Garbage singer Shirley Manson has apologised to former Spice Girl Mel C for criticising the girl group and questioning their impact.
During an appearance on the July 6 episode of The Louis Theroux Podcast, the host read out critical comments from music figures to Mel C, including Radiohead’s Thom Yorke saying the pop group were “the Antichrist”, which prompted a pretend gasp from the singer, who replied “that’s a bit strong, isn’t it? I love Radiohead”.
Theroux then quoted Manson as saying: “I want them tarred and feathered. My wish is for the complete and utter destruction of the Spice Girls”. Mel C responded “Wow”. Reflecting on the level of vitriol toward the group, she said: “We were probably everything they hated. Because we were the most commercial band, probably ever. We had this shiny pop music… literally, it wasn’t their taste.”
In addition to the comments quoted by Theroux, which were made in the late ‘90s, Manson also questioned the legitimacy of the Spice Girls’ feminist message in a 2016 interview with Vice. “At the time, I found the Spice Girls abhorrent,” she said, explained that she thought their success was “a sham”.
Mel C’s level-headed response, which was shared the podcast’s Instagram account, prompted Manson to apologise in the comment section of the post. “My name is Shirley Manson, and I feel terrible about what I said,” she began. “I believed that the band was entirely manufactured which in so many ways they were but I totally misjudged exactly what the Spice Girls did for an entire generation of very young girls.”
“I realise now that my words were reckless and cruel and I wish I could take them back but I can’t. That’s life I suppose,” she continued. “I learned an invaluable lesson which I have never forgotten. Empowerment comes in many forms. I was an idiot. And history has her last laugh at my expense.”
Mel C graciously responded: “Shirley I adore you, always have. No hard feelings at all. It was the 90’s we were young, I mean I offered to fight Liam Gallagher at the Brits!”
One band Manson was full of praise for was Skunk Anansie, whom her band toured with last month as co-headliners. “It’s a dream come true to share a stage with Skin [frontwoman]. We’ve got so much shared history,” she told NME in March. “I admire her so much. She’s a national treasure, remarkably humble and ridiculously talented, tenacious and with remarkable endurance.”
As for the Spice Girls, who have not toured together since 2019, Victoria Beckham hinted in May that the group could do an Abba Voyage-style hologram show.
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