NEWS ARCHIVE



October 28th

 Geri Halliwell will be making her solo singing debut at a birthday bash for Prince Charles tonight. The BBC reports that Halliwell will perform her own version of "Happy Birthday," as well as make appearances with other stars throughout the music and comedy production. The evening, billed as "A Royal Celebration," also features Robbie Williams and the M People along with comedians Spike Milligan and Stephen Fry and actor Roger Moore. The event is being staged in aid of the Prince's Trust, which helps disadvantaged young people. It's scheduled to be broadcast on Britain's ITV as a two-hour special November 14, the date of Charles' 50th birthday. Meanwhile, Britain's "Dot Music" reports that Halliwell has enlisted the songwriting and production services of Paul Wilson and Andy Watkins, a team that helped propel the Spice Girls to fame and fortune. The pair co-wrote and produced a number of Spice Girls songs including the hit, "Too Much." They're currently working with Halliwell on her new solo album for EMI/Chrysalis, expected out in the first half of 1999.

October 17th

 Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell is returning to a pop career, according to a newspaper report. Ms Halliwell, 26, has signed with Chrysalis Records, the Sun newspaper reports. She is believed to have picked the label after seeing how former Take That heart-throb Robbie Williams's solo career took off with it.The contract is thought to be for three albums. If the report is true, it will come as a surprise to pundits who believed she was trying for a career in TV or Hollywood. She had been linked with a movie remake of the Charlie's Angels TV series, and DJ-turned-media mogul Chris Evans had reportedly been advising her on her career. Her Spice Girls contract with Virgin prevented her from releasing any new material for three months - but she is set to announce the new deal next week, according to the paper. Halliwell quit the Spice Girls at the end of May while the group were midway through their Spiceworld tour. Since leaving the group she has kept a relatively low profile, with one of her few public appearances being at an auction of her old Spice outfits in September. Another was at the American MTV awards in Los Angeles. She has also supported cancer charities - appearing in a series of cinema advertisements urging women to be aware of the risk of breast cancer. When she was 18, Halliwell suffered a cancer scare.

October 15th

 Spice Girls And Pavarotti On Charity Record The Spice Girls' Viva Forever performance with tenor Luciano Pavarotti has been immortalised in a charity recording to be released later this month. The girls' appearance at the Modena concert in Italy in June was their first official date as a four-piece after the departure of Geri Halliwell. Pavarotti And Friends For The Children Of Liberia is released on October 26.

October 10th

 The Spice Girls have agreed to play a Band Aid-style gig next month to help raise millions for starving children. The fab four will take to the stage alongside legendary singer Stevie Wonder, chart-topping rapper Puff Daddy and a whole host of other big names in pop at the gig. The spectacular event ends speculation that Posh, Baby, Sporty and Scary would not ever be playing live again following their dates last month at Wembley Stadium. A source close to the girls revealed last night: "This is going to be a massive event and the girls just couldn't refuse when they were offered a place on the line-up. "They're close to finalising details and I'm sure there will be an official announcement soon." The gig is being organised by the charity War Child and will take place at a venue in West Africa next month. It is set to be shown on TV all over the world. The Spice Girls have already played at one War Child charity show, appearing alongside opera star Luciano Pavarotti at a fund-raiser in June. Other superstars, including U2, Brian Eno and the cast of telly's Men Behaving Badly, have also supported the charity. Emma Bunton and Mel C are going to the studios to record a duet which will be released as a single and will also be featured on the group's third album. Mel C has already collaborated with Bryan Adams and sang a duet in L.A. with Hollywood action man actor Bruce Willis. And Mel G teamed up with American rap star Missey Elliot to score a No1 smash last month with I Want You Back. The Spice Girls picked up two gongs at the Disney Kids Awards bash at London's Old Vic on Sunday. Emma was named Favourite Pop Star, while Victoria collected the Fave Female Group award on behalf of the girls. Posh Spice was at the event with her hubby-to-be David Beckham, who was named Favourite Sports Star. Shrugging off rumours of a rift between her and the footie ace, Victoria said at the Disney Channel bash: "We're fine, things couldn't be better. I'm really happy and enjoying myself here. "I've even got a pair of Disney slippers at home!"
7.10.1998 - Next Tour Spice Universe can reveal that the Spice Girls next tour will start in the year 1999 or 2000 rather sooner than later. They will shoot the video to their next single "Goodbye" this month after their vacation. They have already written 5 songs for their next album and they will go into heavy writing in January / February. The Spice Girls will also do a concert in South Africa together with Stevie Wonder and other stars.
6.10.1998 - Girl with ‘spice’ for life, dies Despite the fight against cancer, the disease continues to kill. One special little Las Vegas girl lost her battle with the disease. 11-year old Brittany Sheahan won the hearts of many, when she was surprised with VIP tickets to the Spice Girls concert a few weeks ago. The group was one of her favorites. She went to the concert by limousine, got to meet the Spice Girls backstage, and even performed with them during the concert. Brittany had a rare cancer normally found only in adult males. She’ll be laid to rest on Monday.
5.10.1998 - Posh and Beckham ignore 'model romp' reports Victoria Adams made a full public display of affection towards her fiancee footballer David Beckham despite reports about his secret dates with a Page three model. The pregnant pop star hugged and laughed with the Manchester United player at a London awards ceremony. Beckham was presented with an award as best sports star voted by viewers of the Disney Channel while the Spice Girls collected a prize for favourite female band.
3.10.1998 - Geri Halliwell Geri Halliwell has become an official spokesperson for the Comic Relief charity and is flying to Africa to visit various projects arranged by the organisation. Film footage, from the visit, will be broadcast in the run up to Red Nose Day next March. Geri appeared with the The Spice Girls in 1997, on the Red Nose Day TV show, which raised £26 million. Geri also launched the October Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this week. She said: 'At the end of the day, people can perceive me how they want to. I'm just Geri Halliwell, that's who I am. I'm just trying to do my best in life'.
3.10.1998 - Posh Spice laughs off Beckham trysts report Footballer David Beckham's relationship with Victoria Adams remains strong despite reports that England ace had secret dates with a Page Three model, a spokesman for the band said. The Manchester United midfield star passionately kissed Emma Ryan in an encounter at a friend's house after the pair met at a Manchester restaurant, according to a report in the Sun. The paper said the trysts took place while Victoria was away on the Spice Girls' world tour and ended when she returned from America. But a spokesman for the chart-topping group said that the couple were still very much together.

