S Club 7

Simon Fuller commented saying he came upon the concept of S Club 7 the day after he was fired by the Spice Girls in November 1997,[4] with the new group meant as a "continuation" of the latter.[5][6] He selected the members for the group after auditioning from over 10,000 hopefuls;[7] Rachel Stevens was the only member of the group who did not audition to gain admittance into the group.[8] Instead, two producers from 19 Management approached her and asked her to go into the studio to record a demo tape for Fuller.[8] Both Jo O'Meara and Paul Cattermole were spotted by producers from 19 and asked to audition.[8] After the auditions had been advertised in The Stage,[8] Jon Lee, Hannah Spearritt, Tina Barrett, and Bradley McIntosh auditioned.[8] After final adjustments were made including the removal of three original members, S Club 7 was formed.

Once the final line-up was decided, they flew to Italy to become acquainted with each other.[9] Speaking about this first meeting, Stevens remarked that the group "felt comfortable with each other from the beginning".[9] Several members of the group have since stated that the "S" in S Club 7 stands for Simon, after the group's creator, although the official line has always been ambiguous.[7] The group's entry on the Popjustice website says that at one point they were nearly called "Sugar Club" instead of the name that stuck.[10] Another theory is that the group is so-named because "S" is the first letter of the word "seven". McIntosh, in a December 2012 interview, said a lot of Fuller's success has been based on the number 19 (owning 19 Entertainment); therefore as "S" is the 19th letter of the alphabet, the "S" was put into S Club 7.[11]

S Club 7 first came to public attention in 1999, when they starred in their own television series, Miami 7.[12] The show first aired on CBBC on BBC One and was a children's sitcom based on the lives of the group who had moved to Miami, Florida in search of fame in America. The show was also launched in the United States,[13] airing on Fox Family, and later on ABC Family; it was retitled S Club 7 in Miami for American audiences. The show eventually celebrated worldwide success and was watched by 90 million viewers in over 100 countries.[2] The group also filmed two specials between the first two series of their show. The first, Back to the '50s—which aired on CITV, instead of CBBC—told the story of how the group found themselves back in 1959.[14] In the second TV special, Boyfriends & Birthdays, Stevens' boyfriend gave her an ultimatum of staying with him or remaining with S Club.[15]

Within the television series, and the parallel branding, each member of S Club 7 had their own character, which contained exaggerated forms of their real life counterparts as well as their own identifiable "S Club colour". Hannah Spearritt, for example, had an "S Club colour" of yellow which, as Spearritt describes, mirrors her own interesting personality: "bright and happy".[16] US media characterized S Club 7 as "The Monkees for the next generation".[13] Joel Andryc—the vice president of the Fox Family Channel—stated that Miami 7 is "far more relationship driven" than The Monkees, and that "kids today are more sophisticated".[13]

Following on from Miami 7, S Club 7 released the theme music to the show as their debut single on 9 June 1999. The up-tempo "Bring It All Back" reached number-one in the United Kingdom singles charts, and after selling more than 600,000 copies, was made BPI certified Platinum.[17][18] Commenting on the chart position of "Bring It All Back", the group felt "nervous and on-edge" before they discovered they had reached number one. Once they had received the phone call from the record company, the group celebrated the news with "cheers, shouting and crying".[9] The group's success escalated and much like Fuller's marketing campaign for the Spice Girls, they were set to become a "marketable commodity".[12] As evidence for this, global toy manufacturer Hasbro agreed upon an exclusive licensing agreement with 19 Management which included worldwide rights in the fashion doll category; singing S Club 7 dolls were later released onto the market.[19] An official magazine, fan club, and accompanying Miami 7 scrapbook were also launched furthering 19 Management's corporate aim.[16]

Over the course of the year, the group enjoyed more success in the charts after their second single, "S Club Party", entered the UK charts at number-two and went straight to number-one in New Zealand.[17][20] Their third single was a double A-side and featured the ballad, co-written by Cathy Dennis, "Two in a Million" and retro-styled, up-tempo "You're My Number One". The former was the first single where O'Meara took leads vocals, setting the standard for future S Club 7 releases; the single also reached number-two in the UK charts.[17] Following the success of their television show and released singles, the group released their debut album S Club in October 1999. The album quickly rose to number-two in the UK charts,[17] and then became certified double platinum.[21] The album consisted of a variety of styles including motown and salsa tracks.

