Spicemania

One of the most influential bands of the 1990s, the Spice Girls, are about to embark on their final tour as a group. The girls, who formed the band in 1996 released their last album in 2000 and all went their separate ways. But they are back and they mean business.

On June 25th 2007 the Spice Girls announced that they had returned to Simon Fuller's management firm 19 Entertainment and that they were having a reunion tour, aptly named "The Return of the Spice Girls."

The band, made up of Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton, Victoria Beckham, Melanie Brown and Melanie Chisholm released their first single "Wannabe" in 1995 and after that it was continuous pop success. "Wannabe" reached number one in the US and stayed their for four weeks, proving that the girls had talent.

In November 1996 the Spice Girls released their debut album, Spice, and in seven weeks it had sold over 1.8 million copies in Britain alone. The Spice Girl craze was similar to that of Beatlemania, and was dubbed Spicemania.
In Europe and the US the album became the biggest selling album of 1997. So it is undisputed that the Spice Girls were incredibly talented, and also very successful from such an early stage in their career.

However, on May 31st 1998 the unbelievable happened when Geri Halliwell, or as she was known “Ginger Spice”, announced her departure from the band. Her departure from the band broke the hearts of many young girls across the world, and also became one of the biggest entertainment news stories of the year. But would the band give up?

Not at all, the four remaining girls were determined to carry on, especially as they had a North American tour shortly after the news. However, without Geri the band just wasn’t the same and their final album didn’t receive great reviews and in 2001, despite only just returning, the band announced that they were going their separate ways for a break and to concentrate on their solo careers.

But now they are back with a world wide tour and a greatest hits album, and it is obvious that they are still as popular now as they were back then. When the Spice Girls announced the tour they urged their fans to sign up on their official website for the chance to buy tickets and it is reported that over one million people signed up for tickets.

Mel C and Geri Halliwell confirmed that their Greatest hits album will be released on November 12th and will contain all their hits from over the years, plus two new singles; Headlines (Friendship never ends) and Voodoo. Headlines will also be the official children in need single, just proving that the Spice Girls are still as popular in this country as they were all those years ago.

But the album won’t be available for sale in normal music retailers such as HMV or Virgin Megastore. The album will only be available from the LA based store, Victoria’s Secret, and will only be released in normal retailers in January 2008. So all those unlucky fans who didn’t get tickets to the concerts, or can’t afford to go to LA just buy an album will have to wait just a little bit longer.

The Return Of The X!

As winter starts to come around it is time for many things to return; winter clothes are taken out of the attic, the heating is switched on and, of course, the return on Simon Cowell and the X Factor. However, this years finalists have a hard act to follow in the shape and form of last years winner Leona Lewis. Even if the high - pitched warbling of Mariah Carey doesn't appeal to you, there was no doubt that this girl has talent and this was reflected as the weeks went on. There was never a bad word said about her and she managed to go the whole competition never being in the bottom two.

So i settle down on the sofa ready for my nights entertainment, and what do i get? Not talent, thats for sure. A few of the twelve finalists can sing, but the rest, not mentioning any acts in particular, were diabolical. I found myself cringing at their attempts to perform. Also last weeks episode saw Kimberley be the first to leave and in a shocking twist Sharon Osbourne announced that she was too was leaving as she couldn't decide which of her girls to boot off. However, in a recent public interview she has said that she will return but she doesn't even know if the show wants her back.

Not only is the talent different this year, but the whole show in particular. The sweet presenter from last years show, Kate Thornton, has been replaced by the lovable rogue Dermot O'Leary. And the terrifying threesome have been updated with the producers bringing in hot Aussie Danni Minogue. What talent she has for judging I don't know.

Another difference between this years show and previous shows is the age limit. Entrants had to be above a certain, 16 to be precise, however this years age limit was lowered allowing children as young as 14 to enter, not that it made any difference none got through to the final stages, although a few very talented did make it, but fell at the last hurdle. It just shows that experience really does count.

In previous years the show has boasted extremely talented singers, like Leona Lewis, but last weeks show did not seem to be in the same league as last years. Even Simon Cowell begged Leona to come back, when she performed her new single, Bleeding Love, and audition again.

It just proves that sometimes you can have to much of a good thing, and maybe the X Faxtor is reaching it final show.

Backstreets Back, again!

