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Spice Girls announcement imminent Spice Girls announce reunion tour
(2 days later)
The Spice Girls are widely expected to announce they are reforming at a press conference in London on Thursday. The Spice Girls have confirmed they will reform for a world tour to take place in December and January.
It will be the first official public appearance by all five members since Geri Halliwell quit in May 1998. The full line-up has not performed on stage since Ginger Spice Geri Halliwell quit in May 1998.
By that point, the band had notched up six UK number one singles, and were in the midst of a 102-date world tour. The 11 dates announced include a London show on 15 December, eight days after the tour begins in Los Angeles.
Earlier this month Mel C, better known as Sporty Spice, told the BBC that any reunion would be for "a very short space of time... a final goodbye". "I think for us it was about celebrating the past, enjoying each other and it's about our fans. It was the right time," said Halliwell.
The singer added that she had resisted reforming the band in the past because "it was amazing, it was magical. We could never recreate it". The only British date is in London, with the venue not yet confirmed. The other European dates are in Cologne and Madrid.
Future plans SPICE GIRLS TOUR 2007/08 Los Angeles - 7 DecemberLas Vegas - 8 DecemberNew York - 11 DecemberLondon - 15 DecemberCologne - 20 DecemberMadrid - 23 DecemberBeijing - 10 JanuaryHong Kong - 12 JanuarySydney - 17 JanuaryCape Town - 20 JanuaryBuenos Aires - 24 January
The band won four Brits, including a lifetime achievement awardThe girl group are due to address the press at the O2 arena in south-east London at 1200BST (1100GMT). 'Fears and doubts'
A notice announcing the event said the band would "make an official announcement to the world regarding future plans". Earlier this month Mel Chisholm, also known as Sporty Spice, told the BBC she had resisted reforming the group in the past because "it was amazing, it was magical. We could never recreate it".
It is rumoured the group are planning six live shows around the world with gigs in London, Tokyo and Las Vegas, to support a greatest hits album which comes out later this year. Asked why she had gone back on her word she said: "A girl is allowed to change her mind and also this is something that we have only seriously started this year really.
The band's management company, 19 Entertainment, has already registered the internet domains spicegirlsofficial.com and spicegirlsofficial.net. "I think really all of us have had our fears and doubts but we feel that the time is right."
19 is run by Simon Fuller, who masterminded the group's global success more than a decade ago. href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/entertainment_enl_1183038986/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/entertainment_enl_1183038986/html/1.stm', '1183039084', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=458,left=312,top=100'); return false;">The group have announced 11 tour dates so far href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/entertainment_enl_1183038986/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/entertainment_enl_1183038986/html/1.stm', '1183039084', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=458,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Image
Under his guidance, the five-piece notched up a string of hits - including Wannabe and Two Become One - while also capitalising on their fame with a stream of sponsorship deals. Halliwell added: "For us it's about celebrating the past, enjoying each other and it's about our fans. It was kind of now or never."
Nicknames Good-natured
All five women laughed and joked constantly with photographers and reporters, even good-naturedly booing one journalist.
There had been rumours they would perform at the Concert for Diana memorial show in London on Sunday, but with Emma Bunton currently pregnant they decided not to appear.
"We would have loved to have been there this weekend but the timing has been impossible for us," said Chisholm.
As the conference drew to a close, all five women left the stage holding hands as Brown shouted, "You have been spiced!"
Global success
The tour is being put together by Simon Fuller, whose 19 company masterminded the group's global success more than a decade ago.
They're all a bit mature for the old names - so what can we expect now? Tracy Holland, UK Send us your comments
Under his guidance, the five-piece notched up a string of hits - including Wannabe and 2 Become 1 - while also capitalising on their fame with a stream of sponsorship deals.
Emma Bunton, Mel Brown, Mel Chisholm, Victoria Adams and Geri Halliwell quickly became household names - although they were better known as Baby, Scary, Sporty, Posh and Ginger.Emma Bunton, Mel Brown, Mel Chisholm, Victoria Adams and Geri Halliwell quickly became household names - although they were better known as Baby, Scary, Sporty, Posh and Ginger.
The band famously spent time with Prince Charles and Nelson MandelaThey sold more than 55 million records around the world, and even starred in a film, Spice World. They sold more than 55 million records around the world, and even starred in a film, Spice World.
Halliwell quit in 1998 citing "differences" with her bandmates, leaving them to complete a sold-out world tour as a foursome. Halliwell quit in 1998 citing "differences", leaving them to complete a sold-out world tour as a foursome.
The group achieved their third consecutive Christmas number one later that year, and released a third album, Forever, in 2000. Since 2001 each member has since pursued solo careers with varying degrees of success, while Posh Spice has become better known as fashion icon Victoria Beckham.
Each member has since pursued solo careers with varying degrees of success, while Posh Spice has become better known as fashion icon Victoria Beckham.