TAKE THAT - THEY STRIP AND TEASE

TAKE THAT - The Uncensored Version

Interview: Sue Wheeler

It's taken weeks to set up an interview with Take That, the biggest thing to come out of Manchester since Bernard Manning. It seems when they're not recording, they're jetting to New York or appearing on TV, but today's the day...

I'm due to meet the boys at a hotel in Kensington and I've been told by their press officer that they can give me two hours of their time - not a minute more! I pull up in a taxi, laden with bags full of clothes, and stumble towards the hotel entrance. A swarm of hungry fans (all female) scrutinize me closely - they'd probably lynch me if they knew whose bedroom I was about to visit. I make my way towards room 405, and as I walk along the corridor I can hear the most uproarious cheering coming from the far end. Gary, wearing just a toweling robe and a huge smile, opens the door and welcomes me in. The noise is deafening. Howard is trying to talk on the phone, but he can hardly hear a word above the din. The boys are ecstatic. They've just heard that their single, Why Can't I Wake Up With You?, has catapulted way up the charts and they couldn't be in a better mood. Punching the air in unison they suggest celebrating with Perrier all round. Conscious of the limited amount of time I have with them, I suggest they get dressed (or undressed) ready for the photo shoot. Jason cries out in his Mancunian tones to 'Cookie' (their make-up man) to stand by with the powder as the camera starts clicking.

One hour, and several gorgeous photos later I'm perched on a bed with the boys, tape recorder poised. Is Gary a virgin? Would Howard take Cindy Crawford up to his bedroom? Do stone-throwing fans make them mad? They don't seem to mind what kind of questions I throw at them. Read on to discover what they told me...

YOUR VIDEO FOR WHY CAN'T I WAKE UP WITH YOU? IS QUITE DIFFERENT TO OTHERS YOU'VE DONE. WHAT DO YOU PERSONALLY LIKE BEST ABOUT IT?

MARK: This was a totally new approach for us. We're used to being on a video shoot for a day and knowing exactly what we're going to be doing. With this, there was a lot more time spent on individual people. The lighting was done to perfection and it was shot beautifully. It's a bit dreamy and you can sort of get taken in by the dream.

JASON: We didn't dance at all. We just kind of did our own thing, which is why I think it's so sensual. The video is sexy looking without us really doing anything.

ROBBIE: I think the song really suits the video and an essential part of the video was, of course, finding the dead stoat frozen in the middle of the moat, don't you think? (Yes...er...moving right along now lads.)

SO YOU SUPPORT THE THEORY THAT SEX SELLS RECORDS?

ROBBIE: With our video, it can be seen in very different ways. You may see it from a sex point of view, while I just see it as another one of our videos which was very well produced.

JASON: I think young men frolicking and having a good time in front of the camera is probably quite sexy to a lot of people. Just like when I see a group of girls laughing and joking, it's young, sexy, and appealing.

GARY: You've only got to watch TV to see what's popular - Baywatch and Beverly Hills - with all those hunky guys. You're right in that way but I think there are so many things to sell a band like us: personality...music. Also I think we have progressed a lot. I don't think we had that much in the beginning and now we've developed more.

WHAT'S THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING A POP STAR?

GARY: Being on tour. At the end of the day that's what it's all about.

MARK: I love traveling and meeting so many different characters, that's all very good for you.

JASON: For me, being famous is a whole different way of life and growing up, it's incredible.

DO YOU EVER SEE YOURSELVES AS 'RICH AND FAMOUS'?

EVERYONE: (with impeccable timing) No!

ROBBIE: Not at all. We're very lucky to be here. Otherwise I'd be at college, Jase would be painting and decorating, Mark would be in a bank or something, Howard would be spraying cars, and Gary would be up north, doing the clubs.

MARK: There are a lot of very good bands who don't ever get their stuff played on radio, so we appreciate it when we get a little piece in a magazine. We don't take anything for granted.

