VIVA FOREVER! S
After nearly two decades the Spice Girls have announced they’re finally ready to work together again
ALL TOGETHER now: “I really, really, really wanna zig-a-zigah . . .” Spice Girls fans the world over are still giddy with excitement over the news that one of the biggest girl groups of all time are reuniting! Nearly two decades after they officially split up, VICTORIA BECKHAM (Posh Spice), GERI HORNER (Ginger Spice), Melanie Chisholm aka MELANIE C (Sporty Spice), Melanie Brown aka MEL B (Scary Spice) and EMMA BUNTON (Baby Spice) released a statement confirming that “the time now feels right to explore some incredible new opportunities together”.
Upcoming projects are said to include TV shows, endorsements, a greatest hits compilation and possibly a world tour this year, which would coincide with the 20th anniversary of their film, Spice World.
Talk of a reunion has been in the works for the past two years but there was always resistance from Posh who, thanks to her successful career as a fashion designer, didn’t seem interested in working with the band again. But after a recent meeting with the rest of the group and their former manager, Simon Fuller, at Geri’s North London home it appears she’s had a change of heart.
“Victoria was so cold on singing with the Spice Girls again but the meeting made her remember the good times,” a source told the UK’s Mail on Sunday.
Melanie C also hinted at another reason, telling the Sunday Mirror, “We need the girl power message [which the Spice Girls were so famous for] now more than ever.”
RISE & FALL
Formed in 1994, the British girl group became a global phenomenon. For five years they dominated the charts, breaking records left, right and centre – their debut album, 1996’s Spice, is still the bestselling album by a female group in history – and spawning Spicemania among teenage girls the world over.
But after their second album, Spiceworld (1997), things started to fall apart. During the North American leg of their Spiceworld tour, Geri announced she was quitting the group due to “differences between us”. Rumours of a power struggle between her and Mel B abounded, though Geri claimed she was exhausted and wanted to focus on a solo career.
The band continued valiantly for another 18 months as a foursome, but a change in production team and musical direction teamed with Victoria’s budding career as a fashion designer and Mel B’s pregnancy saw them going their separate ways by December 2000.
BRIEF REUNION
They got together again in 2007 and embarked on a world tour, but cut it short due to family commitments. The group did a onceoff performance at the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony and in 2016 there was again talk of a reunion tour to mark the band’s 20th anniversary, but nothing came of it.