Mark Owen

In mid-1996, Mark Owen became the second member of the British pop group Take That to pursue a solo career. In 1991, he had formed the band with Gary Barlow, Jason Orange, Robbie Williams and Howard Donald. Over the next five years, Take That became very popular on the British and European charts, reaching the number one position eight times in their home country. After a press conference announcing the group's breakup in February 1996, Gary Barlow began a solo career, and Mark Owen followed soon after. Unlike his former bandmate, though, Owen recruited producer John Leckie (the Stone Roses) to give him an image closer to indie Brit-pop than Take That had been known for. Owen's first album, Green Man, was a modest hit upon its release in late 1996.