7-6-99 Ricky, Shania, Geri turn out for Prince's Trust
7-2-99 Solo Spice is everywhere; wedding bells to ring for Posh
6-24-99 Geri Halliwell on her new, Latin-tinged single
6-15-99 Geri Halliwell mood-swings into stores with "Schizophonic"
6-3-99 Geri Halliwell in market for new manager
5-25-99 Geri Halliwell: Author?
5-13-99 Geri Halliwell prepares to get Schizophonic
4-19-99 Catching up with Geri Halliwell: "I got a little bit angry"
4-13-99 Geri Halliwell on leaving Spice Girls: "Love affairs burn out"
4-12-99 Geri Halliwell talks solo life, considers U.S. tour
3-24-99 Geri Halliwell prepares Post-Spice solo debut
10-28-98 Halliwell singing solo for Prince Charles
10-20-98 Spice Girls schedule chat, Halliwell deal confirmed
10-19-98 Geri Halliwell signs solo deal, set to become UN Ambassador
9-18-98 Scary talks about her secretive wedding and not inviting Ginger
9-16-98 Ginger Spice dress goes for $70,000
8-28-98 Ginger to auction Spice wear
6-22-98 Spice Girls "very surprised" by Geri split
6-18-98 Spice Girls break silence on Geri split, but say very little
6-16-98 Spice Girls fans react to Ginger-less tour launch
6-9-98 Ozzy, Janet weigh in on Spice split as Ginger's farewell surfaces
6-4-98 Ginger Spice considers TV and stage offers
6-2-98 Spice camp mum about Post-Geri plans as fans react
6-1-98 Was Spice Girls split in the cards?
5-31-98 Geri Halliwell quits Spice Girls
5-29-98 Ginger Spice Geri bows out of shows with "tummy trouble"
Ricky, Shania, Geri turn out for Prince's Trust
Ricky Martin, Shania Twain, Geri Halliwell, and Boyzone were among the artists turning out Sunday night in London for a pop-filled installment of the annual Prince's Trust concert.
The event (saddled with the unfortunate moniker of "Ricky Martin, Shania Twain in Concert for The Prince's Trust Party in the Park '99 with Geri Halliwell and Boyzone") was staged at London's Hyde Park this year. Those who couldn't make it to the U.K. for the show but want to catch the action anyway will be pleased to note that a pay-per-view special is being put together and will air in the States on September 23.
The Prince's Trust was established more than 20 years ago and aims to support 14 to 30-year-olds who have a hard time getting a leg up on a productive future. So far, the organization estimates that it has helped 40,000 young people start their own businesses.
Solo Spice is everywhere; wedding bells to ring for Posh
Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our Spice Girls. The girl group has already made plans to record its third LP with super producer Rodney Jerkins. But the individual Spices (both past and present) are leading pretty full solo lives these days.
As we previously reported, "Scary" Mel G. recently shot a video for her version on the 1986 Cameo hit "Word Up," a song featured on the soundtrack to the new "Austin Powers" movie. It's a complicated concept (covering an '80s song for a '90s movie about the '60s), but apparently the video shoot featuring 32-inch-tall actor Verne Troyer, who plays "Mini-Me" in the film, was shiny, happy fun.
"We've got a bit of the movie set here... and it's going to be very exciting," Mel G. told MTV news. "Very silver and very kind of space-cadet-y."
As for the Timbaland-produced track, did Scary know it would be getting such a high-profile push?
"The thing is, I didn't even know the song was going to be in the movie until I'd done it," Mel G. explained. "So it was quite a nice surprise, really, 'cause I'm working on my album at the moment. So it was very kind of good props, and it was a good confidence booster to know that somebody liked it enough to put it in the 'Austin Powers' movie, which was excellent."
That video will hit the airwaves in a few weeks, but a full-blown Mel G. solo album won't be out until next year.
Meanwhile, Mel G.'s "Sporty" colleague, Melanie C., has a solo album of her own, "Northern Star," due out in October. She also has a song on the soundtrack to the new Adam Sandler movie, "Big Daddy," and when MTV News ran into her at that movie's premiere recently, we asked her if she'd heard "Schizophonic," the new solo album by her former Spice Girls partner Geri Halliwell.
