More bite to Mel C's Spice

Sporty Spice trades in her ponytail and takes on an edge

TORONTO - Melanie C -- aka Sporty Spice -- arrived in town yesterday as part of a three-day visit to promote her upcoming solo album, Northern Star.

And judging from the initial fan reaction, one slightly-altered Spice with newly bleached-out, short hair, is better than no Spice at all.

"Canada is such a great place," said the British pop superstar, whose hour-long appearance on MuchMusic yesterday afternoon was often interrupted by dozens of noisy fans inside and outside the Queen and John Sts. studios.

"Whenever the Spice Girls are in town we get a reception like this and it's fabulous."

Mel. C's itinerary includes a show at the Guvernment tonight where she will perform some of the material off the L.A.-recorded Northern Star, due in stores on Oct. 26, including the harder-edged first single, Goin' Down.

But she said the new direction in sound -- not to mention her tougher new look -- won't turn off the pop-loving, young Spice Girl fans, who have made the British girl group the biggest thing to come out of England since the Beatles, with worldwide sales of 40 million albums.

"I think a lot of the Spice Girls fans think maybe it's not going to be to their taste," said Mel C, 25, who has ditched the ponytail-and-track-pants look of Sporty Spice while continuing to play up her gold-tooth grin, nose ring and numerous tattoos.

"But it's (Northern Star) all pop. And there's some more dancey stuff on there, there's some R&B, there's acoustic stuff. There are a few rock songs but nothing too far away from the Spice Girls."

She also said the departure in sound on Goin' Down wasn't a calculated move on her part to gain a new audience.

"I'm a performer and I can take on a number of different styles. If you've ever seen a Spice Girls show, you know we all do that. We take on different personas in each song that we sing and that's just all part of being an entertainer."

In fact, Mel. C , dressed casually in a tank top, jeans and runners, said there is no truth to the rumours she's leaving the Spice Girls. The group is currently recording its third album, which is due in the spring. She also said there are plans to perform some U.K. shows in December to be followed by a world tour next summer.

"I'm a Spice Girl forever!" she said.

Unlike Geri Halliwell, a.k.a. Ginger Spice, who left the group last year at the height of the Spice Girls' success.

"Well, it's quite a long time ago now so there's no hard feelings between us and Geri, we're all still friends," said Mel C "But, at the time, we were quite shocked and, of course, very sad. I miss her dearly as a friend. I think she'll (eventually) keep in touch. But as for her solo album, I think she's done really well, it's great. But, you know, it's not really my kind of a thing. But I love (the latest single) Mi Chico Latino."

(In fact, Mel C is quoted in Britain's Q Magazine as saying about Halliwell: "I find it difficult to take her as a serious artist. For me, she's just cotton wool. She's not a talented musician and she's not a very strong singer.")

However, Mel C -- widely thought to be the most talented Spice Girl -- did dispute another quote in Q that said: "Spice Girls, for me, is a hobby. But my solo stuff is my proper job."

"This is the quote that will haunt me for the rest of my life," she said.

"What I meant when I said that is -- why do you do a hobby? Because you love it, because you enjoy it. And I was saying you know 'Spice Girls has never felt like a job because we're just a gang of mates who have a great time.'

"And that's purely what I meant. I wasn't disrespecting the Spice Girls in anyway."

What about Scary Spice -- a.k.a. Mel G. -- supposedly saying Mel C "has gone all Californian" with Northern Star?

"Do I seem Californian? I haven't got the boobs," she said with a giggle, staring down at her chest.

As for whether she's hoping to hit No. 1 in the charts on her own -- she gathered some of the best producers-songwriters including Rick Rubin (Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers) and William Orbit (Madonna, Sting) for Northern Star -- Mel C said she's got no expectations.

"Not really, the only pressure I ever put on myself is to be the best I can be and with this album, I'm very, very proud. I don't think I could have made a better album at this point in my life and so it's No. 1 for me."