Rocky Road: 12.13.99
Melanie Gulzar is packing her bags - in a last-ditch bid to save her rocky marriage.
The stressed singer sensationally reveals today that all she wants for Christmas is a second honeymoon in the sun with dancer husband Jimmy Gulzar and their daughter Phoenix Chi.
A chance to prove to the world that they can pick up the pieces of one of pop's most explosive relationships.
"We've been through hell and back," Mel G whispered as she spoke for the first time of her fight to rescue her turbulent 15-month marriage.
"We are certain there is something worth saving. We've still got this chance to make it work. I still love Jimmy and I know that he feels the same about me. Christmas away together will be our opportunity to prove what we have still got."
There have been many fierce rows since the star couple wed in a glittering ceremony in 1998-the latest being a screaming bust-up early last week just as the Spice Girls kicked off their sell-out British tour in Manchester.
Close friends say the problems lie in their living separate lives -with Mel G pursuing her solo career as well as going on the road with the band.
"Jimmy feels Mel is always busy and never makes any time for him," said a pal after the Manchester row which left their marriage teetering on the brink of collapse.
Mel G admits that spending more time together is the key to their future.
"There have been times when all we could seem to do was argue," she sighed, but the fact that we've now managed to patch things up again shows just how much we really are in love."
Melanie revealed how she and Jimmy have finally sat down and started working out a way to change their lives. Last week they spent time together at a top Manchester hotel.
Melanie said: "We want to take control of the situation this time rather than let things take control of us. Before, the situation just got worse every time. Maybe Jimmy and I didn't realise just how hard it would be holding down a steady relationship when we first got married. With me being involved with the Spice Girls and with my solo career taking off too it has only put added pressure on things. Lately I've had the current Spice Girls tour to prepare for while at the same time we've also been in the studio recording the next album. With Jimmy and I doing different things, it's bound to create conflicts, but actually the problems we've been having with our marriage are the same as those millions of others experience, and as anyone who's been there knows, it's horrible."
Jimmy was left feeling more isolated than ever when the Spice Girls decided not to use male dancers on their current tour.
"It got to him," said the close pal describing their latest bust-up. At one point Jimmy was overheard screaming down the phone at Mel after he had travelled up to Manchester to watch the gig. But at least the row seems to have been the thing that spurred the pair of them into attempting to sort their lives out."
Sorting their lives out, however, is something they have tried before.
Last May Leeds-born Melanie and Jimmy shocked the showbiz world when rumours first emerged that their relationship was on the rocks.
Furious Melanie even went so far as to start a legal battle for custody of their daughter Phoenix Chi who was then just three months old. It appeared as though the only fire left between them was the fight for custody of the baby-but the court hearing was postponed at the last minute.
Hurt at suggestions that the birth of Phoenix had created conflict in her relationship with Jimmy, Mel said: "I wouldn't say motherhood changed me. In fact it's just added to my life. It's really refreshing."
The couple called a truce. They saw marriage-guidance counsellors and appeared to have patched things up, but their relationship quickly deteriorated again-and the rows got worse.
Melanie began spending more and more time with showbiz pals like Bond film hunk Goldie and Noel Gallagher's wife Meg Mathews.
Last October Melanie was even spotted enjoying cosy conversation in the company of dance star Goldie at London's trendy Ivy restaurant. She e slams speculation that their relationship was anything other than friendly.
"Goldie is someone I really admire," said Mel. "He is a real inspiration. He is just a very good friend. That's all."
More Spice Pleases Chef: 12.7.99
Melanie Gulzar has a earned herself a new nickname: Lazy Spice. She confesses that she can't bear cooking so when her parents come to dinner she relies on a top London chef to do the honors.
Spice Spectacular: 12.5.99
(continuence from another article) However it was on with the show for Ms Halliwell's former band, the Spice Girls
They kicked off the first of eight winter wonderland style British concerts at the Manchester Evening News Arena on Saturday.
Victoria and David Beckham: Annoyed at anorexia claims
It was the first concert they had played since their European and American
tour last year which saw the departure of Ginger Spice.
But in a boob-tube style purple sequinned tasselled dress,
seven-and-a-half stone Victoria looked slight in comparison to the other
girls.
England and Manchester United star Beckham clapped his hands to the music
as he stood with friends and watched his wife perform.
All four girls emerged from the ground in a mist of smoke, dressed in
different coloured sequinned outfits.
They told the audience they had missed being together as a group.
Sporty Spice Mel C, complete with requisite trainers, began to cry as she
said: "We've missed you".
And Scary Spice Mel G, dressed in a yellow sequinned outfit shouted to the
crowd: "We're back".
The band, beginning a tour in Manchester tomorrow, were last snapped
together last Christmas.
THEN Mel B and Melanie C had long straight hair. And both Victoria Beckham
and Mel B were pregnant.
NOW Melanie C, who had a solo hit with Going Down, has a punk crop and six
tattoos. And Scary Spice Mel B - who had daughter Phoenix Chi in February
- has curly locks. Posh Spice Victoria, 25, is now mum to baby Brooklyn
and married to soccer star David Beckham.
Only Baby Spice Emma Bunton, 23, whose single What I Am hit No2 last
month, is pretty much unchanged, former GINGER SPICE- GERI HALLIWELL beat her to number 1.
Last night they told The Sun how much fun they are having being together
again. Sporty Spice Melanie C, 25, said: "It's been such a laugh during
rehearsals we can't wait to perform on stage."
Emma said: "It'll be the best show ever. We've worked really hard."
Mel B, 24, added: "It's great to be back again as the band."
And Victoria said: "We're here to stay - these concerts are the proof."
--------WORLD NEWS FLASH--------
Today on Mtv latin there was a Top 10 with the best
pop performers, where the Spice girls has #5 with
their best hit, "Wannabe" while queen of pop Madonna
had #1 first place again, with Ray of Light.
The girls, all grinning except for "moody" Victoria Beckham, perform the
first of four shows at the Manchester Evening News Arena this weekend.
Since their last performance together Emma Bunton and Mel C have launched
solo careers, each scoring top five hits.
Mel G had already set out on the path to solo glory when the band played
their triumphant concerts at Wembley Stadium in September 1998.
However she has had momentous changes in her life, becoming a mum to
Phoenix Chi and has also presented her own BBC2 series.
Posh Spice Victoria has also had major life changes, marrying Manchester
United star David Beckham and giving birth to baby Brooklyn.
SPICE 1999: 12.5.99
HERE are the Spice Girls in their first official photos for a year -
looking a Spiceworld away from their old image. Now it's casual SPICE: 12.5.99
The Spice Girls have ditched glam to dress down in jeans and T-shirts for
an official portrait to launch their first concerts together for a year.