Take That Rejected by Stock Aitken Waterman: “We Didn’t Really See That for What It Was”

Stock Aitken Waterman reveal why they turned down working with Take That in the '90s, citing management and undervalued talent as key reasons.

Stock Aitken Waterman’s Missed Opportunity with Take That

Back in the 1990s, the iconic English songwriting and production trio, Stock Aitken Waterman—comprising Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, and Pete Waterman—passed on the chance to collaborate with one of the biggest boy bands ever: Take That. The decision, as they admitted in a recent interview, was because they “didn’t really see that for what it was” at the time.

Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, and Pete Waterman in 2025

The band lineup then included Robbie Williams, Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Jason Orange, and Howard Donald—before they would go on to sell over 45 million records worldwide and rack up 12 Number One UK hits.

Mike Stock reflected on the decision:

“We did turn down Take That. We didn’t really see that for what it was.”

Pete Waterman also explained:

“We turned it down because of the management. The terms they were offering were derogatory.”

He elaborated,

“I think that you have to have a value for your talent, otherwise there’s no point you doing it. We were as hot as pistols at the time, so we just said no. That wasn’t against Gary and the boys. It was just that it didn’t work.”

The Trio's Legacy in Pop Music

Stock Aitken Waterman have been responsible for 13 UK Number One hits, producing and writing for stars like Kylie Minogue, Rick Astley, Bananarama, Dead or Alive, and Jason Donovan, among others. Their influence on the pop music landscape is undeniable.

Check out this classic Take That performance produced under other guidance:

Casting a Glance at Other Missed Collaborations

During the same interview, Pete Waterman expressed a wish that the trio had worked with the Pet Shop Boys, the English synth-pop duo Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe. Waterman said,

“I still think Stock Aitken Waterman and The Pet Shop Boys would have been quite amazing.”

Stock Aitken Waterman’s Controversial Opinions on Modern Pop

Recently, the trio sparked debate with their critical comments about pop star Sabrina Carpenter. Waterman expressed discomfort over her stage persona, saying:

“To see Sabrina Carpenter dressed as a little girl is quite offensive. She doesn’t need that.”

He also criticized the industry’s portrayal of young female artists:

“They’ve won all of their freedoms and their rights, women. They fought for everything they’ve got and now they’re throwing it away, is the way I would look at it.”

Mike Stock added:

“If you’re asking to be respected, don’t come on in a G-string.”

Stock dismissed Carpenter’s lyrics as “lazy,” sparking a response from the singer herself. Carpenter fired back, saying:

“My message has always been clear – if you can’t handle a girl who is confident in her own sexuality, then don’t come to my shows.”

Watch Sabrina Carpenter’s hit “Espresso” here:

Sabrina Carpenter’s Rise and Industry Impact

Sabrina Carpenter made waves last year with her album Short N’ Sweet, featuring tracks like ‘Espresso’, ‘Please Please Please’, and ‘Taste’, which collectively stayed atop the singles charts for 21 weeks.

More Insights from the Legendary Trio

Besides their views on modern pop, Pete Waterman recently opened up about a scrapped collaboration with Judas Priest, calling it a regret. Meanwhile, Mike Stock, co-writer of the second version of Band Aid, criticized Bob Geldof for omitting that version from the 2024 ‘Ultimate Mix’ release.

That 1989 Band Aid version featured stars like Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Cliff Richard, Wet Wet Wet, Bros, and Bananarama. It topped charts for three weeks and was the ninth best-selling single of that year.

In 2023, Waterman made headlines by claiming he helped kickstart Oasis's career. He recalled:

“When he was a gas fitter in Manchester, my studio was across the road from him, so he’d nip over at lunchtime and steal my guitar strings because he couldn’t afford them. He always credits me with giving him his start. Without my free guitar strings, he couldn’t have carried on.”

Conclusion

It’s fascinating how sometimes the biggest opportunities can go unnoticed—even by the biggest names in the industry. What other legendary collaborations do you think could have changed the course of music history if they had happened? Share your thoughts!

FAQs

• How did Stock Aitken Waterman describe their decision to turn down Take That?
  They admitted they “didn’t really see that for what it was” and were concerned about the management and derogatory terms offered.
• What artists have Stock Aitken Waterman successfully worked with?
  They’ve worked with Kylie Minogue, Rick Astley, Bananarama, Dead or Alive, and Jason Donovan, among others.
• Why did Stock Aitken Waterman criticize Sabrina Carpenter?
  They felt her stage persona and lyrics undermined women’s hard-fought freedoms, describing some of her choices as offensive and lazy.
• What was Stock Aitken Waterman’s opinion on working with Pet Shop Boys?
  Pete Waterman said a collaboration with Pet Shop Boys would have been “quite amazing.”
• How did Pete Waterman contribute to the career of Oasis?
  He provided free guitar strings to a young Noel Gallagher when he was struggling financially.

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