ROBBIE: I know that sounds sick, like we're trying to be modest, but that is really how we feel.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO LEAD A NORMAL LIFE?

ROBBIE: The plus points outweigh the minus points by a hundred to one.

GARY: It hits home sometimes - you realize how restricted you are when you actually do go home, away from the job. Obviously, while we're sitting here, we've got girls outside the hotel, but you're pretty secure and it's just part of the job. But when I go home I think I'm going to be Gary Barlow again...and it's just not like that.

ROBBIE: The only time I become Robbie Williams again is when I turn out the light at night and go to sleep. It's not a false front you put on, but it's part of the job you do.

MARK: You never know who's going to see you, so you constantly have a guard up and a sense of responsibility.

JASON: That responsibility is exciting, though. The fact you've got to watch your back because there might be a journalist behind you or you've got to be careful where you take a girl because there might be someone there who'll put a story in the papers.

IN THE EARLY DAYS, IF A MAGAZINE ASKED YOU TO ROLL AROUND IN JELLY, YOU MOST PROBABLY WOULD'VE AGREED. WOULD YOU STILL DO THAT?

MARK: Obviously, we never want to get caught up in that thing where we're letting it go to our head and thinking we're too good for things like that now. We never want to get to that stage. If things are done the right way, we're game for a laugh and all that. Today we rolled around on a bed in our underwear, didn't we...and we didn't mind.

BUT YOUR RECORD COMPANY KEEP A TIGHT REIN ON YOU, DON'T THEY?

JASON: I really think we're the same five people who started out. Sometimes one of us might get a little out of control and it's up to the management or record company to say "Hold on!" We enjoy ourselves, so what?

MARK: I think what we've done since those days is just grown up. We're not saying we don't want to do so-called naff things any more. I have to think about my mates at home though, because they'll take the mick.

GARY: We mustn't get too serious about it because we came in having fun, but we also want to appeal to older audiences as well. It's a bit of a compromise and every step we make has to be monitored now.

ROBBIE: A good artist still does programmes like Going Live, they don't suddenly say I can only do things like The Saturday Zoo now.

MARK: The people who say no to shows like that are people who end up not having a hit record.

WAS IT NERVE-WRACKING PRESENTING THE BIG BREAKFAST?

GARY: Not nerve-wracking, it was just hard work because you have to be up at three o'clock in the morning.

DID ANYTHING GO HORRIBLY WRONG?

ROBBIE: All the time.

GARY: The thing with that show is that even if you do something wrong the crew will take the piss out of you, you know what I mean?

ROBBIE: If you get your words wrong you just do something mad, like stand on your head, then it's okay. That's the kind of wacky show The Big Breakfast really is!

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR IDEAL JOB IN TV?

GARY: I don't think I'd want to work in TV - it doesn't interest me.

ROBBIE: I'm not bothered. I'd rather be an actor - and be in a remake of The Magnificent Seven.

GARY: I would do it again, though...

ROBBIE: But we'd have to get more money - now we realize how much work is involved.

HOW DO YOU RELAX IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

ROBBIE: I go rollerblading.

MARK: I got my sister to record me a tape of different songs last time I was at home, so I like to listen to that and have a nice hot bath. What's on it? Just lovey dovey type songs, slow songs - Bob Marley, Boyz II Men and people like that. Dovey, dovey songs.

JASON: Dovey, dovey songs?

HOWARD: I've got a bit of a recording set-up at home - keyboards and stuff. I just play about on that really.

GARY: I live inviting people round to my house and cooking meals. Chinese is my favourite - it's quite easy, just chuck it all in the wok.

JASON: He's good at the old Chinese.

HAVE YOU ALL TRIED GARY'S CHINESE CUISINE?

MARK: Yeah.

ROBBIE: I've only had soup at his house but it was marvelous! Even though it was out of the can.

JASON: I didn't answer the relaxation question! (We all look apologetically at Jason who had missed his turn)

JASON: I can't relax. The closest I get to it is, like Gary, doing a bit of socializing. (Right, moving along now...)