"I think it... it's not actually my cup of tea," Melanie C. replied, "but I think she's done well. I like the album. I think the album's good. Yeah, the ["Look At Me"] video's great. She looks fantastic, and good luck to her."
"She's doing really well," Sporty added. "I've seen her out and about. But she better watch out for me, that's all I can say!"
Speaking of Spice Girls defector "Ginger" Geri Halliwell, MTV News asked her recently if she had heard her former colleagues' solo efforts and wondered what she thought of them.
"No, I haven't [heard them]," she replied. "I heard something Mel B. did with Missy Elliott ["I Want You Back"]. That was really good. I thought it was really cool to do. 'Cause it's kind of making her more down and hip. But I haven't heard any Mel C. stuff, but I'm sure it would be great."
Geri's "Schizophonic" debuted on this week's "Billboard" album chart at a very un-Spice-like number 42, and according to figures released by SoundScan on Wednesday, it will drop 20 notches to 62 on Monday's chart. Nevertheless, the singer will be flying off to an Italian island to shoot the video for her next single, "Mi Chico Latino," which is slated for release in September.
On Sunday, "Posh" Victoria Adams will be marrying her soccer-superstar boyfriend, David Beckham, at a church in Dublin. Some 500 guests will attend the reception at a local castle afterwards, although none will be allowed to take pictures, as photo rights have reportedly been sold to a U.K. publication for more than $1.5 million. The couple's son, Brooklyn Joseph, was born in March.
Meanwhile "Baby" Emma Bunton is slated to appear at a benefit concert on July 24 in London's Hyde Park and perform a duet with Boyzone's Ronan Keating, who organized the event to aid breast cancer research.
Geri Halliwell on her new, Latin-tinged single
Hit records from such Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez have helped spawn a crossover boom for Latino music in America -- as Lopez currently has a number one single with "If You Had My Love," while Martin has sold almost 2.5 million copies of his self-titled album in six weeks.
Now former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell plans to get into the fray with a her own song, "Mi Chico Latino," the follow-up to her first solo single, "Look at Me."
Some might think that the release of Geri's new single is just an attempt to jump on board the Latin music bandwagon, but Halliwell says that her decision to push "Mi Chico Latino" actually came long before Lopez and Martin's records began their chart domination.
"My second single, and I've decided on it, is 'Mi Chico Latino,'" Halliwell said. "And that's tapping into my Latin roots, 'cause my mother -- she's Spanish, and 'cause I always just write songs that I feel. I know everyone says that there's this big Latin wave going on, but I wrote this single way before [any of that]. As soon as I wrote this song, I thought, you know, this is my summer single, regardless of what's in fashion and what's not."
Geri Halliwell's "Schizophonic" debuts at number 42 on next week's Billboard Pop Album Charts.
Geri Halliwell mood-swings into stores with "Schizophonic"
Geri Halliwell released her first post-Spice Girls solo album, "Schizophonic," on Tuesday, and as she told MTV News' John Norris recently, writing lyrics for the LP was a rather cathartic process.
"During the summer I wrote lots of lyrics and ideas, and then in the autumn, I was ready to go back into the studio," Halliwell explained. "And what it was, I kind of tore my heart out and squeezed it into the lyrics. And it was really therapeutic for me."
The process also resulted in a record of many minds and emotions, as Geri went on to describe.
"You know, it's kind of a mood swing, this album is," said Halliwell.
"One minute I'm on the floor and being reflective and searching. Next minute I'm hysterical and being really larger than life. I think women will identify. It's like a hormonal mood swing. One minute it's like, 'Arrrgh!' The next minute it's, 'Ahhh...'"
Buy Geri's album Schizophonic by clicking on the banner below.
Geri Halliwell in market for new manager
Building on a year chock full of change, onetime Spice Girl Geri Halliwell has severed ties with her manager, Lisa Anderson.
The move comes less than two weeks before the June 15 U.S. release of her solo debut, "Schizophonic," and several weeks after her single "Look At Me" debuted at number two on the U.K. singles chart. Despite the impressive chart showing, many saw the fact that Halliwell's single could not bump Boyzone's remake of Anne Murray's "You Needed Me" out of the U.K. number one slot as a disappointment.
On Thursday, the "Hollywood Reporter" reported that Halliwell was close to signing on with Madonna's manager, Caresse Norman. However, spokespeople for both Halliwell and Madonna's management say that there have been no discussions between the two camps.
