July 31, 1998

SPICE PARK?

The girls are set to record a track for the South Park album which is due out this October. This song will be the first one to be released with only 4 Spice Girls. Other's to be included on the soundtrack are Blur, Elton John, Wyclef-Jean, and possibly even All Saints.

MEL B BUYS HER MUM A HOUSE

Mel has offered £340,000 to purchase a huge house for her mum from the current owners. The deal is apparently still in the air. Mel's mum Andrea still lives in their original home in Leeds where little Melanie was raised.

GERI TO BARE ALL

Geri Halliwell is set to follow her pal George Michael's advice - and bare all on the Internet. The Artist Formerly Known As Ginger will go on-line to tell her fans why she quit the Spice Girls. She decided on the move after George told her how successful his on-line talk with fans was earlier this month.

Geri's chat is being pencilled in for September and she has promised she won't shy away from any subject - no matter how touchy. She will be free by then from her contractual obligations which prevent her talking about the band. It will be done through George's website at his offices in Highgate. Geri has been taking private career advice from George and sees him as a father figure.

The couple are currently at George's mansion in Los Angeles. She has been there and at another of George's homes in the South of France since quitting the group in May. When George went on the Internet, he spoke about his arrest in Hollywood for lewd conduct. He even cracked jokes about it as thousands of fans from around the world e-mailed him. The idea was the brainchild of his cousin Andreas Georgiou who runs his record label Aegean.

Andreas is believed to be personally helping Geri with her plan. A source said: "Geri really listens to George and he thought his Internet chat was really fun. It gave him a chance to talk directly to all his fans and he felt it was a positive thing. And he knows how Geri feels - after all, he quit a teen band when he was younger." George received more than 27,000 questions when he went on-line. Since the chat, George's website has been visited two million times

July 30, 1998

MEL DUETS WITH BRUCE WILLIS

July 29, 1998

SPICE GIRLS TO REUNITE AT MTV EUROPE AWARDS

The Spice Girls look set for an emotional reunion with GERI HALIWELL at this year's MTV Europe Awards.

Geri Haliwell is heavily tipped to host the star back-slapping session - and if she does, it looks like she'll be sharing the stage with her former bandmates, who are certain to be up for a prize.
An MTV insider says, "Geri is keen to host the ceremony to prove she is up to it. It is a great way for her to combine her interest in pop with her TV ambitions.
"Obviously it hasn't been lost on her that the rest of the group will be there if they are nominated as expected."

BRUCE WILLIS has become good friends with the Spice Girls after meeting them backstage at a recent gig.

Willis met the VIVA FOREVER stars when he and estranged wife DEMI MOORE took their three Spice-loving daughters to a show - and now he's set to make an ad for their upcoming gig in Britain's Wembley Stadium.
And he flew MEL C in a private jet to Canada for the opening of a new PLANET HOLLYWOOD restaurant in Montreal, to duet with him.

July 27, 1998

VIVA FOREVER RELEASED IN AUSTRALIA

APRILLIA AND SPICE DO GOOD

Aprilia, Italy's leading manufacturer of motorbikes and a global sponsor of the Spice Girls world tour, is using its 10 "meet and greet" tickets to benefit two Bay Area charities. Aprilia has donated ten tickets and passes to an intimate "meet and greet" session with the Spice Girls before the August 13th show at the Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View.

The ten guests will then be escorted to their seats to watch the concert. Aprilia gave the ten passes to Santa Clara-based McGrath/Power Public Relations with a request to involve the community in the ticket distribution and left the decisions up to the agency staff. "We decided to use the tickets and chance to meet the Spice Girls to benefit the San Jose Children's Shelter and Make-a-Wish Foundation," said Terri Cook, president, McGrath/Power Public Relations. "We are auctioning off four tickets and then six tickets will actually be used by recipients of the two organizations."