WHAT CHARACTERISTICS DID YOU INHERIT FROM YOUR PARENTS?

HOWARD:I think I'm very shy, like my mother. It's weird really, I think she worries a lot more than I do. She worries about me a lot.

MARK: I worry, like my mum. She's a big worrier. I inherited friendliness from me dad. I'm very proud of my parents.

JASON: From my mum I've inherited...

ROBBIE: Jason likes a bet!

JASON: (trying again) From my mum...I've got strength of character and my dad, his generosity and kindness. I don't bet...that's one trait I've not inherited from my dad.

ROBBIE: My eyes are like my mother's and my wit comes from my dad. Although my mother is a really funny lady too.

GARY: From the old lady - she's good at managing money and I've got her faithfulness, she's very loyal.

HOWARD: Can I have a go? I think I get easily hurt and I think me mum does as well. I don't think I have any traits of me dad, but the rest of me brothers have. My dad is so organized he acts as if he's in the army.

HAVEN'T YOU INHERITED ANYTHING YOU DON'T LIKE?

ROBBIE: I think the reason people don't talk about the negative things is because...

MARK: Because their mums read the magazine...

JASON: I think I have a couple of things in me like my dad, but I don't even like to admit it to myself because I want to improve them.

HAS A FILM OR BOOK EVER CHANGED YOUR LIFE?

GARY: Star Wars. It was the first time I started idolizing people - Luke Skywalker. And Adam Ant, he was a big idol.

HOWARD: I don't usually read books or anything but I watched Born on the Fourth of July and Platoon, which are about Vietnam. They made me really upset for the people, but didn't really change my life or anything.

JASON: I think every book you read or film you watch changes your life.

MARK: A great film for me is The Outsiders, which is about friendship and staying loyal.

JASON: Rocky III changed my life! (Everyone roars with laughter)

ROBBIE: My Life as a Male Prostitute by Robbie Williams. I think that really changed my life.

WHAT'S THE BEST APRIL FOOL'S TRICK YOU'VE EVER PLAYED?

ROBBIE: Putting plastic over the toilet seat.

JASON: At school once we put a Durex in our English teacher's book - she got upset and started crying.

WHAT STRENGTHS DO WOMEN HAVE THAT MEN DON'T?

JASON: Many.

GARY: Organization. I think women are a lot stronger in relationships than guys. If a guy had the chance to get off with some other girl he's more likely to. They're quite good at having babies too. In our record company, so many women work for us and they're really good at their jobs.

MARK: And we're not just saying that because we fancy them all.

ROBBIE: On the mental side, there's nothing a woman can't do that a man can.

WHAT STRENGTHS DO MEN HAVE THAT WOMEN DON'T?

HOWARD: They're more business-minded, I suppose.

JASON: I've got something deep to say. For everything a man can do well you're always going to find a woman who can do it even better and for everything a woman can do well you'll find a man who's even better. It just depends on the person...except in general things as Gaz said, like babies and organization.

WHERE WOULD YOU TAKE CINDY CRAWFORD ON A DATE?

JASON: Anywhere would do.

HOWARD: If I took her to my house she'd be stepping all over the rubbish in me bedroom.

ROBBIE: Oh, you'd get her up there would you? You dirty rat!

HOWARD: Too right!

GARY: I'd take her to my house...I'm proud of my house, it's what I am.

JASON: I'd take her to where my friends were because they'd love to meet her as well.

GARY: Hey, you never share anyone with us, so don't start saying that!

MARK: I'd ask her to take me out - she's got more money than me!

ROBBIE: I wouldn't bother to take her out, me. I wouldn't be able to speak to her. Am I joking? No. It's like, Paula Yates comes over to me on The Big Breakfast and I can't speak...

HOW WOULD YOU GET AWAY FROM A BORING PERSON AT A PARTY?

