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Take That are opening up their history in a new three part Netflix documentary that traces the bands journey from their early days in Manchester to becoming one of the biggest pop acts in the world. Speaking ahead of the release Gary Barlow said the group felt it was important to finally tell their story properly and in their own words.
The series which launches on Netflix on Tuesday looks back at the formation of the five piece band and the long road to global pop stardom. It includes never before seen footage alongside new interviews with Barlow Howard Donald and Mark Owen. Archive interviews with Robbie Williams also feature giving viewers a fuller picture of the bands past.
Barlow said the band were keen to present a more accurate version of events than what was often shown in headlines during their early years. He explained that while their story is extraordinary some of the coverage at the time made it seem far more dramatic than it really was. For the band this documentary was a chance to be more representative and to share their experiences in a way fans have not seen before.
A key part of the documentary comes from personal material kept by Howard Donald. He handed over old camcorder tapes and diaries dating from the early nineteen nineties through to 2015. These recordings captured details of everyday life on the road including where the band played how much money they earned what the shows were like and how he felt at the time. Donald said there was a huge amount of information and the production team carefully selected the moments that best told the story.
Donald admitted that parts of the series were difficult to watch particularly the second episode which revisits the bands breakup. He said it brought back unresolved feelings of anger from that period but also helped him realise that he would not change anything about the last 35 years. For him the documentary became a way of making peace with the past.
The series also highlights the scale of Take Thats success. The band sold more than 45 million records worldwide played sold out shows and achieved 12 UK number one singles. Despite this level of fame the documentary focuses just as much on the personal experiences behind the scenes as it does on chart success.
Mark Owen said watching the footage stirred powerful memories especially scenes from the Progress tour. He described one of the most meaningful moments as revisiting the time the band wrote and recorded the Progress album at Electric Lady Studios in New York. It was the first time all five members had been in a room making music together again and Owen said the energy was intense beautiful and fragile all at once.
Barlow described the documentary as a reminder of the rollercoaster the band has been on. Owen added that it is remarkable they have done enough over 35 years to fill a three hour documentary. The series will be available on Netflix from Tuesday 27 January giving fans a chance to see Take Thats story told by the people who lived it.