There are two auctions taking place, one directly through the agency and another on "The Z" 95.3 KZQZ radio station. Cook will take bids by fax at 408/727-2695 through August 6th. The radio station will have its auction on August 7th during the morning commute time. The proceeds from these two auctions of four tickets will go to the New Children's Shelter Fund to support the shelter's artist-in-residence program.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation, Sacramento will receive three tickets to grant the wish of Sacramento resident Breann Lomeli, age 8, who will attend the concert along with her sister and mother. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is an international non-profit organization that fulfills the special wishes of children between the ages of 2-1/2 and 18 who have a diagnosed life-threatening illness.

The final three tickets will be given to two young residents of the Santa Clara County Children's Shelter to attend the concert along with a chaperone. The Shelter is conducting an essay contest to choose the two lucky attendees. The Children's Shelter is part of the Department of Family and Children's Services (DFCS) of the Social Services Agency (SSA). It is the central receiving facility for children in protective custody for suspected neglect, physical abuse, sexual molestation, abandonment or exploitation.

Aprilia owner, Ivano Beggio's, passion is for racing, technological innovation and beautiful design and he began building high-performance motorcycles in the mid-seventies. Today, Aprilia has brought about vast innovations in the industry, including the liquid cooled engine, upside down forks, the single central shock absorber and front and rear disk brakes that are currently used by almost all manufacturers. Although Aprilia will not introduce its bikes in the U.S. until next year, the company recognizes the value of community involvement and believes that a company does well by doing good

July 26, 1998

VIVA FOREVER!

July 23, 1998

SPICE GIRLS SET FOR 7TH #1

The Spice Girls are ready to celebrate a SEVENTH No 1 after their new single Viva Forever sold 113,000 copies in only two days. The song is the girls' last with Ginger Spice Geri Halliwell, who quit the group in May. Midweek chart sales show more than 70,000 fans snapped up the single on Monday alone. By last night the group had sold another 43,000 - to put them in pole position for Sunday's No 1 slot. The track shifted more in its first two days than were shifted in a week by the last four No1 artists - B*Witched, Billie, Another Level and Jamiroquai. Tracey Snell, of trade paper Music Week, says: "The Spice Girls are as popular as ever. "A lot of people wrote them off when Geri left but they have bounced back. These sales are great - the best for weeks." A Spice Girls insider adds: "The group won't be celebrating until they know they are No 1, but they are delighted. "It means so much to them that their army of fans are still enjoying their music." In two years the girls have hit the top spot six times. Only their last single Stop! which peaked at No 2, broke the record-breaking sequence

July 22, 1998

SPICE GIRLS SET FOR 7TH #1

The Spice Girls look set to sink Aqua as the two bands race to the No 1 spot in the singles chart. Viva Forever is the first Spice single since Geri left the group, although it was recorded while she was still a Spice Girl. The record is well ahead of its Danish rival My Oh My in the sales war, according to record shops. It will mean the Girls will score their seventh No 1 out of only eight singles when charts are announced on Sunday - and quieten critics who predicted their run of hits would dry up.

July 21, 1998

SPICE GIRLS ASK STARS TO JOIN THEM ON STAGE

The Spice Girls have asked Stevie Wonder and The Artist Formerly Known as Prince to join them on stage at their two Wembley stadium gigs in September, although the two legends haven't accepted as yet.The Spices met soul legend Stevie Wonder at the Warchild charity gig and last week Scary and Sporty were guests at the Artist's new album launch party.The Spicy four are still on their sell out American tour, but took time out last week in Nashville, Tennessee, home of country music, to get in there early and record their Christmas single!