GARY: I always get stuck with people. I don't go to parties as a rule, but whenever we go to a little bash somewhere I always get stuck with somebody, don't I? You know, going out is like going back to work. Everybody knows somebody whose daughter likes you.

JASON: I'd just leave a boring person, because at parties it's no big deal. I just say I'm going to talk to someone else now.

MARK: Politely move on!

JASON: If a girl had a good breast on her and a good bum it wouldn't matter how tedious she was!

YOU'VE HAD TO CHANGE YOUR HOTEL TWICE THIS WEEK BECAUSE OF FANS, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

GARY: We're not proud of the fact we cause havoc in most places we go to. It doesn't get to us - it's just unfair on all the other people staying there. If I was a resident in a hotel and there were hundreds of kids outside I'd think 'bastards'.

ISN'T IT A PAIN?

MARK: I don't mind the fans at all, me. You only have to wave and say hello and that keeps them happy.

HOWARD: It's not very pleasant when it's outside your house.

JASON: I live with my elder brother in his house, and he's moving, and one of the reasons he's moving is because all the fans come round and the neighbours give him jip. Fans just go round the back and look in your bins and bang on the windows. If they were real fans they wouldn't invade our privacy like that.

ROBBIE: They put their hands through the letter box and nick things off my table so you can't have anything near it.

MARK: At my house there are certain fans who will wait over the road and then you get the other ones who come round and throw stones at your windows and start shouting for me to come down. They're only the minority, though.

ROBBIE: I think it's downright rude. I'll go out and tell them and I don't care where they come from or how cold it is, if they're being rude, this is my private life. There are girls that park outside my house for three hours. Then they start knocking. You'd think that after an hour of knocking they'd get the hint that I'm not coming out. And when I do come out they have a go at me for not appearing sooner. I say 'Listen, I'm not signing anything, I'm not having my picture taken. I'm not at work. I'm not being rude, though perhaps you think I am - go away'.

MARK: Then again, I can see it from their point of view. If a young girl's got this man she's mad about, she's likely to go after him - people stand outside Madonna's gate - I mean, it's the business we've chosen to be in.

GARY: We're still quite new to it really.

ROBBIE: You're in a band they idolize and they want to come and see you, but at the same time nowhere in the contract does it say, sing, dance, and put up with everybody else's mentality. Perhaps I sound rude. I don't want to seem rude, but that's the way I feel about it.

GARY: Calm down!

HOWARD: I agree with Robbie.

ROBBIE: When I'm here working, I'll go out and talk to them, but on my days off, forget it.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE TAKE THAT RUMOUR?

HOWARD: That we're insured for #5 million. If we were insured for #5 million I wouldn't go out of the house. I'd be scared to wake up in the mornings.

GARY: This girl said to me the other day 'I've heard a rumour you've got a 15-inch willy.' I said: 'I started it, love.'

JASON: There was a rumour that Danni Minogue fancied me, so I got pretty chuffed and excited. I saw it in a couple of magazines. When I saw her the next time she seemed very vague about it - I was a bit guffed.

DO RUMOURS WORRY YOU?

MARK: Most stories you give to a paper they'll end up exaggerating by about 10 times.

GARY: I'm just bitter because no pop stars fancy me, that's why I'm going to say this, but do you know what I think of as soon as I hear that somebody from EastEnders fancies one of us? I just think of publicity straight away - that's what everybody's looking for.

ROBBIE: Then there's the obvious rumour that everyone's going to say: 'Oh, they're gay.' We've got no problem with homosexuality at all - if everyone thinks we're gay, let them think it. Do you know what I mean? We're not bothered.

JASON: I don't think leaving our sexual preferences as a bit of a mystery does us any harm.

GARY: That's cool.

JASON: Besides, one of us might be!

GARY: Ask me if I'm a virgin!

GARY, ARE YOU A VIRGIN?

GARY: No, I'm a gentleman! (Just what Michael Jackson said during the Oprah Winfrey interview, as Gary well knows)

GARY: I like that one. That's a good answer. Will you print that please?

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