Geri Halliwell: Author?
Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell has a story to tell, and she plans to with a book that she's been working on for a number of years.
"I've been writing a book since I was about 16 and I think there's a writer in [me]," Halliwell told the MTV Radio Network recently. However, those hoping that the tome will be a Spice Girls tell-all will be sorely disappointed.
"This story is more of a 21st Century folktale. The dressing happens to be my life, but it's about chasing rainbows, getting your pot of gold, and how does that feel."
There's no word when (or if) Geri's story will make it to bookstores, but in the event that it does, Geri promises the tale will be deeply honest, but quite funny.
While her career as an author still faces long odds, Geri's music career is well on track. Halliwell's solo debut, "Schizophonic," hits stores on June 14, and she may support the album with a tour this fall.
Geri Halliwell prepares to get Schizophonic
Spice Girls graduate Geri Halliwell is on the verge of becoming "Schizophonic." That's the title of her first solo album, and it's due out in America on June 14.
The woman we once called Ginger is looking quite a bit different these days. But her new music will definitely have some familiar rings to it, as it was masterminded by Spice Girls producers Paul Wilson and Andy Watkins. MTV News' John Norris spoke to Halliwell recently about the first single and video, "Look At Me," and how it reflects her own multifaceted personality.
"One of the lines in this song is 'I can give you reality,' almost as though reality is like another way we present ourselves," Norris suggested.
"Absolutely," Geri replied. "I can be real. I saw Lil' Kim going, 'I can be real.' You know, I can be real, and we all can be real with each other, and we should be. But if you want, I can play... I can be a drama queen."
She added, "There's all different dimensions to a personality. In this video I play a virgin, a vamp, a bitch, a sister. You know, there's all different dimensions to a personality, and perhaps we're all of them and none of them."
Halliwell will probably support her solo record with a world tour next fall. To hold you over until then, the video for "Look At Me" will debut on MTV's "Total Request Live" on Thursday afternoon.
Catching up with Geri Halliwell: "I got a little bit angry"
We all know the Spice Girls slimmed down to a quartet following the abrupt departure of Ginger Spice from the group in May 1998. But strangely enough, Geri Halliwell (as she's once again allowed to be known) has spent these last months out of the limelight and away from the public eye.
"For those that don't recognize me, I know, I used to look like a drag queen," declared Geri during her surprise appearance at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards last September. Our Ginger was indeed almost unrecognizable in a staid black suit and a sleek, subdued hairdo. Why the makeover?
"I think I became a caricature of my own self," Halliwell recently explained to MTV News' John Norris, "and I think the pinnacle of that was at the previous MTV awards when I was in that American flag thing. But actually Ginger was a part of me, and I think it's good to have a sense of humor about it. You have to have a sense of humor to wear the outfits that I wore."
Geri's sense of humor wore thin almost a year ago when she made her disappearing act and vanished from the Spice Girls just before a concert in Oslo, Norway. The "official" excuse was illness. But rumors persisted.
"I was in England," John told the singer, "when that whole Oslo incident--"
"Oh, for God's sake," she interrupted. "I wasn't sick."
"That was one of the things they said, right," Norris continued. "I mean, was it a pretty snap decision or...?"
"Yes, it was," the singer replied. "It was just one of those things when I felt like I was tested, like someone put a card down in front of me and said, 'Prove it. Prove that you mean what you said in the last, you know, three years. That you said that you talk about girl power -- do you mean it?' And yes I do. 'Well, if you do, then jump.' And so I had to jump. I had no choice."
Although there were many reasons leading to Geri's decision to leave the group, she says what finally pushed her over the edge was a scheduling conflict that kept her from doing an interview about breast cancer.
"I got a little bit angry because I just felt... actually I meant to be the advocate of girl power, I meant to, you know, preach on about this, and if I can't do that, then we were meant to be more than a band. I just felt like a hypocrite and a liar," Geri confessed. But how did it feel when the time came to actually leave her bandmates?
"The only way I could make people understand, [it's] like a marriage. But actually more like a love affair. I had this intense love affair, and love affairs burn out," she explained. "And suddenly, a few years later...I wasn't in love anymore."