MEL B UNVIELS SOLO TRACK

July 20, 1998

VIVA FOREVER RELEASED TODAY

July 17, 1998

SPICE IS BACK

The Spice Girls have this week recorded their first single as a foursome. The ballad will be their Christmas single and it quashes rumours of a split after their world tour ends in September. Mel B, Victoria, Mel C and Emma took time out from their busy schedule to lay down the track at the Ocean View Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, on Friday. Mel C: "We're delighted with the outcome of the single and hope our fans think it is as good as all the rest. "We wrote and recorded it as a foursome and it will be our Christmas single. "The girls' current single Viva Forever was recorded before Geri Halliwell left the group. And the as-yet untitled song has a "slight country/rock feel". The studio was where Elvis Presley recorded some of his greatest hits. Mel C added: "We all loved Elvis so we decided to do it there. My favourite songs were Blue Suede Shoes and Hound Dog." She went on: "We are thrilled that we recorded it in Nashville. "It's been a great experience for us because so many wonderful people have worked there and we feel inspired by them."

July 15, 1998

GERI TALKS

SPICE GIRLS MAKE A SPLASH

Two days after their local concert, the Spice Girls were still thrilling Torontonians yesterday. Dozens of eagle-eyed workers in an office building at 150 Bloor St. W. caught a glimpse of three of the singers. Baby, Sporty and Posh sunbathing at the pool in the Four Seasons Yorkville Hotel in the afternoon. "Sporty Spice was in a white tank top and shorts and Baby Spice and Posh Spice were in bikinis," said Megan Wall, 23, of Media Buying Services, which has offices in the building. Baby Spice's bikini was blue and the one Posh Spice wore was yellow, said observers. "I guess somebody put up a big sign saying Baby Spice come to the 7th floor," Wall said.

The entertainers then jumped in the pool and Sporty Spice, wearing her white tank top, then appeared to be embarrassed about her wet top becoming see-through. "She was walking around with her hands over her boobs and kind of giggling with the other girls," Wall said. A lady took a cell phone over to the pool and "they took it," talking to someone "for a second." The girls also signed some autographs. When asked if he got an eyeful of the skimpy swimmers, Dave Soyka, 27, said, "They all jumped out of the water and covered up pretty quickly and sat down." "They were friendly. They were tanning and chatting and then they saw us and they waved," said Minja, 26, who didn't give her last name.

Earlier in the afternoon, Sporty Spice went to the Starbucks on Yorkville, where "she got a mango and banana orange juice," said counter clerk Ann Takagi, "She seemed pretty quiet," said Takagi, adding the singer waited in line and then drank a bit of her juice while waiting for pals to get theirs.

July 14, 1998

MEL B STILL TO MARRY JIMMY

Mel B on Sunday said she is still engaged despite reports that she has scrapped plans to marry. Mel B confirmed her engagement at an appearance on Canadian music video channel MuchMusic. Asked whether she was still getting married, she replied "Yah, I am."

A report by Britain's Sun newspaper on Wednesday said the singer had called off her engagement to Jimmy Gulzar, a dancer performing with the band on its world tour, six weeks after he proposed.

The group also fielded questions from Canadian fans about the departure in May of Geri Halliwell. The remaining members declined to offer details of the split, but said they are still friends with Halliwell. "Geri just decided it was time to move on. She's got lots of other things that she wants to do. We're still happy working as a band but she's gone on to do her own thing and we wish her luck. That's what happened really. People want to hear the nitty-gritty, but there isn't any. We're all friends and that's that," said Victoria Adams.

Adams is engaged to English football star David Beckham, who was at the Canadian event but remained offstage.

The Toronto appearance by Britain's most popular women's pop group drew an estimated crowd of 5,000, prompting police to close two streets to traffic. The group performed five songs as well as answering questions from fans. The Spice Girls helped spark a minor controversy in the city last month when Mayor Mel Lastman drew fire for sending a letter to Halliwell, urging her to stay with the group.

MEL C GETS SPORTY

Sporty by name, sporty by nature, Spice girl Mel C is backing the new initiative aimed at giving top British athletes the pop star treatment. Sporty Spice was a competitive athlete at school and still takes time to support the British team.

Did you enjoy athletics at school?

