't happen but with Rob no-one knows. He really can't afford not to finish the whole thing though - especially as the last leg is in Europe - him leaving by that stage would be an absolute disaster. :o

:party: :party: :wave: :spin: :party2: :birthday: :birthday: :birthday: TESS :yahoo: