We Would Have Done It Without You!

For years Melanie C. was reluctant to being involved in a Spice Girls reunion, publicly proclaiming that she'd never do it.

Well, now she is doing it.

What changed her mind?

The Girls approached her and told her they all wanted to do it and were gonna do it with or without her.

Melanie C. tells the U.K.'s Closer magazine:

"The girls approached me and said they were getting together to do a world tour, a greatest hits album and a big goodbye, and I was like: 'Oh, no.' It was the last thing I wanted to hear. All four of them had spoken about it and it was set in stone. They basically said if I wanted to do it great but if I didn't want to do it then they were going to do it anyway. I'd always said I'd never do it. But I didn't want to miss out and have regrets. I also didn't want to be the person that stopped it being the complete five. I was scared I'd be the villain. The depression and everything else was in my thoughts during the decision process of whether to do the tour. It took me a long time to decide because it was something I never ever wanted to do. It was hard, so I didn't say yes immediately. I changed my mind every day, it was difficult. I've been on the straight and narrow for four years. But I had to be sensible and evaluate what I wanted to do. And I want this reunion. I'm happy with my body. I've reached a good place. I'm healthy but I like Guinness and crisps. Life's too short to worry about weight."

And we're happy for the reunion too!

CLICK HERE to read the full interview with Closer.

[Image via WENN.]