Due to the increasing demand for the group with gruelling schedules including spending over thirteen weeks in America filming the first series of their show and their subsequent television specials, the members often felt that the travelling back and forth from the UK and the US was "perhaps more tiring than what we were actually going out to America to do".[9] Paul Cattermole once commented that the speed of the schedule sometimes caused a "kind of dreamscape in your head", as the group often felt "jetlagged and tired". On top of the filming schedules, the group often performed at high-profile pop music festivals such as Party in the Park where they performed for 100,000 fans.[9] The intensity of the schedule would be a constant battle for the group and was going to continue to take its toll for all the years S Club 7 were together. In spite of this, the group always remained in solidarity that they were all good friends, "cared for each other a lot" and supported each other through difficult times in the group.[9]

In February 2000, the group won the 'British Breakthrough Act' award at the 2000 BRIT Awards.[22] In April 2000, S Club's second TV series, L.A. 7 (renamed S Club 7 in L.A. in the US), was released. The series saw the group depart from Miami and move to Los Angeles to seek a record deal. It introduced the song "Reach", another retro-styled uptempo track, which was co-written by Cathy Dennis and aired as the main theme tune to the second series. "Reach" was released as a single in May 2000 and reached number-two in the UK charts.[17] It arguably became one of the group's most successful singles, paving the way for the group's second album, 7 which was released on 12 June 2000. This album was a departure from the overtly pop stylings of S Club, with tracks styled more towards R&B than the traditional nineties pop sound of their debut album. It reached number-one in the UK charts[2][17] becoming certified Triple Platinum,[23] and a certified Gold record in the US.[24] The second single from the album, "Natural", featured Stevens as lead vocalist. It reached number three in September 2000.[17]

S Club 7 took an active part in promoting several charities during their time as a band. As well as performing for Children in Need, the band launched, on 25 September 2000,[25] a new television series called S Club 7 Go Wild!, which saw each band member support an endangered species. Teaming up with the World Wildlife Fund, each member travelled to different destinations worldwide with a hope to raise awareness about the seven endangered creatures, including the Siberian tiger[26] and the hyacinth macaw.[27] In October 2000, they launched the annual Poppy Appeal Campaign with Dame Thora Hird[28] and supported Woolworth's Kids First Campaign throughout 1999 and 2000.[29] The group also recorded vocals for "It's Only Rock 'N' Roll", which raised money for Children's Promise, an alliance of seven children's charities: Barnardo's, Children in Need, ChildLine, The Children's Society, Comic Relief, NCH and the NSPCC.[30] A cover of The Rolling Stones song, the group contributed to the vocals alongside many popular artists, including Mary J. Blige, Natalie Imbruglia and the Spice Girls;[30] it entered the UK charts at number-nineteen.[31] Also, during that time they filmed two TV specials: Artistic Differences and their Christmas Special.

In November 2000, S Club 7 were invited to provide the official song for the UK's BBC Children in Need Campaign 2000, so a new song, the ballad "Never Had a Dream Come True", was recorded. The song became popular in the US market eventually taking the group to appear on MTV's TRL to perform the song, and it was also included on the US release of Now That's What I Call Music. After topping the UK charts in December 2000,[17] the song was added to a re-release of the 7 album, along with another new track, a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Lately".