September 21st

Mel G rang a radio show on the first day of her honeymoon - to complain they weren't playing her new solo single. Pregnant Mel, who married dancer Jimmy Gulzar last Sunday, phoned Capital Radio the next evening to moan that DJ James Cannon had not played I Want You Back - which stormed straight to No 1 in yesterday's chart. But switchboard staff at the London station did not believe it was the multi-millionaire singer on the line. When furious Mel tried to explain who she was and why she was calling, the operator said: "Yeah, and I'm the Queen of Sheba" and refused to put her through to the DJ. The following day, curious James rang the girls' record company Virgin after hearing about the call. They confirmed that Mel - who performed with the Spice Girls at Wembley this weekend - had made the call. A spokesman for the programme says: "When James found out that Scary Spice had rung him up he just couldn't believe it. He would have loved to have got her live on air talking about the song and about her wedding. "But he doesn't blame the receptionist - we get a lot of hoax calls and it is a mistake anyone could have made. "After all, you don't expect to get a call from one of the Spice Girls - especially when she is on her honeymoon. "James is delighted Mel listens to his show and will now be giving her song a few spins."

The Spice Girls last night concluded their Wembley concerts by assuring their fans that they were not splitting up. Amid mounting speculation that the four-piece group are on the verge of bringing the Spice train to a stop, Mel G - whose solo single is today at number one in the charts - told the screaming audience: "We are going to quash some rumours because I read today again that we are apparently splitting up." Baby Spice Emma said: "We must have split up about 10 times by now." The group said together: "We are not splitting up. No, no, no." Mel G said: "They can write what they want to write, but we are not splitting up." Victoria added: "Thank you for the support everybody." After performing Say You'll Be There, Scary Mel G continued: "Just to quash some more rumours, we are going to make a third album, I think out next year." Emma said: "We have got a single coming out at Christmas, and I think Mel B is number one." Referring to her first solo project from the band, a collaboration with hip-hop producer Missy Elliott called I Want You Back, the newly-wed Mel G said: "Thank you everybody, for making me number one." The massive Wembley Stadium concert marked the climax of their world tour, which started in March. The Spice Girls delighted more than 75,000 joyfully screaming fans at one of the biggest concerts of their career. The group made several references to Mel B and Victoria's pregnancies. Posh Spice Victoria said: "All this touring, hasn't it got a bit too much?" Mel G said in reply: "I can't even fasten my trousers any more, you know." Victoria: "This is just for you Melanie, because I am going to ask you to sit down and rest your back," before the group went into Too Much. Mel G, who married dancer Jimmy Gulzar last weekend, was the butt of most jokes. When she was off-stage changing, the others girls joked that she needed to go to the toilet because she was pregnant. Mel C said: "I tell you what you should change your name. She's not Mel B any more, she's Mel G." Meanwhile Victoria, also pregnant and engaged to footballer David Beckham, got off almost scot free. Chicken Shed, the theatre company for able-bodied and disabled children made famous by the patronage of Diana, Princess of Wales, joined the Spice Girls for Viva Forever. The girls encored with Chic classic We Are Family and a burst of fireworks as they left the stage at the end of their two-hour show. Even departed Spice Girl Geri Halliwell was not forgotten - four heavily made- up Geri impersonators in ginger wigs and Union Jack T-shirts, one of them a man, prowled around the crowd. Tara Palmer-Tomkinson and Paula Yates were among celebrities at the concert, both with young girls in tow. Ms Yates took daughter Tiger Lily, who was wrapped up in a fun fur animal outfit complete with ears.



Click here to return to previous news page. Click here to check out older news.