Spiced-Up!
The five British singers will take the stage in Vancouver at the start of their “The Return of the Spice Girls” tour, including some 40 concerts on five continents over the next few months. More than 750,000 tickets have already been sold since they unveiled the plans in June. Initially gigs were planned in 11 cities, but due to demand that number has expanded, and some dates still remain to be fixed. Tickets for the first announced London gig sold out in just 38 seconds. More were added, with the same response, and the British capital will now host 17 concerts from December 15.
The 1990s all-female band, one of the most successful acts in pop music history and the latest to launch a comeback global stadium tour alongside the likes of The Police and Genesis, insist they are not doing it for the money. But the tour is almost certain to be a money-spinner: the girls — who have been rehearsing in Los Angeles since late October — could make up to 10 million pounds (21 million dollars) each, according to press reports.
Halliwell will be joined on stage by her fellow bandmates Victoria Beckham (“Posh Spice”), Melanie Brown (“Scary Spice”), Melanie Chisholm (“Sporty Spice”) and Emma Bunton (“Baby Spice”).
They will travel in a Virgin Atlantic 747 jet whose name, either “Spice One”, “Girl Power” or simply “Spice Girl”, will be decided by an online competition. “Spice Force One” had also been suggested.
The Spice Girls formed in 1994 after their management company placed a newspaper advertisement. They sold over 50 million records worldwide and scored nine British number one singles in the 1990s. Their first hit, “Wannabe” in 1996, was followed by a string of others including “Stop”, “Spice Up Your Life” and “Say You’ll Be There”.
