The reformed Take That have announced a Croke Park concert for next summer as part of a European tour.
The band, now with original member Robbie Williams, will play Croke Park on June 18th with the possibility of a second concert to follow. The reunion, one of the most anticipated in pop history, was announced in July, and the five original members have recorded a new album Progress, which will be released next month.
They made their first appearance together in front of international media at the Savoy Hotel in London this morning.
“There are no rumours this morning just the fact that Take That are going back on tour,” said chief songwriter Gary Barlow.
His band mate Mark Owens admitted it was the “worst kept secret” to the extent that staff in the Savoy were asking them about it.
Barlow promised a “big production stadium show” to rival "The Circus" tour, but the band were still working on the theme. He said it was "amazing" to have Williams back. "This is a long time coming for us, we are really looking forward to it," he said.
Williams revealed that he will be doing some of his solo stuff. “There will be bit for everybody who likes me and Take That, I’m going to do a bit, the lads are going to be doing a bit, and we will all be doing bits together.”
Williams gave short shrift to a reporter who asked him if he was rejoining Take That because his solo career was on the wane. "The last album [In And Out of Consciousness – the Greatest Hits] hit No 1 in 14 countries. It sold more than The Circus (Take That's last album), and at the risk of sounding like a sourpuss "f*** off," he replied not altogether seriously.
Take That were one of the biggest bands of the early 1990s but split up after Williams left in 1995 to become a hugely successful solo performer.
The fortunes of the band members waned as Williams became a global superstar playing to 80,000 fans at Slane Castle in 1999, a concert that was later released on video, and Croke Park four years ago.
Take That reformed in 2005 and have since surpassed the success of their previous incarnation with two smash-hit albums - Beautiful World and The Circus. They were followed by equally successful tours.
Tickets for the Croke Park show go on sale on Friday.