UNTOLD STORY BEHIND
FEUD THAT BROKE UP GROUP

By Shannon Loughrin

     Ginger Spice quit the Spice Girls after months of bickering erupted into a backstage brawl between the busty redhead and Scary Spice.
     The two had battled for control of the fab five since their manager was fired last year, but a post-show punching match between them finally made Ginger walk out. The remaining Spice Girls vow to carry on when they start their U.S. tour June 15.
     It was Scary's sniping at Ginger, 25, whose real name is Geri Halliwell, that drove her out, says the group's chauffeur, Paul Attridge. "She was cruel and Geri broke down under her abuse."
     According to the driver, Scary, 23, whose real name is Melanie Brown, would reduce Geri to tears. "She'd say things like, 'Oh, look! Geri's got her boobs out again.'
     "If one of the girls puts a step wrong in the act, she'll shout at them. The other girls simply shrug it off, but it really got to Geri."
     The tension erupted at a gig in Manchester, England, when the two had to be physically separated after a punch was thrown backstage.
     Geri says she has no immediate plans, but STAR has learned she jetted to Los Angeles for a meeting with TV mogul Aaron Spelling after announcing her departure from the group.
     "She could be put on a show like Melrose Place, or they might create a show starring her," says a source.
     "So when Geri said, 'PS. I'll be back,'" that is what she meant. She and Spelling will make an announcement this summer."