My Take

by Gary Barlow

Take That was the original and the best British boy band ever. Their records sold millions, and they sold out arenas in less time than it took to play one of their singles. Gary Barlow was the band's secret their gifted, down-to-earth front man who not only wrote most of their greatest hits - "Back for Good", "Never Forget", and "A Million Love Songs" - but sang them too. But the band decided to quit at the height of their fame. What followed for Gary is an inspiring journey of highs and from the promising start of his solo career to his crisis in confidence. The public who had once worshipped him almost seemed to forget he existed. Much has been said about Gary but he himself has remained silent until now. For the first time, Gary tells his full story from his childhood in Cheshire to life after Take the early start at thirteen working in a social club; a career as a teenager working the northern clubs; and the life-changing moment when he met Nigel Martin-Smith, a Manchester modeling agent who wanted to put together a boy-band. Gary will reveal what life on the road with Take That was really like and the truth behind the rumours of their petty feuding. He will also finally settle the speculation around his painfully public fall-out with Robbie. Throughout his experiences Gary has remained as determined and as positive as he was when he was given his first keyboard at eleven. It is this determination and spirit that has helped him bounce back. He has established himself as a successful songwriter writing for the likes of Blue, Delta Goodrem, and Charlotte Church. And now he's made one of pop's great comebacks with the Take That reunion tour, ten years after the band split up. Gary Barlow and Take That are back centre stage once again - where they belong.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Music, Autobiography, Memoir

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 5, 2006

About the author

Gary Barlow (born January 20, 1971) is an English singer, pianist, songwriter, bandleader and producer.

He is a member of the pop group Take That, and was one of the most successful songwriters of the 1990s, penning no fewer than 16 hit singles during the decade. Barlow had 2 #1's and 5 further Top 40 UK Singles as a solo singer in the final half of the 1990s alone. He is also a 4 time recipient of the prestigious Ivor Novello Awards.

Reviews

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is actually one of the best music autobiographies I've read. Gary actually opened up a ton and admitted where he had gone wrong, which was admirable. It was really nice to hear some of the behind-the-scenes details about the early years of Take That beyond Rob, because the other guys are just as valuable, and more about their comeback. I hope he writes a sequel to this at some point, because I'd like to hear what he has to say about his reconciliation with Rob and his stint on the X Factor.

[Gawelleb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gary nous dresse son portrait de l'enfance et ses débuts dans la musique jusqu'à l'été 2007 et le Beautiful World tour. On découvre la création de Take that à travers ses yeux et surtout SA version des faits! Alors oui, il a été égoiste, oui, il a refusé à Robbie le fait de chanter certaines chansons, oui, il faisait payer l'utilisation de son portable etc … Mais méritait-il autant le mépris avec lequel il a été traité à la fin du groupe? Comme Robbie, il n'était encore qu'un grand enfant … De fait, Gary nous racontera sa descente aux enfers, sa dépression (suivie de sa grosse prise de poids) mais aussi le soutien inconditionnel de Dawn sa magnifique épouse. Et puis, et surtout, jamais il n'attaque Robbie.
Mais attention, ce livre n'est pas qu'un plaidoyer (enfin …), on y découvre au détours des pages multiples anecdotes pleines de tendresses sur Take That.

Enfin, Gary dévoile la façon dont il a vécut les attentats de Londres en 2005 alors qu'il se trouvait dans l'un des métros.

Au final, je me souviens avoir rejeter en bloc Robbie Williams après la lecture de Feel, il y a quelques années mais ici (bon c'est Gary, je ne suis peut être pas objective), j'ai encore plus de tendresse pour cette homme là ...

