British pop group S Club ended months of speculation yesterday (April 21) with the announcement that it will officially call it a day at end of May. The six remaining members of the band -- Rachel Stevens, Bradley Macintosh, Tina Barrett, Hannah Spearritt, Jon Lee, and Jo O'Meara -- broke the news during a performance at London's Dockland Arena.
Originally known as S Club 7, the group was fashioned in 1999 by Spice Girls mastermind Simon Fuller, who handpicked the teens from some 10,000 hopefuls. The group was renamed S Club earlier last year after member Paul Cattermole exited in search of a new musical direction. The formation in 2001 of spin-off band S Club Juniors, now renamed as S Club 8, fueled rumors that the original group was running out of steam.
S Club scored 10 top-5 U.K. singles and four multi-platinum albums. Along the way, it claimed the best British newcomer honor at the 2000 Brit Awards, before winning best single for "Don't Stop Movin'" at last year's gala.
S Club's success spanned music, television, and now the big screen, with its movie debut "Seeing Double," which is currently playing at cinemas across the U.K. A spokesperson says the latest development does not spoil Polydor's plans for the release of a greatest hits package, due June 2. A final single, "Say Goodbye," will arrive May 26 in the U.K.
"We've had a fantastic four years in S Club," the band says in a statement. "We've experienced so much more than we ever imagined and we've enjoyed a huge amount of success. We can't thank each and every one of our fans enough for their constant support and we hope that they will continue to support and understand us in our decision."
However, the band's glory days did not pass without controversy. Most notably, its squeaky-clean image took a knock when three of its members were arrested for smoking marijuana in London's West End. Although they were let off with a caution, a number of corporate sponsors who had once clamored for S Club's services moved quickly to distance themselves from the act.
Originally known as S Club 7, the group was fashioned in 1999 by Spice Girls mastermind Simon Fuller, who handpicked the teens from some 10,000 hopefuls. The group was renamed S Club earlier last year after member Paul Cattermole exited in search of a new musical direction. The formation in 2001 of spin-off band S Club Juniors, now renamed as S Club 8, fueled rumors that the original group was running out of steam.
S Club scored 10 top-5 U.K. singles and four multi-platinum albums. Along the way, it claimed the best British newcomer honor at the 2000 Brit Awards, before winning best single for "Don't Stop Movin'" at last year's gala.
S Club's success spanned music, television, and now the big screen, with its movie debut "Seeing Double," which is currently playing at cinemas across the U.K. A spokesperson says the latest development does not spoil Polydor's plans for the release of a greatest hits package, due June 2. A final single, "Say Goodbye," will arrive May 26 in the U.K.
"We've had a fantastic four years in S Club," the band says in a statement. "We've experienced so much more than we ever imagined and we've enjoyed a huge amount of success. We can't thank each and every one of our fans enough for their constant support and we hope that they will continue to support and understand us in our decision."
However, the band's glory days did not pass without controversy. Most notably, its squeaky-clean image took a knock when three of its members were arrested for smoking marijuana in London's West End. Although they were let off with a caution, a number of corporate sponsors who had once clamored for S Club's services moved quickly to distance themselves from the act.
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