06-11-98: SPICE GIRLS SPEAK OUT
By Jackie Burdon, Showbusiness Correspondent, PA News in Modena
The Spice Girls tonight spoke for the first time about their feelings of shock and betrayal at the sudden departure of Geri Halliwell. But they said they wanted to stay friends and believed the group would carry on regardless. Just before they sang with tenor Luciano Pavarotti at his star studded War Child concert in Italy, Mel B said: "We are just gutted for the fans, because they must be thinking `they are splitting up', and we are not. No way!" Asked if they felt left in the lurch when Geri failed to join them for a National Lottery show appearance two weeks ago, outspoken Mel B said: "Yes, frankly." Baby Spice Emma said: "Legally, we can't talk about it, but we were shocked and stunned by it, yes." Geri's non-appearance was explained as due to illness, but within four days she announced she was leaving the chart topping group. Since then she has been at a foreign hideaway considering her future career, possibly in television. Mel B said: "She has been in contact. Victoria added: "We don't want it to be nasty. What we always said was that if Geri feels it's time to move on, we will support her." The group's appearance tonight at the annual Pavarotti and friends concert in Modena, with stars like Celine Dion, Stevie Wonder and Jon Bon Jovi, is their last in Europe before they embark on a crucial and massive American tour. But the girls are looking forward to it and clearly don't feel they will miss Geri on stage. They have already changed all their routines to make up for her absence.In fact, they have already performed the show as a four piece twice in Norway when Geri pleaded illness.Tonight Emma said: "We are really proud of the fact that we had just two hours before we went on stage in Oslo and managed to pull it off." Mel C said: "We are happy doing what we're doing, and Geri's happy doing what she's doing." Emma said: "We were sitting in our backstage dressing room here with Stevie Wonder next door, Celine Dion down the corridor. "We're getting to meet all these great stars and we are the luckiest girls in the world." Mel C added pointedly: "Who would give that up? Not us." The girls duet tonight with Pavarotti on their song Viva Forever will be one of the unique performances on a recording to raise money for a children's village in Liberia. Thousands of Italians have also paid £40 a head to see the spectacular show, which will be recorded for BBC Television and made into a film for American TV by director Spike Lee. Italian newspapers have been joking that powerful tenor Pavarotti is Cyclone Spice for the evening. Emma, who sings the main vocal on Viva Forever, said: "It's quite hard because he's such a loud singer." Mel C, the most powerful lunged of the Spice Girls, added: "He makes you feel like a mouse when you sing with him." Mel B said: "He's nice. I like Pav." Unfortunately, Geri's picture is still in the glossy programme, which also contains messages of support from Hillary Clinton and Tony Blair. Mr Blair regretted he had to turn down an invitation to him and Cherie because of prior engagements. "I greatly admire the hard work which you and all involved put into staging these concerts and Cherie joins me in sending you our very best wishes for a successful and enjoyable concert," he wrote.