The Royal Mail has released a new collection of stamps to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the formation of the Spice Girls. This is the first time that the postal service has created a stamp set solely for a female pop group.
The top 10 stamps showcase memorable moments from the 1997 Brit awards, such as Geri Horner’s iconic union jack dress made from a tea towel. They also feature headline performances and the group’s reunion at the London 2012 Olympics closing ceremony.
An additional selection showcases images captured during the filming of the 1997 movie Spice World.
In 1994, Bob and Chris Herbert, a father-and-son team, came together to create a girl group that could compete with the popular boy bands on the charts. They placed an advertisement in the Stage, seeking women between the ages of 18 and 23 with singing and dancing skills. A group of five was put together, but Michelle Stephenson was later replaced by Emma Bunton.
The group was closely monitored and trained in Maidenhead, but eventually took control from their managers. They grew impatient with their lack of progress and rejected a contract based on advice from Victoria Beckham’s father. In March 1995, they allegedly ran away from their home in the middle of the night, took their master recordings from the management offices, and used the phone book to find a songwriter they had previously worked with, Eliot Kennedy, who had seen them perform at a showcase.
In July of 1995, the band was taken under new management by Simon Fuller and also signed with Virgin Records. One year later, they debuted their hit single “Wannabe,” which quickly rose to the top of global charts. It became the best-selling debut single ever released by an all-female group and marked the first of nine consecutive UK No. 1 hits for the band, including three Christmas No. 1s.
The stamps come with an informational sheet that states they were the main force behind their success in dominating the charts, at a time when girl groups were not seen as profitable. Their catchy pop music and empowering “Girl Power” message revolutionized the music industry and influenced a whole generation of artists.
The band informally separated in 2001, but came back together for concert tours in 2007 and 2019. Speculation still exists about potential future performances, but Melanie C and Horner have stated that although the members are open to the idea, nothing has been officially announced.
The stamps will be released for purchase on January 11th, and will be offered in multiple collector’s editions.
Source: theguardian.com
