OUR LATEST ISSUE
Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud are the biggest group in pop right now. In six short years theyââ¬â¢ve released five platinum albums, have notched up 19 consecutive To
"When we first came out no bands were getting endorsement deals because of the Spice Girls; they endorsed everything and people lost so much money. There was just none of that around."
So, it’s been six years, did you all think the group would be going this long?
Nadine: We spent all those months working hard auditioning so we knew we’d have to work even harder to try and sustain. Our careers have had loads of highs and lows though.
But you always seem to have been held in high esteem both publically and critically. Julie Burchill always said that you were the best band since the Sex Pistols.
Cheryl: She was always really supportive.
Nadine: She was lovely from day one.
Sarah: There’s been a few journalists that have definitely championed us from the beginning but for us, it only felt like we were getting seriously accepted around that time. Like Cheryl says, from Love machine and I’ll Stand by You, it seemed to get better and better.
Nadine: When we first came out no bands were getting endorsement deals because of the Spice Girls; they endorsed everything and people lost so much money. There was just none of that around. People didn’t trust that we were going to be together. Even things like fighting for T.V. We had a new single coming out and our record company would be saying, “Hopefully we can get it on CD:UK on Saturday.” We used to be like, “Oooh, that’s great!”
Do you ever wish you could get rid of the fact you were created on a TV talent show?
Cheryl: No. We’re not ashamed of where we came from. Not get rid of it, just get past it so you can stand on your own as a band.
Nicola: It was also, the reason why we got top fives was because we had such amazing fans who were really dedicated. It was people actually in the industry that would skank us.
Kimberley: And as soon as we saw the turning point and it continued to get better and better and then we got the number one with the Greatest Hits. Everywhere we went people’s reactions and attitudes towards us were completely different. We just found it funny because after being in the industry all this time you just see it all, how it is and you just think, “All right then, whatever.”
Cheryl: You think, “Hang on! You used to go out of your way to not have to say hello, don’t start screaming from the end of the character, ‘Hi Girls!’”
Nadine: Knocking on the dressing room door like we’re your best friends.
Kimberley: Inside you’re just laughing, just thinking all right…
Cheryl: Make a fool of yourselves, carry on.
Nadine: Because you still remember exactly what it was like.
You’re all getting paired off now, but being a Girls Aloud can’t have been bad for your pulling power can it? Do you think men like it when women come on to them?
Nicola: It depends on how in-your-face you are. Christ, if you’ve got this Bunny Boiler who is like ‘Oh my God, I love you’ and hanging off every word you say its like, ‘Get Off!’ You’ve got to be cool.
How did you meet Ashley then, Cheryl?
Cheryl: Well, I would go as far as to say I chatted him up. We lived in the same complex and it had a communal tennis court thing…His car broke down and I stopped and I asked him, ‘Did he need a hand?’ and he asked me, Did I need a number? I said no and then I kind of…liked him after that.
Kimberley: That old chestnut.
Cheryl: Then I saw him one day in a magazine and he looked absolutely gorgeous. I was kicking myself, thinking, ‘Why didn’t I just give him the number for God’s sakes?’ Then when I saw him - I don’t know what came over me - but I went: ‘Ashley, I’ve seen you in the magazine… looking good!’ Like a ****ing twat, I swear.
And Sarah, are you still living up to your party girl reputation?
Sarah: No, no. I’m not really going out to clubs so much now.
Nadine: You’ve calmed down a lot.
Sarah: If I go out it’s usually because my boyfriends a D.J. so I’m just there with him really.
There are constantly rumours of a split. Are they all unfounded?
Nadine: Unfounded! They’ve always been around.
Cheryl: Do you know what always amazes me though, we get asked this all the time, you know when we’re sitting around together; and we know it’s a question people have to ask but do people really think we’re going to go, “Well actually, yeah, we’re splitting up next week.”
Kimberley: But it is one of those questions that everybody just has to ask isn’t it?
Out of Control, the new album from Girls Aloud is out now.
