25.2.97

"Dead proud" Spice Girls triumph in Brit awards

By Alison Boshoff, Media Correspondent

THEY have left politicians gasping in their wake. They have had number one singles in 23 countries, including America.

Plans for further world domination now include the possible marketing of Spice Girls Sindy Dolls and a Monkees-style Spice Girls movie.

Last night, the Spice Girls added two Brit awards to these heady achievements: for Best Single and Best Video.

They also took the (possibly very unwise) step of challenging Liam Gallagher of Oasis to a fight, after he said he would not attend the ceremony because the temptation to "chin" one of the girls would be too great.

The manufactured band, formed in 1993 in response to an advertisement in The Stage, crowned an enormously successful six months by attracting five nominations for Brit awards.

Their debut album, Spice, has gone platinum three times over in Britain and their first three singles have all topped the charts here.

Ordinary listeners and viewers gave them last night's accolade. Wannabe, their girl-power debut, was voted best single by listeners to commercial radio stations, and Say You'll Be There was the choice for best video by viewers of the cable television series, The Box.

Geri Halliwell wore a Union Jack mini-dress so short that she had actually incorporated her knickers into it. She said the group was delighted to be making such an impression abroad, with Wannabe top of the US charts. "We owe all our success to Britain and we're just proud to be ambassadors of pop for our country," she said.

"Everyone, especially us, has been amazed at how fast we've hit America. We've done it faster than the Beatles. Now that we've done it, everyone is expecting us to up sticks and move over there for good. But we'd never do it - we love Britain too much and we're dead proud to be British."

Mel B, who has a pierced tongue and is known to readers of the teen press as "Scary Spice", was plainly miffed by comments made by Liam Gallagher.

Gallagher, who did not attend, said he was not going in case he lost his temper. "I'm just going to hit one of them and get into trouble," he said. Mel B retorted: "I'd just like to see him try. I'd quite enjoy getting into a fight with him. Come on Liam, I dare you." Emma Bunton added: "We all much prefer Noel anyway. He's really nice and he's the talented one." Noel Gallagher attended the ceremony, staged at Earls Court and hosted for the first time by Ben Elton, the comedian.

Oasis won three awards last year but nothing this year, being nominated only in the Best Single category.

Sheryl Crow was voted Best International Female Artist, beating Toni Braxton, Neneh Cherry, Celine Dion and Joan Osborne. The former teacher from Missouri immediately paid tribute to the Spice Girls : "I want to thank the Spice Girls for not being in my category."

Gabrielle, the Londoner with the raucous laugh who has swapped her eye-patch for a lop-sided fringe, was named Best Newcomer. She has enjoyed a string of chart successes this year, including Give Me A Little More Time and Forget About The World.

The Brits, which are the largest and most prestigious awards in the British music calendar, will be shown tonight on ITV. Voting is by an "academy" of 600 record retailers, journalists and music industry figures.

Among other successes were George Michael, named Best Male Singer, despite disappointing sales of Older, his latest album.

Beck was International Artist and the Bee Gees were given an award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. The Bee Gees have sold more than 100 million records in a career spanning four decades.