"To use the marriage analogy one step further," John began, "was there one of the four spouses in particular that--"
"I mean I know what everyone's thinking," Geri quickly responded. "You know, [at] the end of the day, the relationship between me and Scary Spice was one that I would say, she and I would have been friends whether we were in the band or not. You know, we had a very, very strong relationship. And like you know, most -- the best relationships -- actually you take it out on the ones you love the most."
With her four supposed best friends now gone, the artist formerly known as Ginger took refuge from the media and from her own distorted self-image at her pal George Michael's house. Not a bad place to turn to, since it was only a few years ago that George himself had to shed some "celebrity skin" to move ahead with his career.
"When I left the Spice Girls, I didn't know what I was going to do," Halliwell said. "I wanted to be the antithesis of that. I needed to get my feet back on the ground, so to speak, take those platform shoes off, and get grounded. I was absolutely frightened. But I had to do it. I didn't know I was gonna, you know, pursue this solo career business. God!"
Geri went into the studio last fall and the result is "Schizophonic," her first solo album. It's currently scheduled to arrive on June 15 and will include the first single and video, "Look at Me."
Oddly, at the time of her whirlwind, five-continents-in-seven-days publicity tour, only mere seconds of Geri's music were available for preview. So time will tell. For now, she still counts on her supporting fans and caring friends.
"Whatever she wants to do," Melanie "Sporty Spice" Chisholm told MTV shortly following Geri's departure, "we know Geri, she'll do really well."
"She's going to be around," adds George Michael, "because she has so much personality and so much drive. She has every intention [of] staying famous."
And, if nothing else, there's that old, familiar Ginger spark, which once again may carry her far.
"It's a girl's world!" Geri cried. "Woman power! Come on!"
Geri Halliwell on leaving Spice Girls: "Love affairs burn out
Geri Halliwell has thrown away her Ginger Spice moniker and glitter gear for good. But these days, she's sporting more than just her real name and a sleek new look.
As we reported on Monday (see "Geri Halliwell Talks Solo Life, Considers U.S. Tour"), the singer's first solo album, "Schizophrenic," is currently scheduled to hit North America on June 15.
At a press conference on Friday in New York City, Geri unveiled "Look at Me," the upbeat first single off her upcoming record. The video for the image-conscious track features Halliwell in a variety of guises from virgin to vamp -- which, for some, will undoubtedly conjure up memories of Geri's previous band. Was breaking up with the girl power group hard to do?
"There's a million reasons why I wanted to leave the Spice Girls," Halliwell told MTV News' John Norris on Friday. "The only way I can make people understand... it's like a marriage, but actually more like a love affair, and love affairs burn out. They do, particularly with me."
She added, "You know, my father died six months before the Spice Girls. I fell in love with them. I needed it very, very badly, and then suddenly, you know, a few years later, I'm two years older than them. I come from a different place, so my perspective on it was different, and you know, I wasn't in love anymore...."
As for making up with her former Spicemates, Geri did say that she sent her regards to "Posh" Victoria and "Scary" Mel G. (formerly Mel B.) following the births of their babies.
"Look at Me" is due to reach our airwaves on May 17.
Geri Halliwell talks solo life, considers U.S. tour
An energetic Geri Halliwell, formerly Ginger Spice, held court in New York City on Friday to formally announce her new solo project and play her first solo single, "Look at Me," as well as its video for the media.
During the press conference, Halliwell discussed life since the much heralded Spice-split back in May 1998 (see "Geri Halliwell Quits Spice Girls"), her new attitude, and the person who supported her while cutting the new record: George Michael. She also discussed some of the emotions the new sessions have been stirring up, which fans may hear on the forthcoming album, "Schizophrenic."
"I just poured all my emotion into it," Halliwell said of the project. "That's why I think women will really identify with this album. One minute I'm on the floor, feeling really depressed and reflective. The next minute, I'm high. It's like an emotional mood swing. I think it's quite an honest, vulnerable album, actually."
In matters related to her former girl power group, Halliwell said that her only regret about leaving the Spice Girls was that she missed seeing her U.S. fans on tour and that she is already rehearsing for a possible solo trek.
"Look at Me" hits radio airwaves on May 17, while "Schizophrenic" is currently slated for a June 15 release. Meanwhile, you can catch more from Ms. Halliwell this weekend on "MTV News 1515." Here's where else you can tune her in as she pushed her new release:
Geri Halliwell prepares Post-Spice solo debut
The artist formerly known as Ginger Spice, Geri Halliwell, will see her debut solo single titled "Look At Me" released in her home country of England on May 10.
