The Wiggles are preparing to take over Australia’s biggest arenas after a remarkable resurgence that has seen the children’s group become more popular than ever.The group will kick off its new Sparkle! BIG SHOW tour in Sydney in October, with performances scheduled across the country through to December.The tour comes after a huge year for the band, which has performed internationally and is continuing to expand its audience more than three decades after being told it would struggle to sell its 1991 debut album.Blue Wiggle Anthony Field, the group’s last remaining original member still performing, has revealed how the band overcame early doubts, conquered the US and survived the departure of three founding members.In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, Field also reflected on the decision to expand The Wiggles to eight performers in 2021, after the move attracted criticism from Senator Matt Canavan.’A lady said to us, “You’ll be lucky to sell 300 copies of that, at most”,’ Field recalled. Blue Wiggle Anthony Field, the group’s last remaining original member still performing, has revealed how the band overcame early doubts, conquered the US and survived the departure of three founding membersInstead, their debut album sold 100,000 copies through word of mouth, despite receiving virtually no radio or television exposure.The group now has 10 million YouTube subscribers and recently performed for 40,000 people across five days in New Zealand.The figures mark a remarkable turnaround for a group that was once given little chance of commercial success.The Wiggles formed in 1991 when Field, who was studying early childhood education at Macquarie University while playing in the rock band The Cockroaches, teamed up with fellow students Murray Cook, Greg Page and Jeff Fatt.After testing their songs at a Randwick childcare centre, the group approached the ABC about releasing an album.Their fortunes changed dramatically when Disney Channel began broadcasting their performances four times a day in the US.Field recalled being recognised by a customs officer when the band arrived in America, prompting him to turn to bandmate Murray Cook and remark: ‘Things have changed, mate’.The group subsequently performed 13 consecutive sold-out shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The Wiggles are preparing to take over Australia’s biggest arenas after a remarkable resurgence that has seen the children’s group become more popular than ever The tour comes after a huge year for the band, which has performed internationally and is continuing to expand its audience more than three decades after being told it would struggle to sell its 1991 debut albumDespite their international success, Field said the original members avoided disputes over money by agreeing to split earnings equally, regardless of who wrote each song.He credited the arrangement with helping the group remain close, rather than descending into the kind of infighting that has plagued other famous bands.But in 2012, The Wiggles faced their biggest turning point when the other three original members decided to retire.Field admitted he was surprised by their decision but was determined to continue performing.He recalled telling his bandmates: ‘Boys, I really just love this. This is what I do. I don’t know what else I’m going to do if I don’t do this. So I’ll keep going if you’re happy with that?’The transition was initially difficult, with audiences falling to around a quarter of their previous size before gradually rebuilding.The next major change came in 2021, when Field expanded the group to eight performers, with four men and four women representing a broader range of backgrounds.The decision attracted criticism from Senator Matt Canavan, who declared: ‘It was nice while it lasted. But you go woke, you go broke.’However, Field said the expanded group had helped rejuvenate the band, with its popularity continuing to grow.’Look, it’s bigger than it ever was. Again, we have to represent our audience. And it really is bigger than ever now,’ he said.’We’ve got 10 million subscribers now on YouTube. We’ve just done 40,000 people in five days in New Zealand and had the most amazing time.’The current line-up includes Ethiopian-Australian Tsehay Hawkins, Italian-Australian Caterina Mete, Greek-Australian Lucia Field, who is Anthony’s daughter, and Filipino-Australian Johnny Pearce.The group has continued to attract major musical collaborators, recording three songs with late country music legend Dolly Parton and working with Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman John Fogerty.Field said the collaborations had reinforced his belief that the group’s music should be taken seriously, regardless of its young audience.’What we did wasn’t kids’ music. It was music. I could never regret any part of playing what we do. I love it,’ he said.The Wiggles’ latest tour will bring together performers from different generations, with Anthony and Lucia among the eight members taking to the stage for Sparkle! BIG SHOW.Despite being the last original member still performing, Field said he had no regrets about dedicating his career to The Wiggles.However, he admitted he was uncomfortable discussing his own achievements and had been nervous about the interview, adding that he was ‘proud’ to engage with thousands of children through music.