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I'm probably a little biased with my rating here but I can't help it - I've always loved this guy since being a screaming teenager in the 90s at many Take That's concerts. But it really is a page turner and offers up plenty of dirty and grit on the band and Gary himself. Unfortunately it marred my rose coloured view of Gary as being the innocent one in the band - he was just as naughty as the rest of them. I was shocked at how they treated some of the fans - getting one or other of them to go down and select them a girl for the evening, not bothering who it was, and then just chucking them out later. But I suppose this is how many bands act if you think about it!
Gary is very open in this book and reveals elements about himself and the band honestly with no holds barred. His witty and dry sense of humour comes across in his book too. He's happy to highlight his own faults and also doesn't hold back if he thinks someone else is in the wrong. You really get the impression that he hasn't put a glossy spin on any of this - it is truthful writing.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very fascinating and very inspirational, Gary takes you through his journey from the early years of Take That, to the break-up, right through to their most successful comeback. Take That are one of the great bands that Britain has ever produced. This book is very interesting, Gary is down to earth and is a great narrator, what I think makes it very inspirational is the way Gary explains what he's had to face, and also the way he has come through those situations. Gary is an inspiration to us all about just that. Their comeback will always be the best that has happened in musical history, they have also got the world record for selling over 600,000 concert tickets in five days, beating all other bands that had set this record previously. This is a must have for all Take That fans who wish to learn more from Gary himself. You'll be hooked.

[BB · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loaf him

[Sketching Girl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this, but I didn't totally love it. I guess I had an idealistic view of Take That from my youth, and this book takes you right through Gary Barlow's life from before he joined Take That, afterwards, and right through to the Take That reunion and tour. I love the insights into his life, seeing the experiences, which you get both good and bad. Getting to see what it's like meeting Elton John and feel like you are mingling with the stars is great, but I wasn't prepared for the negative side of the band and his experiences as a solo artist. You really get to see what life was like behind-the-scenes, the good, the bad and the ugly. It shattered my view of the perfect life, you see what their manager, Nigel Martin-Smith, was really like with the band, and the way Robbie Williams treated Gary and the bad press and how it affected Gary.

It's not an idealistic view of his life and the band, it's a very realistic one. Definitely eye-opening and surprising. I personally would have liked a more idealistic view, but perhaps that's my wishful thinking in wanting to be transported back to the 1990's and have the clean-cut boy band image back, that I idolised so much in my youth. If you're prepared for the negative aspects as well as the good, and want to know what truly happened as the band was put together, working through the life in the band and coming out the other side, then read this. If you prefer to see the rosy side of life only (like me), then don't!

[Tori · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book told me very little that I did not already know about the music industry. It told me a few things I didn't know about the band, but the anecdotes as a whole weren't that interesting. What it sounded like was that Gary was pulled between wanting to be honest about his own experience, and not managing to have a lot of insight about how the other members of the band viewed the whole experience. Only towards the end did you really get a true sense about how it must've felt to be one of the three members of the band that weren't as musically inclined as Gary and Robbie. The book is far too superficial, a fun read for a fan, but nothing more.

That said, I would love to read a similar book written by Jay or Howard, because there was so much between the lines in this book that I am sure these two would have a lot to say about. Mark, bless him, wouldn't be able to say a bad word about anyone, and would probably sugar coat the whole experience if he were to write his own take. I wanted to know more about the bad times, the problems, the stuff that was hinted to but never tackled, so all in all this was a disappointing read.

[Karen Wickham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very easy to read and I got through it in less than a week.

It's a fascinating book because on the one hand he's being quite candid about episodes in his life that are obviously quite painful, such as being dropped by the record label when he attempted a solo recording career. But on the other hand it glosses over certain things, particularly in respect to his relationships with Nigel Martin-Smith, their manager, and Robbie Williams. You get the impression there's more he could have said but he's being diplomatic and leaving the reader to fill in the blanks.

It's an interesting story. He started out quite young. He was playing the clubs from the age of 13, and seems to have been quite driven and ambitious from an early age. By the end of the book you get the impression of someone who's now happy and settled and doing something he enjoys.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually bought as a Christmas present for my wife, I was laid up with gout and started reading this and - cliche alert - couldn't stop. A great read, charting his boyhood and initial brushes with showbiz, working up to a residency in a local club until he answers "that" ad, this is brisk and amusing. The whole Take That circus is vividly recalled, including the trappings of wealth and what to do with it and is as thorough in the aftermath, when Barlow's world appeared to fall apart. This section, as he tries to make it in the US as a songwriter, is quite moving (even though history has proved that he'll come out on top later) and makes the return of the boy-band that much more victorious. A great read, very highly recommended.

