In 1996 is when the Spice storm began to brew.  In 1997, they hit in America.  The group's first hit was 'Wannabe' which hit number one.  The debut album 'Spice' was released a month following 'Wannabe'.  The next single, 'Say You'll Be There' was another #1 hit for the Spice Girls.  The first ballad by the Spice Girls, '2 Become 1' was the 3rd single and another #1 hit. With a handful of singles, the Spice Girls were becoming a household name. The next single was a Double A single for, 'Who Do You Think You Are?' and 'Mama' This also hit number 1 in the UK.

 

Spice Girls were everywhere now.  And the girls were ready to release their sophomore album titled 'Spiceworld'.  The first single from 'Spiceworld' was the #1 hit 'Spice Up Your Life'.  Also along with the album, the girls made a movie and Playstation game titled 'Spiceworld as well.  The next single from the album was the 2nd ballad for Spice, and yet another #1 titled 'Too Much'.  The following single, 'Stop' was a huge hit, but didn't reach #1.  The last single from Spiceworld, was the 3rd ballad, a beautiful song titled 'Viva Forever'.  In 1998, during their world tour, Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice) left the group.  'Viva Forever' was the last video to feature her.

Melanie B recorded a song titled 'I Want You Back' featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott which became a #1 solo hit for her.  She also recorded a cover of the classic song 'Word Up' which was a top 20 hit in '99. The 4 remaining Spices released a single titled 'Goodbye' which also hit #1 in the end of 1998.

 

Victoria (Posh) became pregnant and engaged to soccer star David Beckham.  The 2 married and soon gave birth to their first son, Brooklyn.  Melanie B. (Scary) also married and had a child,  a daughter named Phoenix.

 

In the mean time, Geri began focusing on a solo career. Not only was Geri looking into a solo career, but Melanie C as well.  Geri's first solo single was titled 'Look At Me' from her debut album 'Schizophonic'.  Geri's following singles would include 'Mi Chico Latino', 'Lift Me Up' and 'Bag It Up'.  All 4 singles finding pretty good chart success.

 

Emma recorded a song '(Hey You) Free Up Your Mind' for the Pokemon movie soundtrack, and collaborated with Tin-Tin for a remake of Edie Brickell's past hit 'What I Am'.

 

Melanie C was about to find huge success with her debut album. In 1999 Melanie's first solo single was 'Going Down', a rock song showing a different side to her.  Her debut album, titled 'Northern Star' was about to prove to the world that Melanie could make it as a solo star.  The next single was the title track, Northern Star.  'Going Down' & 'Northern Star' were successful hits for Melanie, both peaking #4, but she was about to have her first solo #1. In 2000, her third single, 'Never Be The Same Again' featured TLC's rapper, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and scored #1.  She would follow the success of that song with her 4th single, 'I Turn To You', which also hit number one. Her last single from the 3 million selling album, 'Northern Star' was 'If That Were Me' which was a top 20 hit peaking #17.

 

Also in 2000, Melanie B done a solo record titled 'Hot'.  The album would score 2 top 10 hits, 'Tell Me' & 'Feels So Good' and a top 20 hit 'Lullaby'. Melanie soon found herself in a bitter divorce. 'Feels So Good' and 'Lullaby' were released as singles in 2001. 

 

During Mel B.'s divorce in late 2000, the Spice Girls released their first album without Geri, titled 'Forever' which featured the hit 'Goodbye'.  The next single was 'Holler' & 'Let Love Lead The Way' (a double A single) another #1 for the girls. 

 

In 2001, Emma Bunton was the 4th to go solo.  Her single, 'What Took You So Long' was a solo #1 hit staying at #1 for 2 weeks.  Emma then released her debut album titled 'A Girl Like Me'.  Emma would have another big hit with 'Take My Breath Away' and a top 20 hit with 'We're Not Gonna Sleep Tonight'.

 

Geri found more success with a cover of the classic song 'It's Raining Men' which was recorded for the Bridget Jones Diary soundtrack.  And in 2001, she released her 2nd album titled 'Scream If You Wanna Go Faster'.  The singles after 'It's Raining Men' were 'Scream If You Wanna Go Faster' and 'Calling'.

 

Victoria was the last of the Spices to release a solo album.  Before releasing an album, she recorded a song with True Steppers called 'Out Of Your Mind', which I believe hit #2.  Victoria's solo debut single was 'Not Such An Innocnent Girl' which was a top 10 hit.  Her album later released and was self-titled.  Her next single came in 2002, called 'A Mind Of Its Own' another top 10 hit.  In 2002, the Beckham family welcomed another son, Romeo.