I absolutely loved athletics at school. My main events were 200m, 100m hurdles and the high jump.

Did you win any prizes?

I won numerous races at school. I even broke the school high jump record and I beat all the boys! They were all so jealous, especially when I was picked for the Cheshire county trials.

Do you remember watching athletics on TV as a child?

When I was at school I used to really follow British athletics. I remember the Seoul and Barcelona Olympics and us doing well.

If you were an athlete, what event would you chose?

I would like to have been a 100m sprinter as Linford Christie is my favourite athlete.

How do you keep fit now? I try to go to the gym several times a week. I make sure that the hotels we stay in on tour have gyms in them. Performing for three hours on stage every night keeps us all very fit.

How many pairs of trainers and tracksuits do you own? I've lost count! I've got a cupboard at home where I keep them. They're in a huge messy pile. When I was cleaning my flat before we went on tour, I put all my sportswear together and I have tracksuits and trainers in every colour by every sports company in the world.

Have you got any advice for budding Sporty Spices?

Dedication in any sport is so important. Any exercise is good for you and athletics is a fun way to keep fit.

Do you still follow athletics? It's difficult while I'm in America but I heard about the British team's success at the European Cup in St Petersburg and we did so well with Mark Richardson and Iwan Thomas beating the Americans in Oslo. Everyone underestimates British athletes, so I as well-chuffed when they won.

July 13, 1998

SPICE GIRLS GET INTIMATE

July 8, 1998

MORE SPICE TOYS

Toymax Inc has announced that it has signed an agreement to manufacture Spice Girls toys. These toys include 3 and 6 inch figures with accessories, microphones, cassette players radios, and dress-up sets.

MEL B AND JIMMY SPLIT

Mel B has split from her dancer fiancé Jimmy Gulzar. He proposed to her six weeks ago following a whirlwind romance. A spokeswoman for the group said today: "We know that they've split up but we don't know why - we weren't told." Mel and Gulzar formed a relationship after he was employed to shadow her on stage - one of five "spice boys" who first appeared with the group during their dance routines

VICTORIA AND DAVID ARE OK

Victoria Adams and David Beckham have signed a 1 million pound contract with OK! magazine to have exclusive rights on their wedding. Victoria and David will share the most intimate details of their wedding and honeymoon with the magazine under the contract. The magazine now has the rights to photographs and interviews of all wedding occasions including the service, ceremonies and the honeymoon. The couple is also to take some time out of their honeymoon to pose for romantic pictures for the magazine.

TWICE THE SPICE IN TORONTO

The Spice Girls will indeed grace Toronto with a public presence not once, but twice, this weekend. The popular British foursome performs Saturday night in a sold-out concert at the Molson Amphitheatre, but the city's pre-pubescent set has been buzzing for days about the possibility of another appearance.

On Tuesday, MuchMusic vice-president and general manager Denise Donlon confirmed the Spices -- Scary, Sporty, Baby and Posh -- will participate in an Intimate and Interactive television special Sunday at 4 p.m. ET.

"We have been huge supporters of the group since the beginning, and are thrilled that the Spice Girls have decided to come back," Donlon said in a statement. "We investigated a number of options regarding a Sunday event with Spice management and Virgin Music. We found out that the girls have watched and were impressed by a number of our Intimate and Interactive shows -- and what they 'want, what they really, really want' is to do an I-and-I."

The music station will announce more details about the hour-and-a-half-long program, including information on a chance to win a limited number of tickets, at 1:30 p.m. ET today. "MuchMusic fans coast to coast know that the best view, and the best chance of interacting with the artists is from home," Donlon said. In the past, MuchMusic headquarters in downtown Toronto has been swarmed by eager fans when popular musical groups put in live appearances.

