UNITED KINGDOM: ALL GIRL BAND "THE ALL SAINTS" ANNOUCE THEIR UK TOUR DESPITE RUMOURS THAT THEY ARE SPLITTING UP

Record ID: 388128

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: ALL GIRL BAND "THE ALL SAINTS" ANNOUCE THEIR UK TOUR DESPITE RUMOURS THAT THEY ARE SPLITTING UP
  • Date: 12th February 1999
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) SHAZNAY SAYING: "We've done a lot of promotion over the last year and so we are just really excited and happy to be going back to what we're all about which is recording and performing. So it will be very special it will be very intimate and it'll be our first chance to actually see an audience who has paid just to come and see us because all the sho
  • Embargoed: 27th February 1999 12:00
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  • Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Entertainment,General
  • Reuters ID: LVA3KLX08C2KZHMGP5WZ4N7AH7FD
  • Story Text: All Saints - Britain's coolest 'all girl' band - have proved the pundits wrong by announcing that their UK tour will go ahead and that although they've recently parted company with their manager, fans needn't worry, as the girls are definitely sticking together.
    It's only a month ago that All Saints' fans were predicting that their favourite group was heading for divorce.
    Nicole Appleton, sister of Natalie and girlfriend of pop star Robbie Williams (ex Take That), reportedly suddenly took off on holiday saying she needed a break from work and Melanie Blatt gave birth to a baby.While their future with the band remained uncertain, Shaznay and Natalie were working in New York, performing as a duo.
    Only last week, the group were seen to be 'letting their manager go' and the music industry was rife with speculation as to the future of one of last year's most successful groups in the UK.
    When a press conference for All Saints was called at short notice, the media anticipated a split was in the pipeline.
    Monday's news conference however, allayed the worst fears of All Saints' fans and it was announced that instead of parting company, the group were adding dates to their forthcoming UK tour.
    All Saints are an exotic blend of cultures and influences.
    Melanie Blatt, 21, is of French/ English descent, Shaznay T Lewis, 21 is half Jamaican, half Barbadian and was brought up in London and sisters Nicky and Natalie Appleton (22 and 24 respectively) grew up in Canada, England and the USA.
    Unlike the Spice Girls, All Saints have been determined from the word 'go' to carve their own niche in the pop and rock markets, developing a unique sound mixing R&B, hip-hop and even gospel together.
    In their relatively short careers, the girls have notched up a string of hits including "Never Ever" (winning them numerous accolades), the sassy "Bootie Call", "I Know Where It's At", and more recently cover versions of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers "Under The Bridge" and Labelle's 70's chart smash "Lady Marmalade".
    Although the girls are currently combining work in the studio with rehearsals for the forthcoming UK tour, fans shouldn't have to wait too long for their second album, which should be in stores by the end of the year.
    The group's Arena tour kicks off in Aberdeen on Friday 4 June 1999 andin London at Wembley Arena on 25 June 1999.
    But if fans can't get tickets for that they could try the Theatre tour which begins in Blackpool on 17 April 1999 and finishes at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire on May 2 1999.
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