"Never Had a Dream Come True" had marked a more mature direction for the group whilst still retaining their pop sensibilities, a direction which continued into their third studio album, Sunshine. The album contained what was to become one of S Club's most popular tracks, "Don't Stop Movin'". The song was released in April 2001, marked a high point for the group as the single went straight to number-one,[17] went Platinum[33] and became the seventh best selling single of 2001.[34] McIntosh, who takes lead vocals with O'Meara in the track, said he was "nervous" about taking lead vocals and was worried how people would react. After the song went in at number-one, he felt as though he was "supported by the fans" and his fears were alleviated.[35] McIntosh also remarked that the single had broken new ground for the group, and Cattermole thought it was their best song "by miles".[8] The group won the Record of the Year award for the song,[36] and in February 2002, the single won the group their second BRIT Award for best British single.[37]

Paul Cattermole performing in 2001

On 20 March 2001, Cattermole, Lee and McIntosh were caught with cannabis in London's Covent Garden; they were cautioned by police at Charing Cross Police Station and released without charge.[38] They released an apology through their publicity firm.[39] BT and Cadbury, who had sponsorship deals with S Club 7, said they were "very disappointed" but kept their contracts with the band,[39] while the Quaker Oats Company ended talks with 19 Entertainment after learning of the police caution.[40] Pepsi signed a sponsorship deal with S Club 7 within a month of the caution.[41]

After spending most of early 2001 rehearsing, the S Club Party 2001 tour began on 19 May 2001. Describing the tour, Stevens remarked that seeing a crowd of over 13,000 fans each night coming to see them was "such an unbelievable feeling", and the other members of the group shared an "adrenaline rush" as well as a wave of emotion before going on stage.[8] Once the tour was over, the group flew to the United States to film the third series of their television show Hollywood 7.[8] The group had to continuously cope with intense schedules and early starts whilst recording for the programme, something which, although the group felt "laid back" about at the time,[8] eventually took a toll and led to the demise of the band.[42]

Cattermole and Spearritt began dating in 2001 and were in a relationship until 2008.[43] The relationship was kept secret for the first six months. Cattermole later said it had been "forced" by management and did not happen "organically", as their romance had been written into Hollywood 7.[44] Hollywood 7 aired alongside a new CBBC reality show, S Club Search, which invited children to extend the S Club brand and audition to form a younger version of the band. The new group were to be chosen to sing with S Club 7 on Children in Need 2001 and go on tour with them on their future S Club 7 Carnival 2002 tour.[45] The eight children who went on to form the band named themselves S Club Juniors and had six top-ten UK hits.[46]

S Club 7 donated more than £200,000 to Children in Need from the sales of the CD after the release of "Don't Stop Movin'" in April 2001.[35] In November, they recorded a second Children in Need single, "Have You Ever", co-written by Chris Braide and Cathy Dennis. The performance on the night featured many primary school children who had pre-recorded their own versions of the chorus, including the first television appearance by S Club Juniors.[47] The single became the S Club 7's fourth number one[17] and the 21st-biggest selling single of 2001.[34]

In January 2002, S Club 7 embarked upon their second arena tour, S Club 7 Carnival 2002, which aimed to please fans by stylising their songs to fit with a carnival-like theme with music styles from different countries of the world.[48] Speaking about the tour, McIntosh described it as "older show", a change from S Club Party 2001, which was "more like bubblegum",[49] with Cattermole comparing 2001's "theatrical" tour with the Carnival tour as a more "glitzy, concert stage".[50] The tour was generally well received by the children's media, describing the show as "diverse" and "dazzling",[48] whereas the group was criticised by the broadsheets as being "like a compilation of toddler-friendly Eurovision entries" although conceding that it was a "slick, decent-value show".[51] Cattermole was also criticised when he was dubbed overweight and a "heavy-footed dancer".[52] After the success of their last three singles, all of which had made it to number-one, S Club 7 failed to top the charts when they released their ninth single, "You"; it reached number two in the UK.[17] The single was described as a "candyfloss-bright, tongue-in-cheek 50s pastiche".[53]

In 2002, Cattermole quit S Club 7 to rejoin his school metal band, Skua.[43] He later described frustration with the band's management, which he felt were preventing them from reaching a more mature sound; he said that "it had got to the point where things were being handled so badly, I had to go".[54] After his departure, S Club 7 was renamed S Club, and the remaining members re-signed their deal with their management company and record label.[55] Cattermole stayed with S Club 7 until June 2002, featuring in four episodes of their final television series, Viva S Club. His final concert with the group was Party at the Palace, part of Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee celebrations.[56] Skua was unsuccessful and failed to secure a record deal.[43][54]

