Howard Donald

Donald was educated at Littlemoss High School in Droylsden, gaining no GCSEs,[2] and trained for three years as a vehicle painter, on the Youth Training Scheme (YTS).[3]

A budding DJ, his musical interests were largely informed by his brother Colin’s vinyl collection, and included electronic acts such as Kraftwerk, John Foxx, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) and Gary Numan.[4] As a teenager Donald became interested in dancing and frequented the burgeoning breakdancing circuit in the Greater Manchester area, where he would first come into contact with future bandmate Jason Orange.[5] He auditioned for Nigel Martin-Smith’s new boy band project at his office in Manchester and was selected. The group was eventually named Take That.