The track will be featured on her forthcoming solo album, due out sometime this summer. George Michael video director, Vaughan Arnell, shot the video for the single (which was co-written by Halliwell) late last week in Prague.
The song should start popping up on U.S. radio stations on May 17.
Also last week, Ginger's old group, the Spice Girls, took home a trophy at the 19th annual Golden Raspberry Awards, often referred to as the Razzies. The ceremony, which honors the worst films of the year, collectively gave the girls the worst actress award for their roles in the movie, "Spice World."
Halliwell singing solo for Prince Charles
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.
Spice Girls schedule chat, Halliwell deal confirmed
The Spice Girls, or at least Mel C and Emma, are scheduled to appear in a live online chat on Wednesday (October 21) at the Virgin Music Group site, http://c3.vmg.co.uk/spicegirls.
The event is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. London time, which translates to 11:30 a.m in New York and 8:30 a.m. in Los Angeles. Participants are being encouraged to submit questions in advance at the site, but they can also ask questions once the chat is underway.
Meanwhile, the British trade publication "Dot Music" confirms that solo Spice Geri Halliwell has signed a long term recording contract with an EMI group company, although they can't confirm that the specific label is Chrysalis. "Dot" reports that Halliwell's publicists confirmed the deal in a statement issued late Friday.
The statement said in part, "After four months of speculation as to her future plans (Halliwell) is now back in the recording studio working on solo material. Fans can expect her first release in the new year."
Geri Halliwell signs solo deal, set to become UN Ambassador
Geri Halliwell is said to be launching a solo recording career by signing to Chrysalis Records.
The "London Sun" reports that the former Spice Girl has inked a three-album deal with the label worth roughly $3 million. Halliwell, who left the Spice Girls late last May, has previously been said to be hosting television shows and acting on stage and in TV movies.
The paper says that her contract with Virgin prevented her from releasing any new material for three months, but she's now free and clear and set to announce the new deal next week. They add that Halliwell picked Chrysalis because she liked the way the label handled former Take That singer Robbie Williams. Take That were a wildly popular band in England before Williams left, and he's since enjoyed a very successful solo career.
Halliwell has appeared at just two major functions since the split -- once at the MTV Music Video Awards and once at a charity auction. She's also set to host the MTV Europe awards.
Additionally, the former Ginger Spice has been making community appearances for charity. Last week Halliwell was in Uganda filming a segment for Comic Relief, a British charity program.
Most recently, the "London Times" reports that Halliwell is set to become a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations and will soon be meeting with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in New York to discuss that position.
Scary talks about her secretive wedding and not inviting Ginger
Calling herself Mel G instead of Mel B, a pregnant and newlywed Scary Spice spoke to our colleagues at MTV Europe earlier this week about some of the recent, rather dramatic changes in her life.
As we previously reported, last weekend Melanie Brown married dancer Jimmy Gulzar, with whom she cavorts in her video with Missy Elliot for "Want You Back".
All of Mel B's fellow Spice Girls -- with the notable exception of the departed Geri Halliwell -- attended the wedding, an event which Scary Spice says she had trouble keeping the British tabloids from knowing about.
"I planned my wedding a long time ago," Scary Spice told MTV Europe, "I planned it a long time ago, and it's not actually the secrecy from my fans or the general public, it's the press -- really."
"They can be pretty vicious," she added, "they can be very vicious, and I didn't really want [the wedding to be] spoiled by a lot of press snooping over my wall and hiding in the bushes. That's why I had so much security, cause they can be really nasty, they can. They just don't just take pictures of you, they hail abuse at you and I didn't want that on my wedding day."
"Everyone was saying that Geri wasn't at the wedding because she wasn't invited," asked the MTV Europe interviewer.
"No," she retorted, "I did speak to [Geri] a couple of weeks ago, and as you know, Victoria went out for dinner with her. But ... weddings are a very family, kind of close-knit thing, and I just wanted it to be as smooth as possible."
The Spice Girls have recorded a new single, "Goodbye," which will be released during the Christmas season.
