2 years after the tragic death of their bandmate Sarah Harding, Girls Aloud feel it's the right time for a tour in her memory
The anniversary that was delayed
One of the most popular music groups of the era had been making plans to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Girls Aloud for some time. Cheryl commented: 'The anniversary seemed like an obvious thing that we would celebrate.' However, after Sarah disclosed that she had advanced breast cancer in 2020, their priorities shifted. Sarah Harding revealed in August 2020 that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer which had spread to other areas of her body. She passed away on September 5th 2021 aged 39. Her Mother Marie shared the saddening news on Instagram writing: ‘It is with deep heartbreak that today I’m sharing the news that my beautiful daughter has sadly passed away.’ Doctors had informed her earlier this year that she wouldn't see another Christmas.
Her bandmate Nicola Roberts posted:
I can't accept that this day has come. My heart is aching and all day everything we went through together has raced around my mind... a part of me or us isn't here anymore and it's unthinkable and painful and utterly cruel.
When it came to the 20th anniversary, the women articulated their emotions effectively: 'She passed away a year before the 20-year anniversary and it just didn't feel right, it felt too soon.'
The 5 women established the band Girls Aloud in 2002 on the TV talent competition Popstars: The Rivals. They enjoyed massive success for more than a decade, touring and selling out concerts to their devoted fans. This is how Nadine tells it:
'We grew up with the band, but so did so many other people. So for us not to do something again feels like such a shame and a waste. We want to have that moment with fans where we can all enjoy it together.'
The surviving band members - Cheryl, Nadine, Kimberly and Nicola - reunited to produce a fresh single accompanied by a music video. They met in private at a North London studio and have dedicated the song to Sarah.
The new tour dates in 2024
Girls Aloud will embark on a tour of the UK and Ireland next year. Fans will relish the chance to hear their classic hits including I'll Stand by You, Sound of the Underground, and Jump. The band is excited for this reunion tour and to celebrate Sarah's contribution and their time together before they went their separate ways in 2013.
Nicola captured the sentiment well when she said: 'I think what's really encouraging is that whenever people ask us about reuniting it's not, 'Would you guys ever do it?' but, 'When are you guys gonna do it?'
Fans become heartbroken when their cherished bands take even a short break from performing. Adele has announced she will temporarily stop performing to pursue a degree in English literature. Akin to the fans of Girls Aloud, Adele's admirers will be ecstatic when she returns to performing live.
Undoubtedly, the performance of the song written for Sarah by the girls will carry with it a great deal of emotion. But as Cheryl put it: 'But now, I think there is an energy that does make it feel right. It’s the right time to celebrate Sarah, it’s the right time to celebrate the band and the right time to celebrate the fact we can still do this 21 years later. That’s a big honour in lots of ways.' With a slightly varied fan base, another massive band, Blink 182 has come together this year for a tour after a hiatus of seven years.
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