This phenomenally successful girl group was formed
in England in the mid-1990s when a group of housemates answered a newspaper
ad. Victoria Adams, Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm, and Geraldine Halliwell signed with manager
Simon Fuller in 1995, took on the Spice Girls name, and hit number one in the
U.K. in 1996 with their single Wannabe. The song hit number one in the
U.S. the following year, and their album Spice (1997) was the best-selling
album of 1997 in the U.S. In 1997 they also released Spice World, their
second album, and a movie of the same name (1998 U.S.). Other singles include
Say You'll Be There and Goodbye. Geri Halliwell left the group
in 1998 and launched her solo career. She was appointed a goodwill ambassador
to the United Nations Population Fund in the same year.
Facts
about Spice Girls:
They've appeared nude in separate magazine spreads.
They are ranked in People Magazine's 50 Most
Beautiful People in the World (1997).
In 1998 they set a record for selling out Madison
Square Garden in NYC in 12 minutes.
They performed a charity benefit for Nelson Mandela
in South Africa.
Winner of the 1997 MTV Europe Music Award for
Best Group.
Winner of the 1997 MTV Video Music
Award for Best Dance Video, "Wannabe".
Victoria Adams
(Posh Spice)
singer
Born: 4/17/74
Birthplace: Essex, England
Has a tattoo of 3 eight-pointed stars representing herself, her husband and
her son at the base of her spine.
Is a vegetarian.
(2000) Her luggage was lost on
a flight, and she demanded free airfare for life.
Melanie Brown
(Scary Spice)
singer
Born: 5/29/75
Birthplace: Leeds, Yorkshire, England
After a struggling solo career, Virgin Records and Melanie B parted company
in July 2001. The Spice Girl says she wants to concentrate on her television
career
Made her London West End theatre
debut in Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues in February 2002.
Emma Bunton
(Baby Spice)
singer
Born: 1/21/76
Birthplace: London, England
Has her name "Baby Spice" tattooed on her behind.
(1999) Started her own solo work.
Her first single, "What I Am", recorded in collaboration with the
UK dance band, Tin Tin Out, was out in November, 1999.
She revealed an interest to play
a role in EastEnders - maybe the "Who Shot Phil?" storyline.
Melanie Chisholm
(Sporty Spice)
singer
Born: 1/12/74
Birthplace: Widnes, Lancashire, England
Nearly missed the final audition for "Spice Girls" because of recurring
chronic tonsilitis.
Fan of Liverpool Football Club
(Geraldine Halliwell)
(Ginger Spice)
singer
Born: 8/6/72
Birthplace: Watford, Hertfordshire, England
Geri left the group in 1999.
Friend of singer George Michael, guested in his house for a few months
after leaving the 'Spice Girls'.
Has two tattoos: One of a panther
on the small of her back, and another of a star in between her shoulder blades.
Written an auto-biography titled
"If Only..." in which she dedicated to her late father.
(14 March 2001) Banned for driving
for six weeks and ordered to pay a $580 fine and $50 court costs for driving
twice the speed limit in Watford, England.
