Heat- August 24 2000
The Spice Girls return with new "rock chick" look
My haven't they grown. The Spice Girls came into our lives four years ago looking like five shop girls on a night out at their local Ritz nightclub. Each had their own look which in turn spawned their nicknames as well as a horde of copycat fans across the country. Whether it was Posh, Scary, Sporty, Baby or ginger, they each had their distinctive look.
Now that's all changed they've transformed their images, choosinf to wrap themselves in figure-hugging leather and chains in a much harder, raunchier, sexier style.
the new look will also acompany their first single in nearly two years- a double A-side in October. Mel C told HEAT: "We've made two videos for it and both of them have totally different looks. 'Holler Holler' is quite raunchy and we're all wearing similar outfits, which is a conscious decision to show unity, but we do things our own way- I've always got my trainers on and you'll never get Victoria out of her heels. It's great to be back with the girls and this time we're going to be bigger and better."
The two videos were styled by The Face's fashion editor Heathermary Jackson, who has previously worked with All Saints, Richard Ashcroft and Billie Pipper. She told HEAT: "'Holer Holler' is hard and futuristic and I get the girls in more customised stuff- really wearable clothes. But I wanted the second video to be more fluffy and dreamy. Both Mels are wearing soft trousers and the other two are in long dresses."
Heathermary agrees that the group's image is more sophisticated and they've come a long way since their early days. She said:"The girls are more real now and have changed so much since they first started. The look is not character based any more as they've grown-up and they've come to know what suits them."
The single
The Spice Girls first single in nearly two years is a top value double A-side with the songs "Holler Holler" and "Let Love Lead The Way"- out on 23 October.
"Holler Holler" was premiered live at this year's Brit Awards where the girls picked up a gong for their outstanding contribution to British music. It's a funky uptempo R&B track and was produced by Rodney Jerkins.
"Let Love Lead The Way" was inspired by the ups and downs the girls have been through. It's a sweeping ballad, again produced by Rodney.
The videos
When the Spice Girls commisioned directors to come up with ideas for their new videos, two came up with the same idea. Both Jake Nava and ad-director Greg Masuak wanted to present the girls as the four elements, water, air, earth and fire. So the girls commisioned each to do one video for their two tunes.
"Holler Holler" is a raunchy futuristic promo directed by Jake Nava- who worked with Victoria on the TureSteppers video "Out Of Your Mind". It was shot in London last month and includes funky dance routines with two male dancers joining in at end.
"Let Love Lead The Way" is a soft, colorful promo directed by Greg Masuak. Emma is portrayed as earth- lying in a field, Mel B as air, Mel C as water- behind a waterfall and Victoria as fire- surrounded by flames.
The album
It will be called Forever and is out in Britain on 6 November and in America the following day. The album was recorded over the past 16 months in studios in London and Miami with producers inlcuding Jam and Lewis- famous for their work with Janet Jackson and Michael Jackson. The album sleeve photo was shot by top fashion photographer, Terry Richardson.
Sporty
There's not a pair of tracky bottoms in sight these days for Mel C and she's not really even refered to as Sporty any more. She looks nothing like her former self, growing out of her sports kit and scraped-back straight hair, to transform herself into a rock chick. Her short spiky locks have disappeared in time to resume her duties with the band to be replaced with a swept-back more feminine style. To accompany her new hair-do Mel wears a hand-made t-shirt, a Helmut Lang top and Maharishi trousers.