Ginger Spice dress goes for $70,000
The two-day annual pop auction at Sotheby's has concluded with Geri Halliwell's famed union jack dress fetching just under $70,000. British press sources report that the buyer was Hard Rock Café owner Peter Morton, who will display the dress with its matching black corset in his flagship Las Vegas venue.
Halliwell, who stood at the podium and rapped the gavel after the final frenzied bid, promised to personally deliver the garment. The dress was originally rated at £12,000 (approximately $20,000) but the price reached £36,200. Morton, who bid by telephone, paid a total of £41,320, including a 15% commission. The proceeds, at Halliwell's request, will be going to a children's cancer care foundation. Halliwell herself had a breast cancer scare when she was 18.
Other items supplied by the former Ginger Spice included the 1967 MGB roadster she bought with her first royalty check, which sold for £8,500 ($14,000), and the rhinestone-studded outfit she wore to the 1997 Billboard awards, which fetched £4,140 ($7000).
The Spice Girls memorabilia, however, didn't generate the highest sales. The top price paid out over the course of the event was £100,000 ($167,700 USD) plus commission for a Beatles notebook kept by former Beatles staffer Mal Evans that included Paul McCartney's handwritten lyrics to "Hey Jude" among other scribbles, doodles and notes. That item was bought by a British businessman as a gift for his daughter who was appearing as a character named Jude in a TV soap opera.
Other rare Beatles material included original artwork from the Sgt. Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band album, letters written by John Lennon, and rare footage and photgraphs of the band. Other items included a pair of Mick Jagger's velvet pants dating back to the late 1960s, a gold record and a leather motorcycle jacket that once belonged to Elvis Presley, a poster from the Sex Pistols' 1976 Anarchy in the U.K. tour, one of Madonna's G-strings, a studded Tina Turner dress, and a notebook of Oasis lyrics written by Noel Gallagher.
Ginger to auction Spice wear
Geri Halliwell will be distancing herself a little further from her former life as a Spice Girl by auctioning off some of her old costumes for charity.
The British press is reporting that the auction will take place at Sotheby's in London on September 16, and among the items expected to be going under the hammer are her trademark Union Jack mini-dress with its customized black corset, her stars and stripes dress, and her eye-popping cheerleader outfit.
Halliwell, who reportedly plans to donate the proceeds from the auction to childrens' charities, has already shed a number of her Spicy trappings, including her streaked hair and Tammy Faye Bakker make-up.
The former Ginger Spice may also do an online chat to promote the auction, following in the footsteps of her very good friend George Michael, and Halliwell's chat is rumored to be in the works on that same site which houses Michael's record label, Aegean.
Meanwhile, the remaining four Spice Girls recently told BBC talk show host Esther Rantzen that they, too, were thinking of selling their outfits for charity.
Spice Girls "very surprised" by Geri split
Last weekend, the Spice Girls spoke with MTV News for the first time since Ginger Spice Geri Halliwell left the group last month.
Despite rumors and reports that Halliwell's departure was a long time coming and caused by fighting within the group (see "Was Spice Girls Split In The Cards?"), the remaining Spice Girls told MTV News' John Norris that her exit was, in fact, completely unexpected.
"We were very surprised," Posh Spice Victoria Adams told MTV News. "There was never any tension before it happened. I think there were other things she wanted to do. She's moved on. Individually and as a band we support her in whatever she wants to do." "Whatever she ends up doing, we know she'll do really well," Sporty Spice Mel C added.
The suddenly Gingerless Spice Girls will play Virginia Beach, Virginia on Wednesday.
Spice Girls break silence on Geri split, but say very little
The Spice Girls addressed the recent departure of Ginger Spice Geri Halliwell for the first time, but offered little insight into the singer's decision to leave the group.
Speaking with Britain's Radio 1 just before launching the group's U.S. tour on Monday night, Scary Spice Mel B echoed the party line that the Girls have been towing since Halliwell left the Spice camp last month (see "Geri Halliwell Quits Spice Girls").
"It's just a case of moving onward and forward," Mel B told radio host Kevin Greening, breaking the group's collective silence on the issue. "She's happy, and we're getting on with our planned schedules."
As we first reported earlier this week , that schedule includes a new studio album, a spat of solo albums for the various Spices, and a Mel B/Missy Elliot collaboration for the soundtrack of an upcoming Frankie Lymon biopic.
