Spice Girls

The Spice Girls are an English girl group formed in 1994, consisting of Melanie Brown ("Scary Spice"), Melanie Chisholm ("Sporty Spice"), Emma Bunton ("Baby Spice"), Geri Halliwell ("Ginger Spice"), and Victoria Beckham ("Posh Spice"). They have sold more than 100 million records worldwide and are among the best-selling girl groups of all time. The group's "girl power" slogan became closely associated with its public image and contributed to its appeal among a predominantly young female audience. The Spice Girls were a major part of the resurgence of teen pop during the 1990s and became prominent figures in British popular culture during the Cool Britannia period. The group was formed by Heart Management, which held auditions to create a girl group intended to compete with the British boy bands that were prominent in the UK pop music market at the time. After leaving Heart Management, the group appointed Simon Fuller as its manager and signed with Virgin Records. The Spice Girls released their debut single, "Wannabe", in 1996. It reached number one in 37 countries and became an international commercial success. Their debut album, "Spice" (1996), sold more than 23 million copies worldwide and became the best-selling album by a female group. It produced three further UK number-one singles: "Say You'll Be There", "2 Become 1" and the double A-side "Mama"/"Who Do You Think You Are". Their second album, "Spiceworld" (1997), sold more than 14 million copies worldwide and produced the UK number-one singles "Spice Up Your Life", "Too Much" and "Viva Forever". The albums established the group's dance-pop sound and incorporated themes of female empowerment, with songwriting and vocal contributions from the members. In 1997, the Spice Girls made their live concert debut and released the feature film "Spice World". Both were commercially successful, although the film received mixed reviews. The 1998 Spiceworld Tour was attended by an estimated 2.1 million people and was among the highest-grossing concert tours by a female group at the time. Halliwell left the group during the tour. The remaining four members subsequently released "Goodbye", which became a UK number-one single, and continued performing together. In 2000, they released their third album, "Forever", which incorporated a stronger R&B influence. Its lead single, the double A-side "Holler"/"Let Love Lead the Way", became the group's ninth UK number-one single. The group entered an indefinite hiatus at the end of 2000 as the members concentrated on solo careers. The Spice Girls subsequently reunited for several performances and tours. All five members reunited for the Return of the Spice Girls Tour in 2007 and performed together at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics. In 2019, Brown, Bunton, Chisholm and Halliwell toured the United Kingdom and Ireland as a four-piece for the Spice World - 2019 Tour, while Beckham did not participate. The group's tours during this period were commercially successful and received industry awards for their concert performances. The Spice Girls have received five Brit Awards, three American Music Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, three MTV Europe Music Awards and one MTV Video Music Award. In 2000, they received the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. Elements of the group's visual identity included Halliwell's Union Jack dress, worn at the 1997 Brit Awards, and the nicknames assigned to the five members by the British press. The group also entered into numerous endorsement and merchandising agreements during the height of its commercial success. The Spice Girls were formed in the early 1990s by Bob Herbert and Chris Herbert of Heart Management, together with financier Chic Murphy. The Herberts intended to establish a girl group consisting of five members with different personalities and characteristics. In February 1994, Heart Management placed an advertisement in the trade publication "The Stage" seeking singers for an all-female pop group. Approximately 400 women attended auditions at Danceworks in London on 4 March 1994. The applicants were initially auditioned in groups before performing individually. Victoria Adams, Melanie Brown, Lianne Morgan and Michelle Stephenson were among those who advanced to a second round of auditions. Melanie Chisholm was unable to attend the second audition because of tonsillitis. Morgan was subsequently dismissed and Chisholm was invited to join the auditions. Halliwell was also invited to participate. Adams, Brown, Halliwell and Stephenson attended a further audition at Nomis Studios, where Chisholm was also invited. The five women were eventually selected for a group initially known as Touch. The group moved into a house in Maidenhead, Berkshire, and spent much of 1994 rehearsing. During this period, they recorded demonstrations at South Hill Park Recording Studios in Bracknell and worked on choreography at Trinity Studios in Knaphill. Stephenson was dismissed from the group after several months. Emma Bunton, who had previously worked with the group's vocal coach Pepi Lemer, subsequently auditioned and joined as the fifth member. The group performed showcases for associates of Heart Management and began developing its own material. During a songwriting session with Tim Hawes, the members wrote a song titled "Sugar and Spice", which contributed to the decision to change the group's name from Touch to Spice. By late 1994, the members were dissatisfied with their lack of a formal contract and with aspects of Heart Management's management of the group. They persuaded the Herberts to organise a showcase for music industry representatives at Nomis Studios in December 1994. The performance attracted positive interest. In January 1995, the group began songwriting sessions with Richard Stannard and Matt Rowe, during which "Wannabe" and "2 Become 1" were written. In March 1995, the group left Heart Management after disagreements concerning its direction and management. The members subsequently worked with songwriter Eliot Kennedy and the production team Absolute, recording demonstrations for songs that would later appear