She made her mark as the sporty one in the band, but Mel C should perhaps be known as Reluctant Spice. In an exclusive interview, the singer has confided that she didn’t want to take part in the reunion tour, and that she was afraid a return to the limelight would spark her old eating disorders. But in the end she reveals she didn’t have a choice as the girls had already made up their minds.
Mel, 33, says: “The girls approached me and said they were getting together to do a world tour, a greatest hits album and a big goodbye, and I was like: ‘Oh no.’ It was the last thing I wanted to hear.”
But Mel says the other Spices had already made a decision to go ahead with or without her.
“All four of them had spoken about it and it was set in stone,” she says. “They basically said if I wanted to do it great, but if I didn’t want to do it then they were going to do it anyway. So I was like: ‘Wow, what do I do?’
“I’d always said I’d never do it. But I didn’t want to miss out and have regrets. I also didn’t want to be the person that stopped
it being the complete five – I was scared I’d be the villain. It was hard, so I didn’t say yes immediately. I changed my mind every day – it was difficult.”
Mel admits that her indecision was, in part, down to the anorexia and severe depression she suffered at the height of the Spice Girls’ fame. Her weight dropped to under 8st and she was a size 6 – tiny for her 5ft 6 frame.
She said later: “Throughout the Spice Girls’ heyday, my diet became more and more restricted, until I was just eating fruit and veg. I went on faddy diets and didn’t touch protein or carbohydrates, which was ridiculous, as we were running around like maniacs. I was underweight and living on adrenaline. That screws up your body and I believe it had a lot to do with bringing on my depression.”
It was the memory of those dark times that made Mel stall on the reunion.
She reveals: “The depression and everything else was in my thoughts during the decision process of whether to do the tour. It took me a long time to decide because it was something I never ever wanted to do.
“I’ve been on the straight and narrow
for four years. But I had to be sensible
and evaluate what I wanted to do. And
I want this reunion.”
There’s little doubt Mel’s success in beating her body demons has helped
her make her choice. She now weighs
a healthier 91⁄2-10st.
“I’m happy with my body,” she says. “I’ve reached a good place. I’m healthy, but I like Guinness and crisps. Life’s too short to worry about weight.”
But while the other girls in the band, Geri Halliwell, 35, Emma Bunton, 31, Melanie Brown, 32, and Victoria Beckham, 33, seem more open to the possibility of further Spice projects – Melanie is firmly drawing the line at the two-month tour. She insists that as soon as it’s over, she’ll return to her solo work – she’s about to launch her solo single, This Time.
“I will absolutely be returning to my solo projects when the Spice Girls are over in February,” she says. “I’m obviously hoping that the Spice Girls helps with rejuvenating my solo projects, but I’m doing this tour to enjoy it.”
And while we’re used to seeing the other four Spices parading for the paparazzi, or doing TV shows, Mel seems unamused at the thought of losing her privacy. She’s particularly amazed at how the Beckhams cope with being in the spotlight.
“Everyone scrutinises Victoria’s life in every way,” she says. “I find it insane how she and David have ended up in this mad and crazy world of celebrity. It’s bonkers! Obviously they’ve used the press to their advantage, but I do think that quite often
it goes too far. Victoria and Mel B are under a lot of pressure, but they’re amazing at taking everything in their stride.
“It would do my head in if people wrote things about me and followed me everywhere. Well, it did do my head in back in the days when people gave a shit about me. I don’t want the spotlight on me like that ever again. I like my privacy.”
Victoria, Mel B, Emma and Geri are all said to be taking their families along on the Spice tour. But Mel, who is the only member of the band not to have had a baby, admits she’s relieved her own entourage won’t include children and nannies.
She giggles: “Personally I’m very happy not having a child on tour with me! I’m really excited about hanging out and playing with the other girls’ kids, but I love the fact I can go, ‘Night!’ then hand them back and go out.
“Travelling around the world and
living out of a suitcase is no place for
a baby. I feel that if I’m lucky enough
to be blessed with a kid, then I’d want to be a regular mum. I’d want to be at home, taking them to school and being there full-time.
I wouldn’t want to be travelling all over
the world with them strapped to my back. I’m not criticising anyone else. That’s just how I’d want to do it.”
And while she’s been dating quantity surveyor Thomas Starr, 37, for five years, she says she isn’t broody yet.
“I’ve always concentrated on my career – it’s a very selfish job being a musician,” she says. “Tom and I have spoken about it. But like a lot of people, the timing has never been right. I may never get the right time – but if I want to do it then I’ll have to learn to make it my priority. Because of my age, I’m thinking maybe I ought to get cracking soon!”
Six years have passed since the Spice Girls last performed together. Now that they’re older, Mel admits she’ll be feeling nervous about performing some of the group’s cheesier hits.
“Of course I will,” she says, erupting into laughter. “The thought of singing Wannabe makes me cringe. But I know I’ll love doing it once we get going.”
But while the girls may be more mature, Mel does intend to do a few of her old
party tricks.
“I’m hoping to add the back-flip to my repertoire,” she says. “I haven’t done it since I did my knee in a few years ago – but I’m hoping I can do it again.
“Victoria’s been very focused on the clothes and has been integral in organising that side of things. But, for the record, I won’t be wearing a crop top again. Crop tops stop when you reach 25!”
And Mel would like to quash a couple of other rumours, starting with the whispers that the girls are each expecting
a £10million pay cheque from the tour.
“Bollocks are we earning £10million each,” says Mel. “It’s crap! Hopefully we’ll earn a few quid and I can get a new bathroom, but this isn’t about money.”
She’s equally keen to point out that the group aren’t at loggerheads. Geri was
said to have fallen out with the rest of
the band when she left in 1998, and more recently she’s said to have argued with Victoria over whether the tour should include singing solo.
Mel says: “There’s no animosity with Geri, we’re all grown-ups now.
“She’s so happy with her daughter Bluebell – I go round and hang out in
her back garden and we get on great.”
Mel’s also been in regular contact with
Mel B and Emma, who gave birth to baby
son Beau just two months ago.
“She’s looking incredible,” she says. “You wouldn’t even know she’d just had a baby. I think because she was in such amazing shape when she got pregnant she was able to stay fit. It’s like she’s been a mum for years. I’m sure she’s nervous about taking Beau on tour though, because he’ll only be three months old.
“Melanie’s great too and I’ve met her husband Stephen and he seems lovely. She’ll be in the best shape ever when we start the tour after competing in Dancing With The Stars.”
The tour kicks off on 2 December and
the Spice Girls are releasing their new single Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)
as the official BBC Children In Need song.
And Mel refuses to be intimidated by competition.
“We’re not trying to be chart-toppers again,” she says. “The Spice Girls have nothing to prove. We’ve had our moment – this is just the final bow.”
By Dean Piper
dean.piper@emap.com
Mel C’s new solo single This Time, and
an album of the same name, are available for download and in the shops now. For more information, log on to www.melaniec.net