The Backstreet Boys are back! Do I hear thousands of teenage girls scream? But they aren't the original five- piece that we all know, and love (okay just some of us.) Last summer saw the departure of long term member Kevin Richardson, leaving the band as a fully fledged foursome; and here i was thinking that they had all called it a day a long time ago.

After many unsuccessful attempts at solo careers, the boys are back with a new album Unbreakable set to be released on 30th October.

The Backstreet Boys were formed in the 1980s after a series of auditions, and were based on the band The New Kids On The Block. They have won numerous awards, winning best group at the MTV Europe Music Awards and also various number ones.

After the release of their Greatest Hits album in 2001 many fans felt that the Backstreet Boys reign was coming to an end and the boys also felt that it was too early in their career to be releasing a greatest hits. However, the boys were far from over, even though in 2003 Nick released his solo album and Brian worked on the Broadway production of Chicago.

After a three year break the boys were back, and they released their single Incomplete and the album Never Gone, which suggests that the boys neve actually went anywhere, debuted at number 3. Unfortunately for the band, in 2006 the unbelievable happened when Kevin Richardson departed from the band. But this hasn't stopped the boys, they will continue as a foursome and they are back!

Maybe those inevitable words from their first single from their second album; "Backstreets back, alright" were true. The Backstreet Boys are back, and they are here to stay, which pleases some of us!

Panic Plan!

What can I say about Panic Plan? Well the band is a two-piece band, consisting of Lee and Daniel Day, brothers from the Medway region of Kent. They are a mixture of punk, indie and rock, which makes them highly versatile, and they are both cheeky chappies who play to the crowd. How do I know this? I've met them, seen them live and also interviewed them to get their opinion on their fans, performing live, and what they see happening for them in the future.

Firstly lets start with the name: Panic Plan, unusual but surprisingly good and has a nice ring to it, however you could be mistaken for thinking that I was talking about Panic at the Disco! Well I'm not. Lee, the drummer and older of the two brothers, explained to me how the name came about." That [the name] was decided over the phone with our ex- guitarist and a dictionary. I wasn't very cool and I hadn't heard of Panic at the Disco at the time, otherwise we would have had a different name." However, I think that the name suits the band well, especially since they are a two-piece band. It is short and sweet, but the use of the "P" really sticks in your mind.

The idea of a two-piece band is rarely seen and the boys could be congratulated for being one of only a few, but they weren't always that way. They originally started as a four-piece band, but brought it down to a two-piece in October and have been going strong ever since. I ask them if it is difficult working with each other seeing as they are brothers; I know if I worked with my sister it would end in disaster. But they tell me that they really get on with one another and share the same opinions and views and actually get a lot down between the pair of them, which is beautiful.

As well as their name, the boys also have another catchy gimmick, which works well with the idea of them being a two-piece band. They have an image, black and white stripes, which they really play up to, and yes they do use penguins. The fans also play up to the image, coming to gigs dressed in black and white. The image is simple but easy to remember but Lee tells me " it won't be our image forever, I think it was just to get me going at the time. "

But the most important thing about a band is not their image, or their name; it’s their songs. I mean what is a band with no songs? Panic Plan doesn't fit into a genre; they are a mixture of many. They tell me that keep changing their sound and are finally starting to stick with something they like. They are also quick to tell me, that it isn't however, a two-piece sound. I ask them what influences their songs, and they tell me the usual; life and love, they are lads, I should have known. Lee also tells me that they want people to dance and so they want to create music that people can actually dance to: "There's so much of the same stuff on the radio and there are so few bands that are willing to write a few upbeat songs." Well I have to say Panic Plan songs do put me in a good mood, and are good to dance and sing a long to.

If you ask any musician they will tell you that the best thing about being in the music business is performing live, especially when they play instruments. The energy that the fans give off is contagious and eventually ends up affecting the artists. My favourite song of Panic Plan's is Love, I feel that it is catchy and good to sing a long too. I ask the guys what is their favourite song to perform live. They tell me Time, because it gives them a real sense of satisfaction when people come up and asked for it to be played, and then all sing with them. I imagine that this must be an amazing feeling, to have people knowing your songs and even asking for them to be played. Isn't that what being in the industry is all about?

No one knows what the future holds, but for the now the boys are working hard for the future, writing new songs, and they are also looking for new members. Maybe bigger, is sometimes better.