Spice Girls fans react to Ginger-less tour launch
At the launch of their U.S. tour on Monday night, the Spice Girls played for two hours, kept the costumes changes coming, and mixed the hits with some surprising covers, but left fans talking about one thing: life without Geri.
"It's really sad that Geri's leaving because she's the one big on girl power and how they're best buds and everything," one fan told MTV News outside of the Girl's show at the Coral Sky Amphitheater in West Palm Beach, Florida. "They're best buds... Yeah, they can't even stay together for a couple of years."
"They're not going to be, like, girl power without her," another concertgoer echoed.
The Girls did their best to conjure up some of that magical, mystical girl power at Monday night's show, turning in a two-hour set that saw the group change their costumes at least every two songs. In addition to noted Spice cannon selections like "Wannabe," "Say You'll Be There," and "Spice Up Your Life," the Girls threw some covers into the mix with the Mel's duetting on "Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves" and Baby Spice tackling a Supremes nugget.
As fans were buzzing about Geri's recent departure, the Girls themselves made no mention of her absence during the show. The four remaining Spices managed to divide Ginger Spice's vocal parts evenly among themselves with Mel B. doing Geri's rap section in "Wannabe" and Emma handling Geri's part in "Too Much." Geri's image did appear on the video on the wall behind the Girls, and her name was not deleted from the songs in which she is mentioned.
The Spice Girls will play Atlanta's Lakewood Amphitheater on Thursday, and as we reported earlier this week , spokespeople say the group is planning a new studio album, some individual solo albums, and some work with Missy Elliot.
Ozzy, Janet weigh in on Spice split as Ginger's farewell surfaces
As the world struggles to find meaning in a Ginger-free Spice World, news of Geri Halliwell's final Spice-ly duties has come up.
Ironically enough, it turns out that Halliwell's farewell turn as Ginger Spice comes in "Viva Forever," the most recent video shot for the "Spice World" album. There are no plans yet to release the video in the States.
While Halliwell has reportedly been spotted at George Michael's villa in the South of France, the remaining Spice Girls are now preparing for their third appearance as a foursome Tuesday at Luciano Pavarotti¹s War Child charity show in Italy.
While the Spice Girls are soldiering on, so are their music world colleagues, some of whom seem genuinely shaken by the news of Halliwell's departure from the group. Our friends at MTV Europe caught up with reigning metal overlord Ozzy Osbourne, who was shocked to hear of the split.
"She left the band? You're kidding me," exclaimed Osbourne, who pays tribute to the Spicey ones in a video that precedes his concerts. "Quit the band for what reason? That's really weird that is. I always heard that they were tight. For what it's worth, they're not going to be around in another 10 years. They're going out of it, you know. It's really weird the way people flake off. It's like then there were three, then were four, then there will be one Spice Girl left , but good luck to them."
MTV Europe also caught up with Janet Jackson, who was more optimistic about the group's future.
"When a person's down, or something happens, you find a way," Jackson said. "You figure it out somehow. I mean, I feel it's just like with us, when someone winds up getting hurt, even when you do have a swing... There are times when we didn't have a swing, and you make it work. I'm sure they'll find a way to really make it work."
The suddenly Ginger-less Spice Girls will launch a U.S. tour on June 15 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Ginger Spice considers TV and stage offers
Ginger Spice Geri Halliwell's abrupt exit from the Spice Girls last week has prompted a raft of rumors about her future plans -- including speculation that she is in talks with, among others, BBC personality Chris Evans, to co-host the U.K. TV show "TFI Friday."
Ginger is also rumored to be under consideration for the part of a 42nd Street hooker in the London staging of "The Life," a Broadway show which will be wrapping its New York run soon, although the show's producer told "The New York Post" that "the characters in 'The Life' wear a lot more clothes than the Spice Girls do."
And it seems that Ginger's departure hasn't made a dent in the Spice Girls' U.S. tour, which kicks off June 15 in West Palm Beach, Florida. According to the majority of promoters MTV contacted, the demand for tickets is still high, and in some markets, their new quartet status has generated even greater sales.
Spice camp mum about Post-Geri plans as fans react
In the wake of the news that rocked the Spice World, Spice Girls fans are left with nothing but questions and memories after Ginger Spice Geri Halliwell split from the group last weekend.
