Girl crazy?

Is Ginger nuts to leave the Spice Girls?

History books will no doubt mark Sunday, May 31, 1998 as an important date - it's when Ginger Spice officially hung up her Union Jack miniskirt and quit the Spice Girls.

In a terse note published yesterday, 25-year-old former topless model Geri Halliwell, the bubbliest, cheekiest, most talkative Spice Girl of them all, cited "differences between us" as the reason for her decision. She also indicated (threatened?) that "I'll be back."

The rest of the group promised they will honor commitments to tour North America this summer, one Spice short or not (last-minute pleas by Toronto mayor Mel Lastman notwithstanding). After that, who knows? Can the Spice Girls continue as a quartet? In keeping with how the group was formed in the first place, will they simply hold auditions for a new Spice Girl? How fast will Ginger's first solo album fall off the pop charts?

Perhaps it's time to consult the history books:

THE GO GOS MINUS BELINDA CARLISLE: The Spice Girls of their time earned three top-10 hits in the early '80s, including the definitive We Got the Beat. Internal "differences" spelled the group's demise in 1985 and, although a reunion was planned, Carlisle earned far greater success on her own. Not much lately, however.

ONE BANGLE SHORT: Known for the 1986 smash hit Walk Like An Egyptian, the Bangles broke up in 1989 when Susanna Hoffs left to pursue a solo career. After a poor-selling 1991 album, she was never heard from again - until she reappeared at Lilith Fair.

WHAM! MINUS GEORGE MICHAEL: The British pop duo Wham! scored huge in 1984 with the chart-topping Wake Me Up (Before You Go Go). Michael went solo in 1986, dooming partner Andrew Ridgeley to be remembered as "that other guy in Wham!" Meanwhile, the solo Michael scored again with I Want Your Sex and other hits during the '80s. Then he fought with Sony, won a new deal and finally released a new record, aptly called Older. No one cared. He recently pleaded "no contest" to a charge of lewd conduct and was fined $810. Last we heard, Michael Jackson had invited him up to the ranch for a visit.

THE JACKSON KIDS: After singing such No. 1 hits as ABC and I Want You Back with the Jackson Five during the early '70s, Michael went solo when he was 13 years old, scoring the No. 1 I'll Be There right off the bat. In 1984, having already released Thriller - the biggest-selling album of all time - the increasingly eccentric performer performed his last gig with his brothers. The rest of the Jackson clan continues to perform today, but are doomed to remain in the shadow of Michael's vast fame.

THE SUPREMES SURVIVE: Observers thought that this legendary Motown trio would be scuttled with the departure of Diana Ross in 1969 (three years earlier, Florence Ballard left for an unsuccessful solo career; she died of a heart attack in 1976), but the group kept going and landed a top-10 hit with Up the Ladder to the Roof in 1970. The Supremes finally disbanded in 1977.

THE BEACH BOYS WITHOUT BRIAN WILSON: One of the most famous examples of an AWOL founding member and the band he left continuing on - it's been about 30 years and counting! Until the death of brother Carl Wilson earlier this year, the Beach Boys regularly played at ball games and beach parties, while Brian is now getting ready to release a new studio album, Imagination.

VAN HALEN MINUS DAVID LEE ROTH: Diamond Dave left the band to go solo in 1985, replaced by Sammy Hagar, who, in turn, was replaced last year by Extreme's Gary Cherone. While VH has more or less maintained respectable album sales, Roth has trouble getting arrested - except for that one time he was busted for buying $10 worth of marijuana in a New York city park.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS MISSING WEILAND: After a successful foray onto the charts during the early '90s, STP singer Scott Weiland left for drug rehab and the rest of the group formed a band called Talk Show. They both released new albums. Both stiffed. Reunion time?

BAD COMPANY MINUS PAUL RODGERS: A classic rock example of musicians who might be better off back together. Both Rodgers and Bad Company currently operate as separate entities, touring, recording and releasing albums, but neither have reclaimed much of their former glory. Other examples: CCR (without John Fogerty), the Band (without Robbie Robertson) and BTO (without Randy Bachman). Paul Rodgers and his new band play tomorrow night at Cowboys.

Ginger Bread