"Alive", S Club's first single without Cattermole, reached number five on the UK Singles Chart,[17] and their fourth studio album, Seeing Double, reached number seventeen.[17] O'Meara announced that she had an immobilising back condition which could have left her in a wheelchair.[3][57]

In April 2003, S Club released their first feature film, Seeing Double. The film moved into the realm of children's fantasy, and saw the group fighting the evil scientist Victor Gaghan in his quest to clone the world's pop stars. The film's release was marked by many rumours that the group were about to split, which were quickly denied by the six.[58] There was also controversy when the band had to travel economy class to America and when Fuller did not turn arrive the premiere of the film.[59][60] On 27 April 2003, it was reported that Spearritt's parents had hired lawyers to chase payments owed to them by Fuller and his management company.[59] They claimed that out of the €75 million fortune the band made for Fuller, they only received €150,000 a year.[59]

Ten days after the release of Seeing Double, S Club announced on stage, during their S Club United tour on 21 April 2003, that they were breaking up.[3] The band cited a mutual split, expressing it was time "to move on and face new challenges".[3] The members later described exhaustion from hectic schedules and long filming days.[42][42] Fans expressed anger and a sense of betrayal after S Club had denied rumours of a split only weeks prior.[61] Their final single was a double A-side, coupling "Love Ain't Gonna Wait for You", from their fourth album Seeing Double, with a new ballad, "Say Goodbye", released on 26 May, which reached number two in the UK.[17] On 2 June, a greatest hits album, Best: The Greatest Hits of S Club 7, was released, containing the previously unreleased track, "Everybody Get Pumped". It reached number two in the United Kingdom.[17] On 8 June, S Club made their last appearance on Top of the Pops.[17]

In January 2007, O'Meara joined the fifth series of the British reality television show Celebrity Big Brother, broadcast on Channel 4. She and other contestants were accused of making racist and bullying comments about the Indian contestant Shilpa Shetty, which drew record numbers of viewer complaints and international media coverage.[62] After leaving the show, O'Meara denied that she was racist and said that the show's editing had misconstrued her behaviour.[63]

In 2008, O'Meara, Cattermole and McIntosh began performing at British nightclubs, universities and holiday camps as S Club 3.[64] Other members of the group have occasionally joined them.[54] Cattermole later declared bankruptcy and sold his 2000 Brit award at auction.[43] He worked various other jobs, such as a community radio manager and as a psychic.[43] Spearritt acted in the 2004 films Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London and Seed of Chuck, and played the lead role of Abby Maitland for five series of the ITV science fiction series Primeval.[64]

On 14 November 2014, S Club 7 reunited for a BBC Children in Need telethon, performing a medley of "S Club Party", "Reach", "Bring It All Back" and "Don't Stop Movin'".[65][66][67] On 28 April, 2015, S Club 7 reissued Best: The Greatest Hits of S Club 7, with a previously unreleased song, "Rain", as well as "Friday Night" from the S Club album.[68] In May 2015, S Club 7 performed in UK arenas on the Bring It All Back 2015 tour.[69][70] By December 2017, the group had become a trio again and released a single, "Family".[71]

In 2019, Cattermole said that Fuller, not the group members, had been signed to Polydor as S Club 7; the group members were merely affiliates and received "pittance" from merchandise.[72] In February 2023, Spearritt revealed that she had been forced into homelessness by her landlord and had used several temporary accommodations. She said that people wrongly assumed the members of S Club 7 were millionaires, and that they had not been on a good wage compared to the modern music industry.[73]

On 13 February, S Club 7 announced on The One Show that they would reunite for a 25th-anniversary tour.[74] The tour is scheduled to begin at M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool, on 13 October 2023 and culminate with a performance at the O2 Arena in London two weeks later.[75] On 6 April 2023, Cattermole was found unresponsive at his home in Dorset, and was pronounced dead later that afternoon. Police say they are not treating his death as suspicious. He was 46 years old.[43]