Take That reminisce about their early days as they join Ken Bruce for Golden Years

There was no posting on social media back then!

Take That and Ken Bruce
Author: Anna Sky MagliolaPublished 29th Sep 2023

Take That joined Ken Bruce for Golden Years, where they reminisced about their early days in the music business, and how times have changed for the band. Choosing 1992 as their year on Greatest Hits Radio, each of the band members chose a song, that meant something to them.

1992 was the year that Take That really started to make waves, and as Gary explained, it wasn't as easy as just posting something on social media, to promote their music.

"We were doing on average I believe about six gigs a day at that point," Gary explained. "They ranged from school assemblies, to under 18s clubs to over 18s clubs, and at the end of the day, gay clubs. That was pretty much four or five days of the week, it was when these clubs were open and people were willing to have us in there on their stages... we were there!

"So we took our message out and told everybody and this wasn't in a day where you could post something and half a million people would see it. You needed to go and look in the white to their eyes and we hired a van and we drove all over the country."

Watch the full interview with Take That below:

Mark added: "It was hard work for me and Rob (Robbie Williams), because we couldn't drive... So our part in the team was that we had to fill up the car in the service stations. So the older guys would tell us 'OK, go and get the sandwiches and the pasties, and fill up the car'. So we were basically their runners! They were the drivers."

Also, speaking about their early days, Mark told Ken about the time they met Whitney Houston in Japan, explaining why he had chosen her classic song 'I Will Always Love You', from their Golden Year.

"I've gone for an artist that we had the pleasure to meet, actually probably around a similar time (1992)," Mark said: "So we went to watch her (Whitney Houston) at the Tokyo Dome, I think and she was so amazing, and such a lovely lady and she'd just made the film the Bodyguard with Kevin Costner.

"I mean, what a voice, and actually just tying it to our latest record as well, one of the studios we recorded some of our songs in, was where she did the vocal for this track. The person who owned the studio kept telling me, you know, Whitney Houston did the vocal for her 'I Will Always Love You’ in this booth that you're about to go into. No pressure!"

Mark also opened up about their new album 'This Life', which they announced on 22nd September, along with their 2024 tour of the same name. Explaining how they recorded some of their album in Nashville, Mark said: "It's been really nice this past year to get back together.

"It was absolutely incredible, the first time we got together in the studio was in Nashville and we were RCA Victor at Studio B, which is the best studio ever. Which is where Elvis (Presley), you know, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Dolly Parton, all those classic songs that we love so much were all made in this place, and we turned up there to record our first song. It couldn't have been a better environment for us. It was so exciting!"

When are Take That on tour?

Take That are on tour next year, and tickets to see them are now available to buy from Aloud.com.

When is Ken Bruce on Greatest Hits Radio?

You can catch Ken Bruce on Greatest Hits Radio every weekday between 10am and 1pm.

Have a look through other artists we've had at Greatest Hits Radio:

Jackie Brambles spoke to Adam Lambert

Adam Lambert opened up about touring with Queen for 10 years. The singer spoke to Jackie Brambles on Greatest Hits Radio back in March 2023.


He told Jackie: "There's always going to be haters. That's just how it goes and it's fine - I get being protective of your memory of the band, I totally understand. I think early on that actually lit a fire in me to prove myself and prove them wrong."

Jackie Brambles spoke to Samantha Fox

Samantha Fox reflected on 40 years in show business, revealing that she wouldn't encourage young girls to follow in her footsteps.


"I wouldn't encourage it these days – there's no Page Three anymore and now I think all the reality stars are like the new glamour girls," she told Jackie.

Ken Bruce spoke to Ben Elton

Ken Bruce spoke to Ben Elton back in April, when he joined us for Golden Years. Ben chose 1987 as his Golden Year, which was the year he started dating his wife Sophie.


Ben also told us about the incredible kindness George Michael showed the couple after the birth of their twins.