on their debut album, including "Say You'll Be There" and "Who Do You Think You Are". Their recordings attracted the attention of Simon Fuller, who signed the group to his management company, 19 Entertainment, in May 1995. Interest from record companies increased, and the group signed a five-album agreement with Virgin Records in July 1995. The group's name was changed from Spice to Spice Girls because another performer was already using the name Spice. The members continued writing and recording material for their debut album. The Spice Girls released "Wannabe" in the United Kingdom on 8 July 1996. The song became a major commercial success, reaching number one in the UK and in 36 other countries. It also reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks. It became one of the best-selling singles by a female group. Following "Wannabe", the members were given nicknames by "Top of the Pops" magazine based on their perceived personalities. The nicknames subsequently became widely associated with the members. "Say You'll Be There" was released in October 1996 and reached number one in the UK, while "2 Become 1" was released in December and became the group's first Christmas number-one single. In November 1996, the Spice Girls released their debut album, "Spice", in Europe. The album was a major commercial success and sold more than three million copies in the United Kingdom. It also became the best-selling album of 1997 in Europe. In November 1996, the group attracted a large crowd when switching on the Christmas lights in Oxford Street, London. The Spice Girls also entered into endorsement agreements with several companies. They ended the year with three awards at the Smash Hits awards. In January 1997, "Wannabe" was released in the United States. It entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 11 and subsequently reached number one for four weeks. "Spice" was released in the United States the following month and reached number one on the Billboard 200. It was certified seven-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Worldwide sales of the album exceeded 23 million copies. At the 1997 Brit Awards, the Spice Girls performed "Who Do You Think You Are", with Halliwell wearing a Union Jack dress that subsequently became closely associated with the group. The group won awards for Best British Video for "Say You'll Be There" and Best British Single for "Wannabe". In March, "Mama"/"Who Do You Think You Are" was released as a double A-side single in Europe and became another UK number-one hit. The group's first book, "Girl Power!", was published in March 1997. A video release, "One Hour of Girl Power", followed in April. The group also performed at a Prince's Trust benefit concert. In May, they announced the feature film "Spice World" at the Cannes Film Festival. Filming for "Spice World" began in June 1997 and concluded in August. The film was developed around songs intended for the group's second album, "Spiceworld". The group recorded and wrote material for the album while filming the movie. Among the songs written during this period was "Stop". In September 1997, the Spice Girls performed "Say You'll Be There" at the MTV Video Music Awards and won Best Dance Video for "Wannabe". At the 1997 Billboard Music Awards, they received four awards, including New Artist of the Year and Billboard 200 Album of the Year for "Spice". In October 1997, the Spice Girls released "Spice Up Your Life", the first single from "Spiceworld". It reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, giving the group five consecutive UK number-one singles. That month, they performed their first major live concert in Istanbul, Turkey. "Spiceworld" was released in November 1997. It sold several million copies during its initial release period and ultimately sold more than 14 million copies worldwide. The album's release was accompanied by extensive media coverage and promotional activity. The group also attracted criticism for the scale of its commercial endorsements and media exposure. On 7 November 1997, the Spice Girls performed "Spice Up Your Life" at the MTV Europe Music Awards, where they won Best Group. On the same day, they dismissed Simon Fuller as their manager and began managing themselves. The change generated considerable media coverage and speculation about the future direction of the group. Later that month, the Spice Girls hosted "An Audience with..." on ITV. In December, "Too Much" was released as the second single from "Spiceworld" and became the group's second Christmas number-one single. The film "Spice World" was released in December. It was commercially successful but received generally negative reviews from critics. In January 1998, the Spice Girls attended the US premiere of "Spice World". At the 1998 American Music Awards, they won Favorite Album, Favorite New Artist and Favorite Group in the pop/rock categories. At the 1998 Brit Awards, they received a special award recognising their international success. They also performed "Stop", which reached number two in the UK and became their first single not to reach number one there. The Spiceworld Tour began in Dublin on 24 February 1998 and subsequently travelled through Europe and North America before returning to the UK. The group performed two concerts at Wembley Stadium. Later that year, all five members participated in the song "(How Does It Feel to Be) On Top of the World", recorded as an official song associated with the England national football team during the 1998 FIFA World Cup. On 31 May 1998, Halliwell announced her departure from the Spice Girls. Her absence from several performances had preceded the announcement, which was attributed initially to creative differences and later also to exhaustion and disillusionment. The remaining members continued the group's scheduled activities. The North American leg of the Spiceworld Tour began in June 1998. The tour comprised 97 shows and was attended by an estimated 2.1 million people. Its total gross was estimated at between $220 million and $250 million, making it one of the highest-grossing tours by a female group. A documentary, "Spice Girls in America: A Tour