Alam Khan finds out what Dubstar and the Spice Girls have in common...

Few people know that the Spice Girls once supported Dubstar at a record industry event.

While the famous five of Posh, Baby, Ginger, Scary and Sporty have gone on to greater things, the talented trio of Dubstar might not be getting as much attention, but they are happily enjoying themselves.

"They had just been signed up and they went on before us at this industry event,'' said Dubstar guitarist Chris Wilkie.

"I thought they were useless and I could not see them getting anywhere, but what did I know?

"Their mums came to pick them up and I could never see them as the role models they are now. I thought they were going to flop.

"It was a big thing for them as they were just starting off, but for us it was an excuse for a free bar.''

The free bars have continued as Chris, singer Sarah Blackwood and Steve Hillier, keyboard player and programmer, have launched themselves into the pop spotlight with a string of chart hits.

Their song lyrics, which feature real-life episodes and honesty, have won them many fans, both critically and commercially, especially since the album Disgraceful.

It spawned the hits Stars, Not So Manic Now and Elevator Song and brought the band, formed in Gateshead with a blend of Chris and Steve's north-east nature with Sarah's Halifax roots, into the limelight.

They have since headlined shows at T in the Park and Reading festivals and performed on the main stage at Glastonbury last year.

Now they are getting ready for a new tour, which coincides with their new album Goodbye, and Chris is hoping the success continues.

"It has been a bit strange when we hit the charts,'' said the Brookside addict.

"My mates tell me how they get up in the morning and hear our song on the radio or see us on television after I was doing what they were doing which was getting up and signing on the dole. This is what I wanted to do and we feel dead chuffed when a song gets in the charts.

"But our music is not all about that and we like to feel we are creating something when we play. That's why we use real-life experiences in our songs.

"The new album is different to Disgraceful because it is a lot more dynamic and smoother. We are looking forward to the tour, because we enjoy touring and like to see the audience who buy our records.''

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.