 

In 2003, Melanie C., was about to make her comeback as a solo artist.  It had been 4 years since her successful debut.  Melanie's comeback single was 'Here It Comes Again' which hit #7, her 2nd album, 'Reason' was released the following week of the single.  Her next single was the catchy tune 'On The Horizon'.  Following 'On The Horizon' was 'Lets Love' (which only released in Japan), 'Melt' and 'Yeh Yeh Yeh'.  The album wasn't as successful as 'Northern Star' but was popular with fans and critics.

 

2003 was also the return for Emma.  Emma came back with a new sound.  She returned with a laid back 60's sound. The first single from her 2nd album, 'Free Me' was the title track.   Her following single, 'Maybe' was another big hit. 'I'll Be There' was the third single released in early 2004 as well as the 'Free Me' album. 'Crickets Sing For Anamaria' was the 4th and final single which was a top 20 hit.  She was the first of the Spices whose second album outsold the first.

 

Victoria released a double a single in 2003, featuring the hits, 'Let Your Head Go' and 'This Groove', the single went to #3, but an album didn't follow. 

 

Melanie B made a movie in 2003 called Lethal Dose 50%. 

 

In late 2003 would be the first time all 5 girls would reunite since Geri left in 1998.  Geri, Emma, Mel B. and Melanie C were invited over to Victoria's place for a reunion.

 

In 2004, Mel B. made another movie with Destiny's Child singer, Kelly Rowland, titled The Seat Filler.  Also she done the Broadway show Rent.

 

In late 2004, Geri returned to the charts with a #4 hit, 'Ride It'.

 

Emma's 'Free Me' album found a release date for the US in early 2005.  The singles 'Free Me' and 'Maybe' went to the top 10 in the US dance charts. 

 

Victoria gave birth to a 3rd son, Cruz in '05.  Victoria has given up music for now to pursue a career in fashion.

 

Melanie C.  released a 3rd album, titled 'Beautiful Intentions'. The first single from the new record is 'Next Best Superstar', which debuted at the charts at #10, congrats Mel!  And she released the 2nd single, 'Better Alone'.  And most recently her newest single, 'First Day Of My Life' has went to be a huge #1 hit, making it Melanie's third number one solo single.  'Beautiful Intentions was certified Gold or Platinum is several countries and has outsold her sophomore album, 'Reason'.

 

Melanie B. is filmed another movie titled Telling Lies and and returned to music in '05.  "Today" was the new single, but failed to make the top 40 due to little promotion for the song.  The album "L.A. State of Mind" followed the single, yet was not very popular. 

 

Geri released the next single from her third album,  titled 'Desire'.  The song halted at #22.  The album 'Passion' followed peaking at #41.  'Passion' and 'Desire' was not promoted abroad like her prior singles and albums.

 

In 2006, Geri gave birth to her first child.  A daughter named Bluebell Madonna Halliwell.

 

Emma competed in Strictly Come Dancing, finishing in third place.  She released a new single, 'Downtown', debuted at #3 on the UK charts.  An album, 'Life In Mono' released in December.

 

Melanie C has enjoyed major success with her hits 'First Day of My Life' and a re-release of 'Better Alone'.  The album, 'Beautiful Intentions' is insanely popular in Portugal.  The album debuted in the top 10 and moved up to #1 the next week where it remained for a total of 9 weeks.  This album has become rather popular throughout Europe and some other parts of the world.  She also released a Live Hits DVD.

 

Victoria wrote a new book about fashion, titled The Extra Half Inch available now.

 

NOW...

 

In 2007, Emma released a second single from LIM, titled 'All I Need To Know'.  Her first real ballad release intended for the Valentine's Day market.  The single didn't do as well as her prior singles, but the song was well received critically.  Also, in January, Emma announced her first pregnancy.  And in August, Emma gave birth to her first child, a baby boy named Beau.

 

Melanie C released her fourth solo record, 'This Time'.  Preceeding the album were the singles 'I Want Candy' and 'The Moment You Believe'.  In June, a third single, 'Carolyna was released and in October, a fourth single, 'This Time' followed.

 

On June 28th, ALL 5 Spice Girls announced that they were now a group again and would be doing a reunion tour to promote their greatest hits album. 

 

Melanie B gave birth to a second daughter earlier in the year, named Angel Iris and is currently competing on the US version of Dancing with the Stars.