HOW A DEBUT
Twenty-five years ago this week, the Spice Girls blasted into our lives with their iconic single Wannabe, a joyful anthem for generations of women. Here we celebrate the golden moments of the glorious group...
1
The name game
They were called Spice on their promotional tour of the US before the release of Wannabe but found there was an American rapper called Spice.
Manager Simon Fuller noticed whenever they charged into a room someone would say, “Here come the Spice girls.” He suggested the name to Geri... and a cultural phenomenon was born.
2
Zigazigha
The Wannabe catchphrase was something silly the girls were shouting at one another during a recording session. Co-writer Biff Stannard heard them and decided to use it in the song.
One theory was it was a corruption of “s*** and cigar” which is what everyone called an obnoxious songwriter who would smoke cigars on the toilet.
3
Greased lightning
The girls were talking to songwriters Matt Rowe and Biff Stannard about the sound they wanted, citing the high school energy of Grease.
If any No1 song is a starting point for their sound, it is the film’s You’re the One That I Want. 4
Wannabe became their calling card as they tried to find new management and a record deal. They would change in Geri’s old Fiat Uno from tracksuits into something more glamorous and, armed with a demo tape, “bounce” all over their victim with a quick, “I’ll tell you what I want!”
Call me maybe 5
Where’s Victoria?
She was at a wedding in Devon the day they recorded Wannabe, and made do with hearing the new song down the phone. Victoria later discovered she did not have a solo line. The myth grew it was because she could not sing – it wasn’t true.
6
Washes whiter
At their first meeting, soon-to-be manager Simon Fuller asked what they wanted to achieve. Victoria said: “We want to be household names. We want to be bigger than Persil washing powder.”
7
Knickers to that
After signing their £1million contract with Virgin the girls were bundled into a taxi to continue celebrating. A tipsy Victoria shrieked, “Hang on to your knickers!” whereupon the others pulled hers off and threw them out the window. 8
At their first Brit Awards in 1996, Geri spotted Tony Blair. “Would you like to be in our video?” she asked the future PM. He politely declined. 9
The Wannabe video was shot in one chaotic take on a freezing night at the Midland Grand Hotel in London. Mel B’s erect nipples were too much for parts of Asia where it was banned. 10
Before the release of
Wannabe, the Girls reached an agreement with their original management firm, Heart, to make a £50,000 payment. They would sell 90m albums, the biggest girl group of all time.
A Blair offer
Freeze frame
Heart of the matter 11
Girl Power
2021
They nicked it from another group. The week Wannabe was released, Girl Power by female duo Shampoo from Plumstead, South East London, crept into the charts. Geri thought, “Oh my God. That is so good!”
1996
15Loadsamoney
The year after Wannabe was released, the Girls generated €335m in commercial deals, including Pepsi, Polaroid, BT, Cadbury’s, Sony and Chupa Chupa lollies – the biggest thing in Spain.
Oh, shoot!
The paparazzi were desperate to grab pictures of the girls filming their movie Spice World, leading to two photographers being discovered dressed as a cow grazing in a meadow.