Gary Barlow has revealed he is "finally out of the tour bubble" after a family holiday to Mexico, following the toll taken by Take That's Circus tour over the summer.
The 55-year-old singer recently wrapped the big-budget reprisal of Take That's Circus tour, which first toured the country in 2009. He took to Instagram to say he felt refreshed after time away and was ready to finish work on the band's new album.
Barlow had previously admitted the Circus tour took a toll on him and that he could "never physically do the shows again."
He shared shirtless snaps showing off his physique from his stay at the One&Only Palmilla resort in Los Cabos.
Captioning the post "...And breathe," Barlow wrote that he does not like posting unless he has something to say, adding that "content for content's sake is rubbish." He said he was fully out of the tour bubble and back on the road to getting the new Take That album finished and delivered, adding that deadlines can be a good thing.
He said making albums is never easy, and that things can get dangerous near the end because you start second-guessing everything, but that the band was nearly there. He also mentioned exciting plans for European fans, saying big things were coming that the band was excited about. He said he was continuing to stay active and keep fit post-tour and was enjoying having the time to do it, adding that it was also nice to have downtime with family after finally taking a holiday at the resort.
Emotional message after final Dublin show
Following Take That's final show in Dublin last month, Barlow posted an emotional statement on X admitting that age-related challenges meant he could not do the same tour again. He performed the tour alongside bandmates Howard Donald and Mark Owen, and said it was their "best tour ever," adding that saying so 35 years into their career meant something, alongside the hashtag #circuslive.
Barlow wrote that another tour had come to a close, but that this one felt a little different, since with other tours there was usually comfort in knowing there would likely be a next time. He said he was pretty sure this tour would not return. He said he was 38 when the show was originally staged, and that doing it as a 55-year-old had been a whole other challenge, adding that he could not see a way he could physically do the show again. He said it was with an extremely heavy heart that he was leaving the Circus in his past, having gotten to run away with it twice, and that he was now running towards the band's next new show.
Physical transformation during the tour
During the tour, Barlow impressed fans with his physique, appearing in a black vest while performing the new single Sweet July alongside Donald and Owen. He had previously said he was pulling out all the stops to prepare for the tour, which began in May. In December, he shared on Instagram that he was at the luxury wellness clinic Lanserhof at The Arts Club, where annual memberships start at £6,500 plus a £1,500 joining fee.