[Kezza22 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this book learnt a lot of stuff ghat I never knew even though I am a take that fan.

Easy read would have loved to have seen more pictures in the book.

Didn't know much about Gary Barlow before reading this as I was always a robbie fan but it really broke my heart reading how tough it was for him when they split and the way robbie treated him.

Pretty cool that whist reading this they announced their reunited tour! Managed to get tickets at wembley and I am so excited to see them reform as 5!

Well worth reading and owning a copy for any TT fan:)

[Davina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gary is delightfully honest and open like a book in his biography. I laughed and cried and felt like Gary was telling me his story personally. Written from the heart and with so much Information I feel like Gary has worn his heart on his sleeve throughout this book and am very thankful to have had the opportunity to read his inner thoughts and feelings. Will always be a faithful GB and TT fan !!! Xo

[Claire Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr Barlow's version of the Take That story, and his feud with Robbie Williams. Honest and emotional at times, Gary tells the story of his early life, Take That's first faltering steps, the stardom, splitting of the band and his efforts to succeed as a solo artist whilst battling against Robbie in the charts and the public eye. A really interesting book with lots of photos in addition to Gary's take.

[Ang · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book! It's a must read for all fans of Gary Barlow and Take That. The writing is easy to follow and to understand. As you read, you can feel like Gary Barlow is talking or reading to you. You can also sense his sincerity in his words. His enthusiasm in sharing his side of story is genuine.

[Barry Lillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A candid look at life behind the public gaze, but it was what he's left out that would probably been more intriguing, there's also a little bit of 'woe is me' in the book. I do think however he's been more than generous with his comments about the biggest arse in the music business, the frankly talentless Robbie Williams.

[Candy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honesty up front - I am a Robbie Williams fan. Don't know exactly why, just something about him drew me to him. After reading this I have to say I'm more a fan of Robbie than before. I give Gary props for the honesty, but I actually bought this book to learn more about Robbie's early days in Take That, and that I did. Still a big Robbie Williams fan, and I just listen to a few Take That songs.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! Admittedly, I've become a fan of Take That very late, only in the last couple of years. It was great getting to read Gary's take on the band and to read about what he went through in his solo career. His views on Robbie Williams seemed very honest for how he felt at the time. No sugarcoating. Great read if you are a fan of Gary or Take That.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting insight, particularly to the background of Gary before Take That. I feel a lot of the more interesting times (i.e. Take That first time round) were glossed over, maybe so as to reduce friction with others involved!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a self-confessed Take That obsessive and this was just an amazing read for me. It was wonderful to find out all the secrets of what went on during the boyband days and i really did laugh. Gary's honesty throughout is utterly charming and just made me love him even more than i did before.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never been a big take that fan, however I did enjoy this. Gives the insight and gary does come across very honest in this. It was quite refreshing to see something with honest opinions in it. I would deffintly recomend this.

[Helen Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved reading this having loved Take That from day one and enjoyed reading his roller coaster experience of going from one of the most famous boy bands to a nobody and the reforming of the band to now being one of the hottest men on the planet - who doesn't love Gary Barlow :)

[Franzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's an autobiography which is pretty witty sometimes and gives very personal details about the band "Take That" A must for every (Gary-) Fan :)

[Debra K · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a more detailed review, please visit my blog -

Debra's Book Cafe

Thank you

Debs

[Dodau]

Gary Barlow, lead singer of Take That tells his story from childhood to around 2004 ish.
A light easy to read book if you're a fan of him or the group

[Simon Prentice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not something I would pick but was recommended and really liked it!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Couldn't put this down. A very honest account of the work put in to becoming a star and how hard it was when it all collapsed.

[Stella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent - really good read, and really interesting insight into the half stories you hear in the papers!

[Kelly (smeets_books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Take That so loved this book! He seems quite accepting about Robbie and doesn't vent any anger. He uses a ghost writer tho!

[Helen Brain]

slow- only suggest you read if you love gary

[Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book you can really feel the honesty coming from Gary!
Best biography so far!!

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it in a day, couldn't put it down!