Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I was beaten & bullied over Spice Girls...i’ll sing my heart out for them
Mel C asks West End star Conleth to help launch new pop exhibition Hits Ulster man could perform..
tribute to them I have recorded Mel C’s I Turn To You and gave it a really lovely Celtic feeling.
“I recorded it in Ballymena and used excellent local musicians.
“The reason I chose that song is because my teenage years were pretty much tortured by bullies and I literally turned to The Spice Girls for peace and fun and solace.
“I would go into my bedroom and turn on the music and watch their videos and lose myself in their music. “I was beaten to a pulp one time by a gang of lads who made my little sister Dearvhla watch.
“It stripped me of any masculinity I had.
“I was injured and humiliated and deeply hurt. “I never really got over that beating and it was all because I was gay and was rubbish at sports and liked music and singing. I was different to most of the other boys in school and I paid heavily for it.
“But I had to remain true to myself and I was lucky to have a loving and supportive family.
“And of course I stuck fast with my love for the Spice Girls and now they have me performing at their exhibition for them.
“So life has come full circle. I’m not a victim of bullying any more.
“I’m a survivor and I’m going to sing my heart out for the girls in July.”
Spiceup London, curated by Alan Smith-allison, is the biggest touring exhibition of the pop group’s memorabilia in the world.
It opens in the capital in July and the public can tour the iconic costume pieces from The Spice Girls’ heyday as
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Smith-allison said: “It is a fantastic trip down pop music history for any Spice Girls or music fan.
“The costumes and memorabilia are a massive part of pop music history.
“They will be showcased along our timeline to highlight how The Spice Girls dominated the music charts of the 90s around the world.
“As well as the iconic costumes from music videos, live performances and appearances, there are thousands of items of merchandise and memorabilia on display that prove just how commercially successful The Spice Girls became as a group. We can’t wait to #Spiceuplondon.”