Indie Spice Mel C joins the Maker's New Pop Explosion debate and discusses
fame, Frank and, er, 'fat poofs'...


FRANK BRUNO

"We didn't tell him to p*** off.  We didn't even know he was there!  We were 
filming at the Albert Hall when he asked our security if he could came in and
get a photo with his son.  Now, we'd already done a photo with his daughter so
we obviously didn't have a problem, but our security said 'They're getting 
ready, come back in half an hour.'  Then he went and complained to someone else! 
That's when it got a bit funny and he ended up storming off with the hump.  So
we just said, 'Well, if he's going to have that attitude, we don't really want
him in the film.'  Did we really hurt him more than Tyson?  I f***in' doubt it."


DAVID BECKHAM

"Victoria's not getting married and she's not leaving the band.  She's only 
been going out with Beckham for a few months and he's only a baby.  We have a 
bit of banter what with me being a Liverpool fan.  I was annoyed at first that 
it was Victoria who got the footballer boyfriend but not because it's him, a 
Manc.  F*** Mancs.  Footballers are all tarts anyway and they do more photo
sessions than us nowadays."


THE BEATLES

"People say we're bigger than The Beatles but how can we be?  No one's bigger
than the f***ing Beatles.  We might've beaten some of their records but there 
are more people on the planet now.  And musically, you just can't compare us. 
I do wonder if, one day when I'm old people will still remember us like they do
The Beatles.  I'd love to think we'll still be going in 10 years time but I 
doubt we will be.  We all want kids and that, so we'll probably have to take a 
break and then do a big reformation tour!"


ELTON JOHN

"It's funny cos I was a backing singer in an Elton John tribute musical but it 
never got off the ground.  We were staying in the Four Seasons in Los Angeles 
and so was Elton, except he had the whole of the top floor.  Whenever he gets 
in a lift, he fixes it so no one else can get in it.  I'd probably understand
this now but we were like 'F*** you!'  We had a few drinks and me and Mel B went
up there, got past the security and were running around going, 'Come out Elton,
you fat poof!'  He didn't though.  But don't print that cos he likes us now!"


LYING ABOUT YOUR AGE

"I'm 23.  Mel B's 22.  Emma's 21.  Victoria's 24.  And Geri's 25.  She is!  Mind
you, 25 - she is knocking on a bit now.  When we first started we did knock a 
few years off our ages, just cos we thought that's what people do.  Then people
started querying it, so we came clean.  But those are our real ages."


FAME

"I'm such an extremist that I always used to say, 'I want to be so famous that 
I can't even do my own shopping' and it's not that bad yet.  I still take the 
tube sometimes.  As long as l keep my head down, it's all right.  My bike used 
to be my disguise - you can cycle anywhere and no one will take any notice of 
you, they just think you're a pain in the arse.  But the other day I was 
cycling and this car pulled up alongside and someone asked for my autograph. 
I was like 'S***! I really am famous now!'  But it's more other people who get 
freaked out by it, cos I'll say 'Oh, I went out to get some bread' and they'll 
say 'You? Went out? On your own?!?'"


INFLUENCES

"Me mum, really.  She's a singer too.  She had a couple of deals but then she 
had me and it all went a bit wrong.  She still sings now.  I envy her in a way
cos she's out three nights a week singing live with a band and that's my job 
but I never get to do it.  We're always in the studio or doing f***ing crisp
commercials.  But, yeah, she brought me up on a lot of Motown, The Beatles, 
Deep Purple, Rainbow.  I've always loved guitar bands and 'proper' musicians.
I only got into pop when I was at school cos of Madonna.  I think her music's
s***e, but I love her."


AMERICA

"It's a f***ing big, scary place.  Which is why it's so funny that it's us that
cracked America rather than all these rock bands who been trying for ages.  We
don't give it half as much attitude over there and they're still like 'Gee, 
they are so crazy, these British girls.'
They think we're all off our heads.  I don't know why people get so bothered 
about it, to be honest - although one of the best things we've done is going to 
Number One in America cos it means you can actually say 'Yeeesss! I'm in the
biggest band in the world!'"


"SPICEWORLD"

"We know the pressure of following up 'Spice' is there but we've just done our 
own thing.  I think it's a f***ing great record, but I'm a bit of a pessimist 
so I think everyone will slate it just cos it's our second album.  From a money
point of view, I don't suppose it matters how it sells but it depends how you 
live, doesn't it?  It's only a year and a half since I was on the dole so I 
still twitch when my shopping bill is over £70."


NERVES

"Out of all the things we've done - and we've done some pretty nerve-wracking 
things - only three things freak me out.  Picking up awards, singing live and 
meeting Prince Charles.  Then we met him, and he was as down to earth as he can
be.  You expect him to be like an alien!  He looked pretty scared but then
wouldn't you be with Geri pinching your arse?  I get terrified just seeing her
in the morning.  Mind you, that is before she puts her make-up on."


BLOKES

"I think humour's the most important thing - someone who can make me laugh.
Someone pretty motivated and ambitious, I can't stand lazy arseholes.  And 
talent is a big turn on.  Anyone who's offering, really!
I fancy Robbie Williams and Damon and Liam... that's very cliched, isn't it?
I think Liam's sexy but I wouldn't want it with him, y'know?"


IMAGE

"As far as I know the public image to be, we are just like it.  We've never 
tried to be anything else.  That's why we split from the original manager cos 
he wanted a female Take That.  We were like 'F*** off!  We're not dancing like 
that!  We're not all wearing the same clothes!  I wanna wear trainers and 
that's that!"'