Just imagine you’re a young woman in the UK around 1993. It’s almost a certainty that you’re a fan of boy band Take That. A few years later in 1995, Robbie Williams leaves the band amid tales of an escalating drug problem, and your world is falling apart. By February of 1996, you’re a wreck when the band officially announce their split. Well, chin up. They’ve only gone and got back together and announced not only a huge European tour but also a new album. Feel better now, right? There’s also an outside chance the boys may appear at Glastonbury 2011 and perhaps even perform at the 2012 London Olympics (via MTV). OK, lady, stop crying hysterically.
The new album, Progress, is the first record featuring the full lineup of Williams, Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, and Mark Owen since 1995’s Nobody Else. The album, due for release on November 15th via Polydor, is being produced by Stuart Price, who has previously worked with pop icons Madonna and Kylie Minogue. The first single from the album, “The Flood”, will be released November 7th digitally and a day later physically. Both the album and single, as well as an exclusive limited edition version featuring the album itself, a DVD of the documentary film Look Back, Don’t Stare, and art prints, are available on the band’s official website.
Fans in Europe have even more to look forward to next summer with the announcement of a 30-date European tour, taking place in some of the most famous football (sorry, soccer) stadiums in Europe. They kick off in the northeast of England on May 30th, 2011, at Sunderland AFC’s Stadium of Light before a four-night run at their hometown’s City of Manchester Stadium.
There are further stops in Wales, Ireland, and Scotland before a return to England with a night in Birmingham followed by four dates at Wembley Stadium in London at the beginning of July. The tour then hits the continent with scheduled dates in Italy, Denmark, Netherlands, and Germany, with the final leg of the tour taking place at Munich’s Olympiastadion. Full details regarding the dates and ticketing can be found on the band’s website, but if you want to buy, you better hurry. Take That sold a recording breaking one million tickets on the first on-sale date, reports Gigwise.
Also, the girl we spoke of earlier is actually us. We just can’t help ourselves.
Progress Tracklist:
01. The Flood
02. SOS
03. Wait
04. Kidz
05. Pretty Things
06. Happy Now
07. Underground Machine
08. What Do You Want From Me?
09. Affirmation
10. Eight Letters
Take That 2011 Tour Dates:
05/30 – Sunderland, UK @ Stadium of Light
05/31 – Sunderland, UK @ Stadium of Light
06/03 – Manchester, UK @ City of Manchester Stadium
06/04 – Manchester, UK @ City of Manchester Stadium
06/05 – Manchester, UK @ City of Manchester Stadium
06/07 – Manchester, UK @ City of Manchester Stadium
06/08 – Manchester, UK @ City of Manchester Stadium
06/10 – Manchester, UK @ City of Manchester Stadium
06/11 – Manchester, UK @ City of Manchester Stadium
06/14 – Cardiff, UK @ Millennium Stadium
06/15 – Cardiff, UK @ Millennium Stadium
06/18 – Dublin, IE @ Croke Park
06/19 – Dublin, IE @ Croke Park
06/22 – Glasgow, UK @ Hampden Park
06/23 – Glasgow, UK @ Hampden Park
06/24 – Glasgow, UK @ Hampden Park
06/27 – Birmingham, UK @ Villa Park
06/28 – Birmingham, UK @ Villa Park
07/01 – London, UK @ Wembley Stadium
07/02 – London, UK @ Wembley Stadium
07/03 – London, UK @ Wembley Stadium
07/05 – London, UK @ Wembley Stadium
07/06 – London, UK @ Wembley Stadium
07/08 – London, UK @ Wembley Stadium
07/12 – Milan, IT @ Stadio San Siro
07/16 – Copenhagen, DK @ Parken
07/18 – Amsterdam, NL @ Amsterdam ArenA
07/22 – Hamburg, DE @ imtech Arena
07/25 – Dusseldorf, DE @ Esprit Arena
07/29 – Munich, DE @ Olympiastadion München
