Luna
24-04-2006, 11:14
Take That have opened their reunion tour in Newcastle, with former member Robbie Williams joining them briefly on stage - but only in hologram form.
Gary Barlow, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Howard Donald are playing 29 dates, a decade after originally splitting up.
Williams appeared for the introduction of Could It Be Magic before the others took over and the hologram faded.
More than 9,000 fans watched eight costume changes and huge light shows around a circular stage.
Fans relive youth
Women reliving their teenage years were among the audience at Newcastle's gig.
I cried when they split up, but I hope they don't re-form
Hayley Freeman
Take That fan
One fan, Julia Higgins, 35, of Chester-le-Street, County Durham, said: "Jason is my favourite, and I think he has still got the moves."
She added: "I wouldn't have missed this for the world. I saw them in Glasgow in 1994 and I just had to see them again."
An estimated 300,000 people have bought tickets for the tour which includes Glasgow, Manchester, Dublin, Belfast and Cardiff Millennium Stadium.
Newcastle pub landlady Vicki Armstrong, 34, said: "It is fantastic that they are back together, and we are going to see Robbie Williams live in September.
The band performed a two-hour set
"We just love Take That, full stop. £35 is definitely worth it."
'Stop now'
Her friend, Hayley Freeman, of Holywell, Tyne and Wear, was more cautious.
She said: "I have loved them every since they first came out, and I cried when they split up, but I hope they don't re-form. They have got to stop now and do these tours every 10 years."
At the height of their fame, Take That became the first band since the Beatles to score four consecutive UK number ones.
Their 15 hits included Relight My Fire, Could It Be Magic and Back For Good, and the band notched up 10 million album sales before splitting in 1996.
The last time Barlow, Donald, Orange and Owen performed together on a British stage was at London's Earls Court in August 1995.
Gary Barlow, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Howard Donald are playing 29 dates, a decade after originally splitting up.
Williams appeared for the introduction of Could It Be Magic before the others took over and the hologram faded.
More than 9,000 fans watched eight costume changes and huge light shows around a circular stage.
Fans relive youth
Women reliving their teenage years were among the audience at Newcastle's gig.
I cried when they split up, but I hope they don't re-form
Hayley Freeman
Take That fan
One fan, Julia Higgins, 35, of Chester-le-Street, County Durham, said: "Jason is my favourite, and I think he has still got the moves."
She added: "I wouldn't have missed this for the world. I saw them in Glasgow in 1994 and I just had to see them again."
An estimated 300,000 people have bought tickets for the tour which includes Glasgow, Manchester, Dublin, Belfast and Cardiff Millennium Stadium.
Newcastle pub landlady Vicki Armstrong, 34, said: "It is fantastic that they are back together, and we are going to see Robbie Williams live in September.
The band performed a two-hour set
"We just love Take That, full stop. £35 is definitely worth it."
'Stop now'
Her friend, Hayley Freeman, of Holywell, Tyne and Wear, was more cautious.
She said: "I have loved them every since they first came out, and I cried when they split up, but I hope they don't re-form. They have got to stop now and do these tours every 10 years."
At the height of their fame, Take That became the first band since the Beatles to score four consecutive UK number ones.
Their 15 hits included Relight My Fire, Could It Be Magic and Back For Good, and the band notched up 10 million album sales before splitting in 1996.
The last time Barlow, Donald, Orange and Owen performed together on a British stage was at London's Earls Court in August 1995.