Story", was produced during the tour. "Viva Forever", the final single from "Spiceworld", became the group's seventh UK number-one single. Its music video had been produced before Halliwell's departure and featured all five members as animated characters. While touring North America, the four remaining members wrote and recorded new material. "Goodbye" was released in December 1998 and became the group's third consecutive Christmas number-one single in the UK. The song was widely interpreted as a tribute to Halliwell. In 1999, Brown, Bunton and Chisholm released solo music while the group continued working together. The Spice Girls returned to the studio and developed a more mature sound for their third album, incorporating elements of R&B and working with American producers including Rodney Jerkins, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. In December 1999, the group undertook the Christmas in Spiceworld tour in London and Manchester, performing new material. In March 2000, the Spice Girls received the Lifetime Achievement award at the Brit Awards. Halliwell attended the ceremony but did not perform with the group. In November 2000, the Spice Girls released their third album, "Forever". It received mixed reviews and reached number two on the UK Albums Chart and number 39 on the US Billboard 200. The lead single, "Holler"/"Let Love Lead the Way", became the group's ninth UK number-one single. "Forever" sold more than four million copies worldwide. In December 2000, the Spice Girls ceased promotional activities and entered an indefinite hiatus while the members pursued solo careers. They stated that they had not formally split. On 28 June 2007, all five members announced a reunion and a worldwide concert tour, the Return of the Spice Girls Tour. The tour began in December 2007 and included performances in Europe and North America. Tickets for the initial London date sold out rapidly, and additional dates were added in response to demand. The group also released a greatest hits album and the single "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)", which was associated with the 2007 Children in Need charity campaign. The tour was commercially successful, generating substantial ticket and merchandising revenue. Several scheduled dates were cancelled in February 2008 because of personal and family commitments. The tour concluded in Toronto on 26 February 2008. At the 2010 Brit Awards, the Spice Girls received a special award for Best Performance of the 30th Year, recognising their 1997 Brit Awards performance of "Wannabe" and "Who Do You Think You Are". The group subsequently collaborated with Simon Fuller, Judy Craymer and Jennifer Saunders on the stage musical "Viva Forever!". The production used songs by the Spice Girls to tell an original story. The musical premiered at the Piccadilly Theatre in London's West End in December 2012. It closed after seven months following generally negative reviews and reported financial losses. In August 2012, all five members reunited to perform "Wannabe" and "Spice Up Your Life" at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The performance received substantial media attention. In July 2016, Brown, Bunton and Halliwell released a video commemorating the 20th anniversary of "Wannabe" and indicated plans to work together as a three-piece. Beckham and Chisholm did not participate but expressed support for the project. A previously unreleased song, "Song for Her", subsequently appeared online. The project was abandoned following Halliwell's pregnancy. In late 2018, Brown, Bunton, Chisholm and Halliwell announced a reunion tour without Beckham, who declined to participate because of commitments relating to her fashion business. The Spice World - 2019 Tour began in Dublin on 24 May 2019 and concluded with three concerts at Wembley Stadium in London on 15 June. The tour comprised 13 dates and was attended by more than 700,000 people. It was commercially successful and received a Billboard Live Music Award for Top Boxscore. In 2019, the Spice Girls also collaborated with the children's book franchise "Mr. Men" on merchandise and related products. Paramount Animation announced plans for an animated film featuring the group and songs from its catalogue, although details concerning the production subsequently remained limited. To commemorate the 25th anniversary of "Wannabe", the Spice Girls released an EP containing previously unreleased demos in July 2021. In October 2021, a deluxe edition of "Spice", titled "Spice25", was released with previously unreleased demos and remixes. It reached number five on the UK Albums Chart. In September 2022, the Spice Girls announced "Spiceworld25", a 25th-anniversary edition of "Spiceworld". The release included previously unreleased live recordings and remixes, as well as previously released B-sides and a megamix. "Step to Me" was released digitally for the first time in conjunction with the announcement. "Spiceworld25" was released on 4 November 2022 and reached number 46 on the UK Albums Chart. New music videos for "Spice Up Your Life" and "Never Give Up on the Good Times" were also released to promote the reissue. Royal Mail issued a set of 15 stamps beginning on 11 January 2024 to commemorate the Spice Girls' 30th anniversary. In November 2025, the 25th-anniversary edition of "Forever", titled "Forever25", was released on vinyl. The release included the group's previously issued Christmas songs "Christmas Wrapping" and "Sleigh Ride" alongside their three UK Christmas number-one singles. In March 2026, the Royal Mint released a range of coins commemorating the Spice Girls' 30th anniversary. That month, Chisholm stated that there were no current plans for a reunion to mark the 30th anniversary of "Wannabe" and the group's debut album. Other members subsequently made public comments suggesting that a future reunion remained possible. On 10 September 2026, the Spice Girls released "Do You Think About Me (Demo)" as a promotional single. Studio albums Spice (1996) Spiceworld (1997) Forever (2000) Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Mama
Spice Girls

Spice (1996)
Matt Rowe/Spice Girls/Richard Stannard