Ken Bruce spoke to Björn Ulvaeus

Björn Ulvaeus joined Ken Bruce to talk about ABBA Voyage, as it celebrated its one year anniversary. He explained what it was like to see a hologram version of himself on stage saying: "I feel it's HIM from the 70s. I've felt that for a long time, because I've been exposed to him almost daily for the past 40 years. It was easier to do it if I looked at myself as a kind of historical figure, as 'him'."

Ken Bruce spoke to Noel Gallagher

Following the release of his latest album 'Council Skies', Noel Gallagher spoke to Ken Bruce, revealing how the Covid Pandemic affected it.


Explaining that it wasn't all bad, Noel said: "My plan in 2019 was to always put a record out in 2023 anyway so I've not kind of lost any ground but it is a reflective album."

Ken Bruce spoke to Ruby Wax

Ruby Wax joined Ken Bruce to talk about her new book called I'm Not as Well as I Thought I Was.


During the interview, Ruby revealed the key to good mental health, saying: "I know this sounds corny, but be generous and be nice to people. We work as a community, but we've lost that, so if you can even pick up a piece of paper and say 'you dropped this' it's a tiny thing, but it releases a hormone in you that is so good for your health."

Mark Goodier spoke to Björn Ulvaeus

ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus joined us once again at Greatest Hits Radio, this time to talk to Mark Goodier about the possibility of an ABBA biopic.


Björn explained why one hasn't been done before saying: "I think our story is boring, yes it is.... Two couples. No, we've been approached obviously, you know many times, somehow we always say no. But who knows, someone comes up with a great idea of doing it maybe, some great talent, some talented writers, some talented director, who knows!"

Ken Bruce spoke to Elton John

As Elton John nears the end of his epic 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' tour he joined Ken Bruce to talk about what's next for him, and also revealed that he doesn't actually need to wear glasses!


Elton, who has just launched a new eyewear range said: "I just love wearing glasses, and even though I've got 20/20 vision, I still wear glasses because I feel naked without them."

Jackie Brambles spoke to Suggs

Madness front man Suggs joined Jackie Brambles to reveal the mischievous way he acquired his first record. He also told Jackie about the first act he saw live which was The Who.
He reminisced: "I do remember The Who come on. They did that 'Baba O'Riley', it was the first laser show in the world. And literally it was like one green beam was bouncing off some sort of car."

Ken Bruce spoke to Martin Kemp

Greatest Hits Radio presenter and Spandau Ballet singer, Martin Kemp joined Ken Bruce to talk about his Golden Year which was 1985.


1985 was the year that Spandau Ballet performed at Live Aid, and he revealed the terrible moment they decided to perform a new song on stage.

Jackie Brambles spoke to Noel Gallagher

Noel Gallagher joined Jackie Brambles in June to talk about his appearance as part of Oasis on Top of The Pops.


Calling it a 'comedy of errors', Noel said: "It's like you've made it when you did Top of the Pops - that was it. But as great as it is, it kind of shatters the illusion because I always thought everyone that was on was a multi-millionaire. We turned up in a diesel transit van that somebody had put petrol in, so it broke down. It was all a comedy of errors."

Simon Mayo spoke to Paul Simon

Joining us for a world exclusive, Paul Simon spoke to Simon Mayo about his new album 'Seven Psalms'. Paul's 15th solo album is designed to be listened to as a single body of work, in full and in order.


During the interview, Paul told Simon how the idea came to him in a dream, he explained: "This particular album happened to come out of a dream that I had that said: 'Oh you're working on a piece called 'Seven Psalms' and it was a very powerful dream.


"It was so strong that I woke up and wrote it down on a piece of paper. 'Seven Psalms', and the date January 15th 2019. And that's when this album began."

Ken Bruce spoke to Sharleen Spiteri

Texas singer Sharleen Spiteri joined Ken Bruce for the Golden Years, and chose 1977, when she was just 10 years old.


