Take That

Every decade has a teenybopper band that takes the charts by storm, and the early 1990s saw Take That picking up in the U.K. where '80s American teen stars New Kids On The Block left off. Led by songwriter and lead vocalist Gary Barlow, Take That hit it big with a mixture of dance-pop and heart-tugging ballads. After Robbie Williams's departure in 1995, the group held on long enough to release a greatest-hits package before calling it quits. Take That, minus Williams, re-united in 2006 for an unlikely but triumphant return to the centre stage with hit singles and albums, multiple music award gongs, as well as critical reappraisal. TT's 2009 The Circus Live tour became the fastest-selling in UK history.

• pop