Just who are the Spice Girls?

Posted on 26 June 2012

The Spice Girls (Victoria Beckham (nee Adams), Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell) are more than just a girl group, a hugely successful business and symbols of girl power. They have influenced not only music, but fashion, charity and politics. They are iconic, the symbol of an age and what is more they continue to inspire and entertain the world today.

Seventy five million records sold (as of January 2010), including their debut album Spice selling more than 28 million copies worldwide, an astonishing nine UK No.1 singles, three-back-to-back UK Christmas No.1 singles and, in Wannabe, the biggest selling single ever by an all female group. It hit number one in more than 30 countries!

"Wannabe" debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 11, the highest-ever debut by a British band in the US, beating the previous record held by The Beatles for "I Want to Hold Your Hand".

The group became one of the most successful marketing engines ever with their global grosses estimated at $500-800 million between 1996 and 1998.

They have received an amazing five BRIT Awards, three American Music Awards, three MTV Europe Music Awards, one MTV Video Music Awards and three World Music Awards.

Spiceworld: The Movie topped the UK video charts on its first week of release, selling over 55,000 copies on its first day in the shops.

The Return of the Spice Girls Tour (2007) ran from the 2nd December 2007 until the 26th February beginning in Vancouver and ending in Toronto. When tickets went on sale for the first UK show at the O2 Arena they sold out in a record breaking 38 seconds! The tour was then seen by over 750,000 people worldwide. The UK dates alone generated £50 million in ticket sales and merchandise. The 47 dates globally generated an incredible £110 million making the Spice Girls tour one of the most successful of recent times. It was announced as the Highest Grossing Concert Act of 2008.