The first song Sharleen chose was 'Dreams' by Fleetwood Mac, she explained why she chose that song saying: "Texas' first ever gig... the first gig we played was Dundee University in the bar," she reminisced, continuing: "The second gig we played was opening up for Fleetwood Mac at the Edinburgh Playhouse, because the band that were supporting them had got Top of The Pops!

Shirlie Kemp spoke to Jackie Brambles

Shirlie Kemp spoke to Jackie Brambles about how she met George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, she said it was heart-breaking to share George Michael with the world when Wham! became famous.

Rob Brydon discusses Gavin & Stacey with Ken Bruce

Actor and comedian Rob Brydon joined Ken Bruce for Golden Years and to answer some listeners questions. As to be expected some of the questions were about the hit show Gavin & Stacey.

Dolly Parton spoke to Ken Bruce

Ahead of the release of her album 'Rockstar' and her book Behind The Seams My Life In Rhinestones, Dolly Parton joined Ken Bruce, admitting she never wants to retire.

Shirlie Kemp spoke to Ken Bruce

Shirlie Kemp joined Ken Bruce for Golden Years, where she talked about growing up with Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael from Wham! and the music she loved as a youngster.

ABC's Martin Fry joined Ken Bruce

ABC's Martin Fry joined Ken Bruce for Golden Years to talk about David Bowie, Top of The Pops and his upcoming tour.

Paul Carrack spoke to Ken Bruce

Paul Carrack, the Ace, Squeeze and Mike + The Mechanics singer, joined Ken Bruce to talk about his Golden Year which was 1974. It was also the year that Paul sang on the hit 'How Long' as part of Ace.

Davina McCall spoke to Ken Bruce

Davina McCall opens up on why her new show My Mum, Your Dad is so relatable. The show sees middle-aged singletons with grown-up children, looking for love. The parents spend two weeks in a retreat, where they get to meet the others taking part, and go on dates.

Richard Osman spoke to Ken Bruce

Richard Osman joined Ken Bruce to talk about his pivotal Golden Year, which was 1987. Richard also chatted about his fourth novel, The Last Devil to Die.

Carol Vorderman joined Ken Bruce

Carol Vorderman joined Ken Bruce for Golden Years, where she shared some fun memories from her chosen year of 1974 and spoke about her Perfect 10 podcast.

Rick Astley spoke to Ken Bruce

Rick Astley joined Ken Bruce to talk about his Glastonbury performance, and what it was like to perform ahead of Elton John at the iconic music festival.

Emeli Sandé joined Ken Bruce

Emeli Sandé joined Ken Bruce to talk about her inspirations who are Annie Lennox and Tori Amos. She also reminisced about how she used to listen to music when she was just five-years-old.

Boy George spoke to Ken Bruce

Boy George spoke to Ken Bruce about his experience in the I'm a Celebrity jungle. Boy George also gave Sam Thompson, a presenter on our sister station Hits Radio, a pep talk as he heads into the jungle this year.

Jackie Brambles spoke to Sharon Osbourne

Sharon Osbourne joined Jackie Brambles, where she shared her thoughts on The X Factor, moving back to the UK and her husband Ozzy.

Pete Waterman reveals how 'I Should Be So Lucky' became a success

Pete Waterman joined Ken to talk about one of the biggest hits he wrote for Kylie Minogue, 'I Should Be So Lucky' and how Lenny Henry had a part in that being a huge hit.

Now read:

Davina McCall opens up on why her new show My Mum, Your Dad is so relatable

Richard Osman shares why 1987 was a pivotal year for him

Nick Heyward reveals how a film inspired his hit 'Blue Hat for a Blue Day'

How to listen to Greatest Hits Radio:

You can listen on DAB digital radio, online at www.greatesthitsradio.co.uk, or via the Greatest Hits Radio app. You can also listen on your smart speaker by saying 'Play Greatest Hits Radio' on Alexa, or 'Play Greatest Hits Radio on tune-in' on Google Home.