There's no word yet on what Halliwell will do now that she has shed her role as Ginger, and there's no response from the group itself on reports that they may hold auditions to find a replacement (possibly an American) for Geri at the end of their upcoming 10-week U.S. tour. The trek gets underway next week in West Palm Beach, Florida, and runs through August.
"It's a shame," said one young female about Ginger Spice Geri Halliwell, "she's like my favorite Spice Girl. I love her wacky hair. She was always the one that kept the group alive and going. She was pretty much the spokesperson for the whole group."
"Why do I think it happened," posed one male, "I don't know. Maybe she got greedy and wanted to go off on her own."
"More money, more problems," grinned another fan, "just like Puff Daddy said."
"If she's not there," said another female, "there'll be something missing, but they'll survive it."
"I think they're 15 minutes are over" added a fan, "so it was gonna happen anyway."
"I don't think it should really matter," scoffed one teenager, "since they could probably just replace her with another good-looking girl who barely sings."
"I don't think they can replace her," claimed one female, "I don't know. I think they should try and get her back if they can."
In the streets of Manchester, England, MTV News' John Norris found that, while fans were divided in their opinions on Halliwell's departure, they were unanimous in their opposition to her inevitable solo career.
"No way!" the crowd screamed.
The four remaining Spice Girls will take the stage in Modena, Italy on Tuesday, June 9 to wrap up their European tour before heading to the States.
Was Spice Girls split in the cards?
As the long-term future of the Spice Girls' music empire is left in question after Ginger Spice Geri Halliwell's departure, the group's lawyers and financial managers are now attempting to hold the Spice World together, a world which appeared to be increasingly strained in the weeks leading up to the break.
Sunday's split (see our initial report, "Geri Halliwell Quits Spice Girls") only confirmed suspicions which had been mounting all week, both before and after Halliwell's no-show on a British lottery TV show.
"The London Sun" and other press sources reported that there had been a "blazing row" and described the girls as having an airport "tiff" followed by "sniping" on the plane and "flouncing off" after landing. Stories circulated that Halliwell was conferring with TV and movie agents followed by reports that she was retaining her own PR person and legal counsel.
When she failed to appear with the band Wednesday in London, and Thursday and Friday for concerts in Norway, "The Daily Mirror" reported that Halliwell had walked out on the band and had left the country for an undisclosed location. Spokespeople for the group, however, steadfastly claimed that Halliwell's absence was due to exhaustion and a stomach ache, and denied reports of a split.
Rumors of dissension had been dogging the Spice Girls since they fired manager Simon Fuller last September and began handling their own careers. Halliwell appeared to be at the helm, although the girls later told a TV audience (unconvincingly) that Posh Spice Victoria Adams had been the ringleader leading up to the decision to fire Fuller.
The lawyers are currently hammering out the financial details of the pop music divorce. "The Mirror" reports that the girls own equal shares in Spice Girls Ltd, which owns the right to the band's name and image, and all five share songwriting credits on their major hits.
According to the paper, The Spice Girls made $88 million US last year, Fuller was paid $25 million and the band split the rest to give them total personal fortunes of close to $30 million each. Their pending 40-city tour is expected to pull in another $10 million.
Geri Halliwell quits Spice Girls
Geri Halliwell, known to millions of fans as "Ginger" Spice, officially quit the Spice Girls in London on Sunday morning citing unspecified "differences" with the other four members.
"I'm sure the group will continue to be successful, and I wish them all the best," Halliwell said in a statement read by lawyers. "P.S.," she added, "I'll be back."
The remaining Spice Girls -- Posh, Sporty, Scary and Baby -- said in a statement that they were "upset and saddened," but vowed to soldier on as a quartet. "The Spice Girls are here to stay -- see you in the stadiums, friendship never ends."
Halliwell had missed two concerts last week (see "Ginger Spice Geri Halliwell Bows Out..."), claiming "tummy trouble." There was no comment on earlier reports that Halliwell and her group had a very public argument with her group-mates last week in an airport in Helsinki, Finland.
The Ginger-less Spice Girls debut as a quartet at a children's charity concert in Modena, Italy on Tuesday. The Girls launch their U.S. tour on June 15 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
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Meanwhile, Spice fans across the globe are handling the news in their own, unique ways. In New York, fans wavered over whether the Spice Girls could recover from Ginger Spice's departure.