The Spice Girls numbered five before losing the outspoken Geri Halliwell, better known as Ginger Spice, last month. They were forced to cancel a Jan. 19 autograph-signing and meeting with Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman when Sporty Spice came down with food poisoning. The four members launched their North American tour on June 15 in Miami. They play in Boston tonight and Montreal on Friday night, before arriving in Toronto for the weekend. They also have a Vancouver gig next month.

July 7, 1998

WANNABE TURNS 2

That's right folks - Wannabe was released 2 years ago today! Last July I posted what happend in the first year of Spice, now here's what happened in the second year of Spice:

• First ever band to have six consequtive number 1 singles.
• They've sold over 32,00000 albums
• They've released a second album which had preorders of 400,000
• Had a movie in at #2 on the US box office.
• Started out on a sold out World Tour (with LA seling out in 7 minutes!)
• Lost a member
• Sacked a manager
• Toured many countries on the World Tour and promoting "Spiceworld - The Movie"
• 2 members are engaged to be married
• They have sung with Pavarotti
• They went to South Africa and met Nelson Mendela
• Entered the Guiness book of World Record 7 times

• Had "Girl Power" added to the Oxford dictionary.

The girls still have millions of fans around the world who will remain loyal to them - despite losing a member. Girl Power forver!

TORONTO SPICE

Virgin Music Canada, hopes to know by the end of today what exactly the four Spices will do for Toronto fans on Sunday. They play a sold-out show at the Molson Amphitheatre on Saturday night. A press conference previously scheduled for this morning at CHUM-FM studios was cancelled, with a CHUM spokesman saying on Friday: "This deal did not happen, it has fallen through after many hours of negotiation." But this was news to both Virgin and MuchMusic, and the situation -- as they say -- remains fluid and seems to be changing almost hourly. "The Spice Girls are committed to doing something for the city of Toronto," said Virgin Music Canada's Jeff Remedios. "What that event is is absolutely not confirmed. We are working it out. In terms of this entire event, it's all still up in the air because there are so many parties involved."

The latest rumor has the Spices doing some kind of "special outdoor event" without performance and an Intimate & Interactive -- which would including a performance -- at MuchMusic. Meanwhile, just as Spice Girls fever builds in the city of T.O., MuchMusic has got its hands on Miami Spice, a half-hour special, which will air Wednesday night at 6:30 and 10.

In the special, taped around the time of the Spice Girls' June 15 launch of their North American tour in Miami, the four members are interviewed by a British journalist about the departure of Ginger Spice, among other things. "When Geri left, it was a complete shock to all of us," says Posh Spice. "We had no idea. As far as we were all concerned, everything was fine. Obviously there are arguments that go on, but it had never run as smoothly as it had for the last six or seven months. "We were all very happy; there was no tension within the band."

But the four Spices do admit that they were all exhausted after their "grueling" European tour. "Obviously we knew Geri was tired and Geri knew we were tired, but we never ever dreamed that she'd get up and go," says Baby Spice. Adds Sporty Spice: "Maybe it just wasn't for her."

As for British tabloid reports that it was Scary Spice's taunting that drove Ginger out of the group, they all deny that was the case -- although Scary does admit they used to clash. "We did all the time, 'cause me and Geri were like quite close," Scary Spice says. "We used to have screaming arguments. But in the last two years, we didn't have any arguments." Adds Posh: "A lot was blamed on Melanie and at the end of the day we all argue -- it's natural. There's no one person to blame. "Everyone thinks she's scary, but she's a pussycat really."

SPICEWORLD - THE MOVIE SPECIAL EDITION

Polygram will release a special edition of the Spiceworld movie featuring a 50-minute Making Of... documentary and previously unseen footage including an extra song from the film's closing Albert Hall concert. The video will be released on November 2.

July 4, 1998

VIVA FOREVER UPDATE

July 1,1998

VICTORIA ASKS PUBLIC TO LEAVE DAVID ALONE

In a statement read out at a press conference in New York, she said that David needed all the love she and everyone else, could give him at this hard time.